Web Development and Organization
Whether you're redesigning your web site or creating something brand new, organization is the key to unlocking all the mysteries of the web. The more organized you can be prior to your first meeting with your developing company, the better off you, and your business, will be.
Step 1: Decide what is important.
Take some time and think about what is most important to you. Do you want a site that is SEO friendly, or is it more important for you to dazzle your audience with a complicated site? Do you want something that will load quickly and is easy to use, or would you rather have lots of flash and huge piles of data? What is the first thing you want your visitor to do, read your blog, or buy your steak knives? Write this idea down and do nothing other than think about how you can take the idea of what you want to happen and make it a reality. Always remember that if you want one thing, you will likely have to give up something else to make it happen.
Step 2: Write it down.
Have everything you want typed and saved so that it can be emailed to whichever development companies fit your needs. This will greatly expedite the bidding and give the web company all of the tools it needs to give an accurate price and time quote. If you are budgeting or getting financial help from somewhere other than your bank account, this step is huge. Many companies or small business owners try to skip this step by meeting with the development company and discussing the project. However, any good developing company will not allow the process to progress as far as a quote without this information.
Step 3: Compare.
The quote for your site should be itemized and simple to read. Read it! Are you sure it has all the functionality you want? Is there more than one way to make money on your site? Do you want AdSense or will you be selling something? Do you want both? Is there possibility of more than one ecommerce opportunity? If so, which one is within your budget? Keep in mind that if a developer is cheap, there is usually a reason. This is not like comparing the same product at Walmart vs Macy's. Developing is most often priced by what I call the "abilities;" dependability, ability, and stability. Don't discount a company just because they are on the high end of your budget. If the deal seems too good to be true it probably is. Some horror stories include: a site that doesn't work, does not have the content, content was supposed to be dynamic (content can be changed by an administrator) and is not, the site is months late, just to name a few.
Step 4: Look past the money
Visit the company. Concentrate on the personality of the staff. Is it a company that is friendly and available? Do they answer the phone? Your developer should be available, interested in your wants and needs, and flexible. If you find yourself calling repeatedly and not getting a human, not having phone calls returned, or not totally agreeing with the workings of the company, go elsewhere. It is very important that a web company and a client mesh. Too much work must be a collaboration for there to be any friction. More importantly, the company should be interested in your ideas, but they should also give you a rundown of best web practices so that you completely understand web marketing and its special nuances.
Step 5: Draw what you want
Once you have chosen your company, sit down with them, and draw out the pages of the site that are most important to you and your business. Sit down with your development company and talk about what you've drawn (some companies like to do this with you). Understanding must be total if the site is going to come out exactly right. Be prepared to present a list of sites that you like, or that contain the look and feel you would like to portray. They don't need to be in the same business, they just need to be like what you want.
Step 6: Meet and Talk throughout the process
You should never feel disconnected or like you don't know what's going on in this process. This is your web-bread-and-butter after all. So get in there! Be involved! Never forget that this is your baby too! It is likely that you will find something that you did not think of before. Get quotes for any extra work BEFORE it is done.
Step 7: Know when to say "When!"
This step should be 6b. Be sure to know when to stop revising your site and get it finished. There comes a point when too many revisions in the original build will confuse you and your design company, and it will cause your site to be late. This is a trap that developers and their clients have in common. Great ideas know no bounds, but eventually, your site is supposed to pay for itself. Don't reach so deep in to your pocket that the site has no hope of catching up within a reasonable amount of time. Remember that most web companies who are in a specialized industry can take 5 years or longer before they see a decent return on their investment. So think before you revise. Can this change be done after launch? Is it absolutely necessary right away? Knowing the answers to these questions will save oodles of time and expense. Not to mention, head aches
In the end, you should end up with a site that costs, functions, and looks the way you and your design company agreed upon. Be sure they answer all your questions before and after the launch, and be sure you've looked the site over forward and backward. Most importantly, get training on the use of your new site. Your future is in your hands.
