A conversation with Mik Muller, president and owner
 of Montague WebWorks, based in Greenfield, MA

What does your business do?

Website design and hosting, secure email, and Google Search Engine Optimization

What do you love about your job?

I love working with the owners and employees of the companies, non-profits and town departments we host. Figuring out how to portray the client online, and help them achieve success with their website, gives me great joy. And the people are always excited when the job is done.

Describe a recent challenge and how you addressed it.

We recently were hired by FITZGERALD Real Estate to redo their agency website. During the initial meeting they complained that they were tired of having to enter their property listings twice: once into MLS, and again into their own website. Could we fix that for them with the new website? I offered to write a new, custom module for their website that would automatically pull over all their listings from the MLS servers, including photos, description and all, every hour. This means that now they could simply update or add a listing at MLS, and it will appear on their website within the hour. And not in an iFrame, mind you. Actual, local content, which is critical for SEO.

Why did you locate your business in Franklin County?

I moved here from NYC in 1999 looking for a simpler, quieter life and a cleaner more natural place to raise my kids. I was told that although Franklin County was the lowest income county in Massachusetts, it was also the most affordable, and had the best balance of beauty and access. Here's a quick Haiku...

Quaint downtowns. Deep woods.

Tiny mountains. Big rivers.

Franklin County Mass.

The people are wonderful, and the natural resources are all around us.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

When I'm not working I like to primp up my back yard, and then sit in my Adirondack chair, sip a beer, smoke a cigar, and watch the Green River flow as I listen to the Red Sox on the radio.

How long has your business been a member of the chamber?

Montague WebWorks joined the chamber back in January of 2011 when we took over the Better Living Home Show website for the Chamber for a year. Since then we have happily renewed our membership every year.

Why are you a member of the Franklin County Chamber?

Being a dues-paying member of your local Chamber of Commerce means you are supporting a local business-facing organization who's sole mission is to help local businesses succeed. A chamber connects you with other business owners, and helps promote your business to the general public as well. Holding networking events, keeping you informed of legislation or other related news, and extending the opportunity to take advantage of their resources and skills, joining and supporting a chamber is definitely worth the money.

Is there anyone you are most looking to connect with?

We are always looking for new customers of any type, though lately we've been focusing on contractors, farms, real estate agents, and towns and their departments. Visit Montague WebWorks, here.