TNW Creations Ranked Top 15 Military Veteran Digital Marketing Agency in the United States for 2023 Read More
TNW Creations Ranked Top 15 Military Veteran Digital Marketing Agency in the United States for 2023 Read More
The U.S. Small Business Administration Spotlight features TNW Creations' CEO Erin LaVaux Quarles Read More
TNW Creations, LLC.
Web Development & Cyber Security
Austin, Texas
I will tell you right now, that headliner is meant to grab your attention and piss you off a little bit.
Stay pissed. Because this is important. Let me explain what I mean and why you need to stop using just a web, "designer"...
I am Erin Quarles, the Founder, CEO and Lead Developer of TNW Creations, LLC in Austin, Texas (and Pflugerville, Texas). I've been in operation since 1995.
I have a long list of credentials and affirmations as well as my work having been recognized by Touchstone Pictures Hidalgo, Microsoft Encarta (old school), Smithsonian and National Geographic (just to name a few!). The trail of testaments behind me are just a glimpse into my achievements as a full-stack engineer for 26 years.
Since the pandemic, my work in cyber security has tripled. I've uncovered multiple website scam rings and exposed security breaches that had previously gone undetected. And just this morning was another...
When most people search for someone to hire, build or manage their website in 2021, they use the term, "Web Designer." It's become so commonplace that Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and other platforms only give the category option of, "Web Designer" for website developers. Which is a shame and undervalues full stack engineering as we create more than just pretty visuals.
Back in the day, the common search term and title for someone who managed and built websites was, "Webmaster." A Webmaster mastered the website from frontend (design) to backend (develop), start to finish. They did everything from setting up and managing email accounts to domains and firewalls. But websites have changed tremendously since 1997. What used to be a full-time job for one person is now broken into multiple full scale job positions.
A Web Designer is not a Web Master or a Developer.
He / She is skilled (hopefully) at making websites look aesthetically pleasing. Beautiful, calming or exciting, filled with visual imagery meant to attract attention. They typically studied Art & Design in college and they know their way around a Mac & Adobe's Design Suite. Ask them to photoshop you in front of the Eiffel Tower or dancing with lightning and you probably have a frame worthy photo.
Content is meant to keep the attention of your web visitors after the designer has caught it. Content is typically provided by writers. Many big companies have both a designer and a content writer. They were more than likely an English Major or Philosophy / Psychology student, studying Journalism, Media, Marketing or Communication.
Not far from the Marketing Department of those large companies, you will find another office usually called the IT Deparment. They work hand-in-hand with the Marketing team. This crew would be the web developer, tech support for the company, system admin, website security officer. Maybe even an app programmer depending on the software reach this company has. More than likely this bunch studied applied technology, networking, cyber security or computer engineering. Or they are simply geniuses with computers.
These are your staples for marketing and IT in a large company... this is your necessity. You cannot be responsible for thousands of customer accounts and personal / financial information if you aren't covering all of your bases. So my surprise and irritation this morning was when I discovered a large company with nearly 5,000 followers... who seemingly has no clue their email servers were breached 4 days ago and is actively sending PORN to their clients and a huge list of unsuspecting email addresses captured from the dark web.
Y'all, please bear with me for a minute while I vent...
When you hire JUST a Web Designer, you are missing a huge part of what makes a website. Not only from the very vital sphere of SEO (search engine optimization) but also functionality and security. Who loves a website where buttons don't work or links that take you nowhere? How about frustrating menus and navigation? Frames that POP up and down while you try to select something? Or contact / tech support forms that are broken (looking at you USPS.Com) Yeah, no one does. And all of that falls under web development.
Here are FIVE Things you need to do RIGHT Now to improve (and secure) your Website
Please hire someone to manage, maintain and secure your website who knows more than design and web development. Hire someone who knows security. The current state of cyber attacks are so severe that not even Microsoft could thwart them (see Outlook Exchange breach 2021) and they have an entire department dedicated to different types of security.
If you are a professional, you need professional help. It's time to stop using staff to operate and maintain something as important as the gateway to your local office network. Make your website security and web development a priority before your business and / or clients are burned.
With love,
- your salty full stack web developer (and cyber security expert)
TNW Creations™️and Brand Tawaci Media™️is a Web Development & Media Publishing Agency headquartered in Austin, Texas. Web Development, cybersecurity, design, clean energy web host, digital marketing.
Our Company Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawaci-media/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tawacimedia
Twitter: https://x.com/TawaciMedia
I am a software engineer, artist and voice actress. As a child, I became part of the grassroots development for teaching my Lakhota language online. When I'm not developing and creating, you'll find me motivating a community of Indie Game Developers, play testing new games on Twitch and YouTube, developing video content, voice acting for games, acting as cultural consultant for Native vibe games, investigating and initating hostile website takedowns, and enjoying time with my family.