Posted by Tom Krengel
on 05/17/09
Get exactly what you want for your business's website--on time and on budget.
Every business reaches a point where it must have a professional online presence - both in look and functionalty. Educating oneself on all that goes into a successful website project can be overwhelming for a website owner. And the learning curve for an already busy entrepreneur can be steep. Here, are six tips to help you realize an attractive and effective site--on time and on budget.
1. Do your homework
The first step in finding a developer you like is finding designs you like. Start by looking at both the developer's portfolio of work and sites of your competitors and similar businesses that you like. Ask for the advice and input of colleagues and friends. Don't just go to Google and pick the first developer in the list.
But taste is only one consideration. Many developers specialize in creating a particular kind of site. A developer whose previous work includes only small, brochure-style sites might be a poor fit for a large online store or enterprise level corporate website, so it's important to consider the scope of your project as well.
2. Be prepared to collaborate
Many people don't realize how much of their input is essential in order to achieve a success website project. The misconception is that they're simply going to call a web development firm and say, "Make me a website and show me the completed project in two weeks when it's all done" and that it will in fact be done to their liking.
The reality is that the process is a two-way street, a true collaboration--from start to finish. In the beginning, good developers typically ask for detailed descriptions of what prospective clients expect to achieve from their websites, their targeted audience makeup, website goals, as well as the budget established for the project. If a developer provides an online questionnaire, potential clients should complete it as thoroughly as possible.
3. Know what you're paying for
Once the match is made, a contract is the next step. And here clients can't be too careful. Everything that's meant to be included in the project--from the payment schedule to the number of revisions that a client is allowed to request--should be spelled out. While many developers are flexible about small changes, its best to know for certain in advance. Finally, be prepared to pay a portion of the overall project cost, typically 1/3, before any work begins.
4. Be honest, but don't nitpick
Generally, developers provide clients with a mockup of a proposed design before initiating coding and programming for a working site, and this is a very important stage of the project. Clients should be honest if they want to see a different design. Most developers agree that wholesale revisions are usually better than a lot of small changes.
If you feel like the design is way off the mark and it doesn't feel right for your business, don't be hesitant to say so. At the same time, understand that requests like 'put more space on the left and right, or combine this element from this design with these elements from this one' may leave you with a design that resembles Frankenstein. If this happens, neither side of the website collaboration is happy or pleased with the outcome.
5. Agree to a timeline you can live with
While the developer provides a site's visual and technical framework, the client is usually responsible for providing the site's content--most commonly the text and images (line art and photos). Failing to do so as scheduled will usually delay completion of the project, sometimes drastically so.
If the text isn't already prepared, consider hiring a professional copywriter. Aside from taking the burden off the business owner, a copywriter can provide text that's customized for search engines, which will help potential customers find the site when it's finished. Good developers will either offer the service or can recommend several from which you can choose.
6. Be decisive
Content aside, the most common cause of delays or extra costs after the contract is signed are large directional changes or additions - also known as 'scope creep'. Many people under-estimate how long such changes will take to implement. Avoiding such misunderstandings are another example of the importance of establishing not only a good relationship but good communication between developer and client from the start.
A good relationship and an atmosphere that encourages open and effective two-way communication firmly established at the initiation of the project helps ensure any issues that crop up are not only handled professionally but won't jeopardize the successful delivery of the project.
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Tags: web design
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