A: Resume service websites can be instructive. And they can be deceiving.

A website can either tell you a lot about the resume writing service behind the site--or little to nothing about the service. That said, it's a good place to begin in evaluating a company.

Start by taking in the site as a whole. Is the design pleasing to the eye? Is navigation intuitive and do links deliver what they promise? If the site is painful to look at and difficult to navigate, you probably won't like your resume--a product of the same thinking. Back out now and save yourself.

If they pass the first test, look for sample resumes posted on the site. The more the better, and the best are before-and-after examples of how they tackled specific projects. Do the samples sparkle? Or is there overcrowding (too many words, not enough white space), misalignment of tabs or bullet points, grammatical and spelling errors, over-the-top design elements? If the samples have problems, or simply look and read no better than your existing resume, you needn't go any further.

Writers. Who's doing the work? Are they identified by name and bio, or lumped together as a nebulous "team of professionals?" Are they credentialed? Do they have real-world business experience in additional to credentials? If you're having a hard time getting any information about the writers, that's not a good sign.

If the company continues to look promising and you really want to get into the weeds, check out the "terms of service" or similar link at the bottom of the page, especially if the company is offering some sort of guarantee (i.e. guaranteed interview, or money back if not satisfied). Read the fine print behind that guarantee, the specifics regarding editing privileges and the like. Does it match their public promotions, or is there a disconnect?

Is there a phone number to call? A physical address listed? Or does the company only do business via email and insist any contact information beyond that is not essential? If the latter, run.

In sum, a company's website can be most useful in ruling out that very company from consideration. If the samples suck, or there's no mention of writers' certification, or there's no phone number, or if the big splashy home-page guarantee makes promises that are near impossible to deliver after reading the teensy weensy fine print in the terms and conditions, this is a company that doesn't deserve your money and won't deliver a resume that's competitive in the marketplace. Move on to the next.

And when you find a company whose website has all their ducks in a row, that's not the end of it. Because facts can be slippery and images not always what they seem. Take your analysis to the next level and consider the company's BBB (Better Business Bureau) score, levels of complaints from past customers, and reviews by those who identify themselves and in whom you trust.

We've tried to make some of this easier; on our home page, you'll find the major players in the resume business ranked by BBB score. Mini reviews are linked to in-depth analysis by Yours Truly.