A) Pros & Cons Of Developing A Web Site For Your Contracting Firm

Pros

1) It is the information age and an increasingly useful/preferred method of obtaining information
2) Customers and potential customers can get information at their convenience
3) It helps customers save time in making a decision as to whether they are interested in you or not, and this can in turn save you time (cuts # of "tire-kickers")
4) Can replace some other "paper" marketing docs such as brochures that are costly, have to be mailed out (more time and cost) and often have relatively short shelf-life
5) At same time, it is a living brochure that can be updated constantly
6) Can include much more information than a brochure
7) Opportunity to tie in with the fact that you are an electronic-, technology-based company. Cool, attractive site lends an impression that you know what you’re doing with technology.
8) Great way to collect, store and organize customer database information.

Cons

1) Initial cost can be somewhat high
2) Takes time to develop from the outset
3) Takes time to regularly update

B) Developing A Web Site, In-House Or Out-Of-House?

In-House

1) Need expertise, best beyond jus t the basics
2) You're a contractor, not a web developer - takes a lot of time, more than you likely will estimate

Out-Of-House

1) Be wary of "whiz kids" - they often don't know about your business, don't care, aren't used to working in a real business environment and thus miss deadlines and don't have necessary attention to details.
2) Development firms. Do your homework, surf the web and if you see a site you like, you can likely see who put it together and contact them. And just as in systems contracting, don't shop just based on price. As with almost everything else, you get what you pay for.