dantehicks

I currently hand-code HTML5 & JQuery Mobile "web apps" but the process is time-consuming and I'd like to expand my client base. So, I've been trying to identify the right white label, hosted CMS or SaaS option. In trying to find the best value, I'm finding a wide range in both cost and quality.

piJnz, for example, seems easy to use and has an attractive per-site price point ($5/mo). However, when running one of their example sites through the W3C Mobile Checker, it gets a score of 4/100:

http://validator.w3.org/mobile/check...ouponz.mobi%2F

My target market is probably less concerned about that score than about getting more customers in the door. However, that score reflects mobile best practices and conventions and the higher the score, the more likely the site will display as intended across the myriad devices out there. Which is obviously what my clients want.

That said, another hosted option - MobiFriendly ($30/mo) - seems to score well in terms of code quality/optimization:

http://validator.w3.org/mobile/check...obidemo.net%2F

Personally, for my business model to work, I can't justify using a service that costs ME $30/mo, which I then have to mark up before billing the client. Not only will that kill my profit margins, it will also remove a portion of my potential market. However, I also can't build a sustainable business using a solution that isn't top quality or future-proof... hence, my dilemma.

I know there are many other factors to consider, but assuming all other things are equal, I'm curious to hear what the consensus is out there, among fellow Warriors, regarding the cost vs. quality?

Anyone using either of the options mentioned, and care to share your experience and sample sites?

Andrew H

Oh man I reviewed that PiJinz service and I really like the price point!

But your right the 4/100 score is a big turnoff

dantehicks

Kevin,

Thanks for the feedback - I definitely see what you mean. I'd also probably add that the overall score is one thing, and looking at the reasons behind the score is another. For example, if the score has been dinged due to huge file size/load time, and things that most likely won't be consistent across devices - that should be a red flag.

On the other hand, it seems like some of the "infractions" are so minor, they shouldn't impact the user experience at all.

With piJnz my main concern was that they use old-school image maps, which they advertise as "interactive hotspots" - essentially upload a large graphic and assign clickable regions to it. When it comes to mobile, I definitely am concerned how well something like that works across devices. But you're right, it's probably something to ask the platform providers.

Thanks again for your $.02!

dantehicks

Elena,

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate the time you put into walking through my concerns and addressing them one by one. I guess mobile web design is still a "wild west" of sorts, and it would be nice if there was a de-facto authority that graded/rated the available options out there.

I've only spent a couple weeks here in the forums, but it can be overwhelming sifting through the array of mobile website builder and/or mobile CMS options. It's nice to hear your perspective and I can tell you are passionate about your business. I'll definitely take a closer look now based on your input.

Kevin Z

W3C is a very important standards tool to follow when creating a mobile site. You want to ensure that your site has a decent score or you will have problems. With that being said we have seen that some sites using the latest HTML5 with Jquery may score a bit lower with these tests then other. What you need is a SOLID Mobile CMS that allows you use your time to sell mobile sites and not create them.

In regards to your business model $30 a month for a solid Mobile CMS platform is pennies when you think about the time saved in development costs. 1 Mobile site sale can pay for 1 years worth of service 3 times over. Unless your time is really not worth that much and you would prefer to build each Mobile site from scratch then you should really look for a solid Mobile CMS service that works for your business.

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dantehicks

Not sure I understand what you mean? To be clear, I'm not referring to a CMS that costs $30/mo for unlimited sites, but rather $30/mo/site. So I'd have a hard cost of $360/year per client, and from there I'd have to build in setup/design costs, as well as a monthly margin to make it worthwhile.

Add that all up, and now I'm asking a business for a minimum $1,000 commitment - a majority of which is a recurring cost for them. And that's on the low end. I understand the time saved in development opens up more time for business development, but that's not enough of a benefit to justify the cost. I'm not starting a new business; I've been doing this for some time, and knowing my market, that business model would not thrive.

I've been hand-coding mobile sites, and will continue to do so until some of these 3rd party CMS/builder platforms lower their costs. We're still in the early stages of this game, and nothing can be declared the end-all-be-all. But some of them seem to feel they are, and their pricing models reflect that.

And to be perfectly honest, they will not thrive without a motivated offline marketing community putting their solutions in front of local businesses. But they can't expect to achieve that without offering a more true wholesale pricing model.

Don't get me wrong, I've had good contact and experience with a couple of them - one in particular - but my overall perception of these companies is that they are more "opportunists" than "partners."

WillR

The fact is people can change the argument to suit their own needs. You will find SMS companies always spruking how important their services are and mobile hosted CMS companies always touting the benefits of using a hosted option.

Just be careful when those giving advice have a vested interest in the advice they are giving you. Always do your own thorough research before making any important buying decisions.

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