In Part I of this article we discussed the options available to you if you wish to create a custom website or baby blog for your baby. The conclusion reached in that article was that it is best to go with any online service like babyblogger.com, which lets you build a custom web site for your baby. In doing so, you get a complete customizable baby website with great features: - Custom Baby Home Page - share the latest baby photos, journal entries and email alert sign up
- Baby Journal - online diary or "baby blog" all about your baby
- Baby Photos - unlimited albums for your digital baby photos
- Baby's Vitals - baby's height, weight, birthday, first steps, first words, etc.
- Baby Guestbook - your invited guests leave their thoughts and wishes as often as they like
- Email Alerts - friends and family sign up to be notified of new baby photos or journal entries
- Password protection security
- Custom features and professionally designed templates
- Advertising free
- Prices as low as 50 a week
- No special computer skills required -- point and click simplicty
Buyers Beware If you decide to go with an online service for creating your baby website, remember that all baby website services are not created equal. Here are somethings to look out for: - FREE Baby Websites - like the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for". Many *free* offerings are insecure, poorly designed and lack any real features, like unlimited photo albums, password protection, etc. These *free* offers typically have ulterior motives:
- Bait & Switch - the free site is to get your attention, but you'll pay to upgrade for unlimited photos, email alerts, and no advertising.
- Shell Game - the free site is often a promotion (distraction) to sell some other baby product or service.
- Ad Game - see next item!
- Advertisements - many services which offer web sites for babies will run ads on your baby's site. If it is a free service, you can almost guarantee it. They have to make their money some how. If you don't mind subjecting your family and friends to an unrelenting barrage of ads across your baby's site, then it shouldn't be a problem.
- SPAM - unsolicited email is a major problem that just about anyone with an email address can relate to. Beware of any baby website offer, especially the free ones, which require that you and your guests enter your email address, but don't offer a privacy policy or opt-in/opt-out option. It is very likely that in addition to your free baby web site, you will get spammed without mercy.
- Security - websites which leave your baby website open to the public cause several problems. First, you may not want millions of strangers and search engines finding thoughts and photos of your baby. Second, if your site has a guestbook and/or contact page, you are likely to have negative experiences. Unfortunately, there are people who have nothing better to do than leave unwanted comments in your guestbook or use your contact page to send spam.
Conclusion? Shop wisely when looking for a web site for your baby, and be aware that many services place their advertising concerns above the security of your baby's site, features you receive, and ease of use. |
