Your developer was awake, but only so that he could post ads like this to qualified individuals:

"Need to know how to build Drupal site. Willing to pay $250.
On a tight deadline. This is very easy should not be a problem."

He needs to know how to make the website he promised you he knew how to make. In this Freelance Switch article about the 13 Breeds of Freelancers,there's a great comment by Dan Lockton about the ‘Say-yes-then-figure-out- how-to-do-it’ freelancer. On the list of freelance don'ts, this one ranks pretty high. Here's a great article on what you should look for when hiring a Drupal developer.

"It's not about the website. It's about your business."

One of the reasons that the RFP (request for proposal) method is so inadequate is because unless the team you're working with has researched your company and understands your goals outside of, "I want it to look like this," you're not choosing the most qualified. You're choosing the most affordable. Though, to quote the great Red Adair, "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur."

On many of the bids I see placed on freelance sites, the most affordable and the most qualified are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. This is another reason, I think we find seriously great designers forgoing these sites and meeting clients the more traditional way. I think most of the established companies with show stopping design, even if they were quoting low, would never be chosen for these jobs. Why? Because there's a level of mediocrity that exists on these sites that makes even an average design site look out of place.

We are very pleased to announce our redesign of Enemybook. Enemybook is a Facebook app that disconnects you to the so-called friends around you. Enemybook was created by MIT student Kevin Matulef and his latest press interview aired today on NPR's, "All Things Considered". Congratulations Kevin!

We're working on our own Facebook app to be released in 2008.

Our favorite shopping cart:

When this is a company's description for their product:

Magento is a new professional open-source eCommerce solution offering unprecedented flexibility and control. With Magento, never feel trapped in your eCommerce solution again.

It had better work well and be beautiful. Magento succeeds at both. Magento is simplicity. Whether in the hands of a novice or an expert, great things can be accomplished. It's also got a near perfect stylish, "out of the box" template, that we've rarely seen with other shopping carts open-source or not.

As if the look weren't enough, they won me over with the single page checkout, also known as the money page. It's using Script.aculo.us/Prototype and validation scripts to make sure your users are typing in valid information.

Our favorite program:

Here's an excellent article about the types of design and the way that people use the word design, from professional usability consultant Frank Spillers. People can learn excellent lessons from this article. Often what clients are asking for when they ask for design is "graphic design," or "make this look pretty." Everyone should recognize that other forms of design are just as important as the graphics. They create an entire atmosphere, that if done correctly guides users through an experience.

Which leads me to my next point:

The web is littered with personal and company websites that have "neat" graphics. However, that doesn't always translate into success.

"Why not? They sure look successful!"

Looking successful and being successful are two different things. I can point you to four websites of companies who are the leaders of their industry and they have terrible websites.

Why?