Getting to Know Platform OS
Exactly one month ago, I began my review of Platform OS. Exactly two days into that review, I was convinced. I followed the same long, drawn-out process with my wife. We had only been dating for a month when we decided to get married....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Let’s, my people, go!
This will not be a PlatformOS feature review. Instead, this is my sales pitch to the BC community, based on my experience so far with PlatformOS, and hoping to draw on whatever influence of persuasion I might have with my community....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Sunday, April 08, 2018
Open and Shut, part 4: Business Catalyst needs an Open Community
Business Catalyst’s best growth will not be driven by the platform itself, but by a vibrant, innovative, open community. Open is the key word....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, December 08, 2015
Open and Shut, part 3: Business Catalyst will never be WordPress
When Business Catalyst started introducing the concept of admin apps on the platform, many partners complained that BC was losing what differentiated it from WordPress and other platforms. But this isn’t what really differentiates BC from WP....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Open and Shut, part 1: why open-source and closed projects need each other
We often like to take a hard stance with one side or the other, but in business and life there is a lot to gain from opposing forces....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, November 03, 2015
The Real Difference between Business Catalyst and WordPress
I know this is a topic that has come up a thousand times, and will come up a thousand more. Occasionally, it’s actually pretty informative and helpful for both sides. Sometimes it’s heated, and quite biased one way or the other....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, April 22, 2014
It's Not About the Money
Guest-poster, Jonathan Hinshaw says, "Before I created my company I was making more money in a single month that most Americans make in one year - but I was miserable. Money doesn’t make you happy. In fact, it can be your worst enemy if you let it be."...
- Author:
- Jonathan Hinshaw
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, April 15, 2014
We Don't Build Websites Like We Used To
The job of the web designer has changed drastically over the past couple decades. What began as a single job title that meant a single thing, has now become a blanket statement for an entire industry. Frameworks are essential in today's web....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Putting it on the Green with Business Catalyst
I know a lot of partners struggling to get out of the rough and onto the green in their Business Catalyst development. The problem is, most of us carry our own bag, stealing precious time and attention away from actually playing the game....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, February 25, 2014
BC Pie: An advanced Business Catalyst framework
BC Pie will completely overhaul the native Business Catalyst front-end framework, bringing modern web standards, coding best practices, and much more. This is an introductory post, explaining the direction of the product....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Thursday, January 30, 2014
Template addiction: Business Catalyst's drug problem
Template addiction shares some characteristics with give’em-a-fish syndrome, in that it teaches nothing, while at the same time creating dependence and lowering the entry point for people to call themselves web designers/developers....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Monday, January 20, 2014
Tradition: I kind of hate it.
I’m not terribly fond of tradition for the sake of tradition. In fact, I wholeheartedly reject the idea that tradition or the status quo have any authority what-so-ever over what should or should not happen in any particular circumstance....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Finding the developers you're looking for
I recently had an encounter with an agency who was shopping around for production freelancers. This happens all the time. There is nothing unique about it. In fact, it was typical. The first time I said no to an offer like this, I got harassed about it....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Sunday, December 15, 2013
With great web design comes 6 great responsibilities
To be great at anything, we need to first understand what is expected of us, and second, to routinely exceed those expectations. Building great websites is no different. I've put together a list I believe every web pro should be actively aware of....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Saturday, December 07, 2013
BC Plugins is now Dev-in-a-Box
Dev-in-a-Box is a jQuery plugin designed for Business Catalyst partners who want to build better websites, faster. It allows you to add the most common JavaScript-based features to your BC sites using simple HTML5 data attributes....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, November 26, 2013
A Tale of Two Mentors
I have two mentors. That's why these are the best of times, the best of times. Everybody should have a mentor—a guide, whose experience and insights help them achieve the greatest success...
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Sunday, November 17, 2013
Business Catalyst needs a hero
This is not self-promotion. I'm not asking for your business. Just your ears. I want to help make a difference. If you walk away from this with nothing more than some food-for-thought, I accomplished all my goals....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Thursday, November 14, 2013
Five tips for better Business Catalyst websites
Tips to help reduce errors, frustration, load times and client conflicts, all while increasing revenue and fun. This post is featured on the BC Gurus blog (bcgurus.com/blog). Follow the link and enjoy!...
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Discover Business Catalyst’s true identity
If I were to ask a group of partners the main differences between WordPress and Business Catalyst, I would probably hear comments along the lines of WordPress being a powerful blogging platform, while BC is an online business builder...
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Monday, November 04, 2013
Ending the neverending story of web development
When I started out as a Business Catalyst partner, I had the not-so-original plan to quickly build websites for lots and lots of clients. My goals were centered around fast paychecks and content-centered design, but I didn’t understand BC’s biggest strengths....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Monday, October 28, 2013
The best web developers are lazy
That's the first thing I tell partners when I'm coaching them on building better websites. They always laugh before I say, "I'm serious! You work too hard. It wears me out just looking at all the work you've done on this site!" And I'm not exaggerating....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Monday, October 21, 2013
Dammit Jim, I'm a web developer, not a mechanic!
I've been getting grief from my clients and mentors about my lack of website for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I've gotten grief, I've used and laughed at the old line about the mechanic's car not working. Because, hey! I didn't have the time....
- Author:
- Adam Cook
- Post Date:
- Saturday, October 19, 2013
