The Right to Repair, originally focused on electronics, is a legislation that gives people the ability to fix and modify their own products without unnecessary restrictions. We believe these same principles should apply to websites. We’ve spoke before about building your dream site in more detail on the approach but here we’ll focus on some of the reasons why access, in general, is important.
Less barriers, less waiting
When charities find themselves locked out of their own website there’s a process that often over-complicates simple changes. Correcting a typo involves a ticketing system that turns a few backspaces into a week long waste-of-time at best. At worst, the thought of opening an investigation into the removal of a few rogue characters feel’s either overkill or too ridiculous to raise. Meaning that instead of the quick click and change you’d hoped for, becomes something that is much easier to turn a blind eye to instead.
The freedom to explore
We can all feel a little self-conscious when we’re not confident. And when we’re unsure on our own abilities it’s sometimes easier to have a play in private to see if that question we had really was as silly as we feared it could’ve been (it’s often not!).
When someone else holds all the keys you’re forced to ask the question first and the fear of being laughed at often stops us asking in the first place. Whilst we encourage the daft questions we also encourage the exploration too. Giving you keys to the playground gives you that safe space to explore your website, feel comfortable with the tasks at hand and then ultimately leaving space for questions out of curiosity, not necessity.
Control your costs
We all know what it’s like to be forced into paying a premium. Paying £8 for a bottle of water at the airport after yours was just dropped into a security bin. Theme park restaurants costing more than the admission itself. When you’re forced into a situation it is much more frustrating knowing that there should be another way.
When the choice is yours the decision is much easier, often fairer and usually justified. For example, I’d often watch a few YouTube videos on how to paint a ceiling and wallpaper a feature wall to save some money but draw the line at plastering a wall. That decision making process makes it easier to justify professional help. Especially when it would take them a few hours to do what would take me a few swear words and weekends.
Websites are no different. They’ll be some tasks you want to keep in-house so that there’s more budget to work on the things you’d rather not poke around at.
A partnership to suit
Just because you have the right to edit, doesn’t mean you have to. Having access can be different to responsibility. We like to give you all the tools you need when it comes to your website so you don’t need any help if you don’t want to. Equally, if you just want to hold the flashlight, or hide while the heavy-lifting is afoot then that’s where we’re ready and raring to go.
This freedom and flexibility means you can focus on what you want to, and look for support where you don’t. The difference is, the decision will be yours.
