Eight Factors in Choosing a Web Designer
| Category: Home Based Business - Marketing | Date: 2003-06-24 |
Your web site is the first step to your online success. It is the face of your business, and the design of your site can spell the success or doom of your online venture. If you do not have the skills to create your own site, here are eight factors you need to consider when choosing a web designer.
Eight seconds that is all it takes for your visitor to click away from your site. From the first few seconds, your web site must be able to grab the attention of your visitors and compel them to stay.
Your web site is the first step to your online success. People judge your business from your web site. It is the face of your business, and the design of your site can spell the success or doom of your online venture.
Planning to sell diamonds? Dont even think of using one of FrontPages ready-made templates! If your site screams "Amateur," the credibility of your business can be greatly eroded. Much like the storefront of a brick-and-mortar, your ability to attract people to your store will hinge a lot on the look, feel, quality and content of your site. The more comfortable a person is with the site, the better that person is likely to feel about the company. A visit to your companys Web site is a virtual visit to your company.
Some creative and technically inclined entrepreneurs design their own site. However, for the rest of us who do not know HTML programming or has little artistic skills, the solution would be to hire a web site designer. Effective corporate Web sites require professional design. But how do you choose a professional Web site designer?
Here are eight important factors to consider in the evaluation of a Web designer or agency:
1. Your Budget and Timeline
Web site design can cost you anywhere from $500 to $50,000, depending on the size, technology applications and graphical interface. Before making the final choice for a designer, shop around to determine whether the costs are competitive. A few pages may not cost much, but the price becomes substantial if you include custom-made software applications. Clarify what kind of services will be rendered - the number of pages to be created, the addition of java scripts, installation of CGI scripts and storefront components. Some designers even offer to submit the site to search engines.
One important point: make sure that your expectations are realistic with the constraints of technology and your budget. Given your budget, what are the capabilities and limitations of the technology that it can allow? A good developer will guide you through the available options and their costs, and will propose several solutions.
Discuss and agree upon such crucial components as the timeline, process and. Even though dates may slip, it gives both parties a common frame of reference.
2. Chemistry
The decision to choose a web developer goes beyond their design portfolio, technical expertise and even prices. Instead of asking, "How much does it cost?" your first question should be "Can I work with this designer?" It is important to see eye-to-eye with your Web designer in every step of the way.
Chemistry between client and developer is one of the most significant factors in creating a successful working relationship/partnership. When you meet with a potential developer, assess if it is a good personality fit.
Determine if they are willing to work with you and your staffs (if any) in the Web site development, listening to your wants and needs for the site. More importantly, assess the developers attitude towards accommodating revisions. Gauge how open he or she is to suggestions. Knowing these things can ease the inevitable obstacles that arise during the development process.
3. Level of Knowledge and Understanding of Your Sector
Along with questions about the designers technical abilities, you need to ask questions about the designers ability to understand your business objectives and translate those onto the site. Does the developer begin by looking with you at your business, your needs, your customers needs, your vision, your goals, and how a Web site can and should address and serve all of these?
They should also have prior experience in developing the type of sites and tools that your Web initiative will require. Does this developer specialize in serving businesses like yours or businesses on another scale?
It helps if a Web developer has a special interest in your industry, product or target demographic. They should display enthusiasm for your initiative and actively engage in suggesting possibilities for you to consider. Evaluate if the developer is particularly interested in the prospect of working with your company and helping you meet your goals, and is not merely taking on the project for a learning experience or for monetary reasons.
4. Expertise and Technical Skills
A web designer must have the ability to create a site that makes visitors go `Wow and deliver consistent quality through the following pages. It is important to choose a developer who has the desired design capabilities and technological know-how to execute the site you want. In addition, you should work with a developer who typically builds sites within your budget range. Remember to keep your desires in line with your budget.
Because the Web allows for graphic presentations, it is easy to get caught up in the design. Your site should be attractive, but not overwhelming with gratuitous animations and slow loading pages. The designer must understand that your site is not merely a showcase of his or her technical prowess and artistic abilities. Your site must not be designed for design sake; but as a means of conveying the best possible look for your business.
Check his portfolio and look to see whether each site the developer designs uniquely reflect the business it represents, or whether the site has a uniform look. Ask them to discuss how they can translate their past experience into a value-add for your project.
5. Process
At the onset, clarify with the designer the milestones of the development process. Know whose input and approval is required to make each decision in order to proceed past each milestone. The more effectively you can anticipate any potential bottlenecks, the easier it will be to prevent them. Make special note of deliverables and deadlines, and make sure you feel comfortable with the work-style of the developer you are interviewing.
If you are working with a design firm, be sure to clarify who their focal point will be.
6. References
In hiring a web designer, you need to study their existing portfolio of work, ask questions and check references. Request for samples of their work, and study how well their designs fit the overall business of their clients. Ask yourself, "Do I like the designers solutions?" Does the design complement or overwhelm the business? A list of four to five existing client sites can provide you with a good example of the firms use of graphics, text integration and user-friendliness. In assessing a firm, speak to their references, as well as their past customers before signing a contract. It is important to gauge the working attitude of your potential Web collaborator. Reliability is an issue that cant be ignored. Ask them what they learned in working with the designer or agency and how responsive they felt them to be throughout the process. Some of the questions that you need to ask are:
Was the designer qualified?
Did he meet deadlines?
Are you happy with the site?
Was the designer easy to work with?
7. Communication
A good channel of communication between client and developer fosters an easier building process. Projects can get off track when clients and developers fail to communicate regularly. It is important that both parties have complete awareness of any obstacles, budget constraints and scheduling problems that may arise throughout the course of the site development. If you are working with one or more outside agencies (i.e. an ad agency, strategic consulting firm, or PR firm) you will want to evaluate the ability of the Web developer to interact with the different parties and their past experience in doing so.
In your interview with the designers references, you need to determine his or response time on e-mail and phone calls. This is especially important if the designer is working on a part-time basis. Many part-time designers have other full-time jobs that keep them busy during the day. Others are students working odd hours and some are professionals who have short workweeks with regular office hours. In these cases, response time to phone calls and e-mail is an important key in gauging the expected level of service.
8. Scope of the Project
The objectives, scope and limitations of the project must be clear at the onset. Oftentimes, projects outgrow its budget because of miscalculation or underestimation of its size. A thorough, well-written scope of work is essential to a successful project. You also need to determine if the partnership will be a short-term fix, where you essentially "hire a style," or a long-term solution where the design team plays an integral part in your ventures future. After a careful evaluation of several Web development agencies of similar size and background you should have a good sense of how your project might develop.
An important question that you need to clarify is about who has access to and control over site content, as well as the ownership of the site and all the graphics that it contain.
About the author:
Cpoyright 2000 PowerHomeBiz.com, LLC, Power HomeBiz Guides. for more articles , visit Power HomeBizGuides at powerhomebiz.com an online magazine designed to stimulate your entrepreneurial mind. We make small business do BIG business. To subscribe to the bi=weekly newsletter , send an e-mail to newsletter@powerhomebiz.com
:To contact see details below.
nachm@powerhomebiz.com
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/
Eight seconds that is all it takes for your visitor to click away from your site. From the first few seconds, your web site must be able to grab the attention of your visitors and compel them to stay.
Your web site is the first step to your online success. People judge your business from your web site. It is the face of your business, and the design of your site can spell the success or doom of your online venture.
Planning to sell diamonds? Dont even think of using one of FrontPages ready-made templates! If your site screams "Amateur," the credibility of your business can be greatly eroded. Much like the storefront of a brick-and-mortar, your ability to attract people to your store will hinge a lot on the look, feel, quality and content of your site. The more comfortable a person is with the site, the better that person is likely to feel about the company. A visit to your companys Web site is a virtual visit to your company.
Some creative and technically inclined entrepreneurs design their own site. However, for the rest of us who do not know HTML programming or has little artistic skills, the solution would be to hire a web site designer. Effective corporate Web sites require professional design. But how do you choose a professional Web site designer?
Here are eight important factors to consider in the evaluation of a Web designer or agency:
1. Your Budget and Timeline
Web site design can cost you anywhere from $500 to $50,000, depending on the size, technology applications and graphical interface. Before making the final choice for a designer, shop around to determine whether the costs are competitive. A few pages may not cost much, but the price becomes substantial if you include custom-made software applications. Clarify what kind of services will be rendered - the number of pages to be created, the addition of java scripts, installation of CGI scripts and storefront components. Some designers even offer to submit the site to search engines.
One important point: make sure that your expectations are realistic with the constraints of technology and your budget. Given your budget, what are the capabilities and limitations of the technology that it can allow? A good developer will guide you through the available options and their costs, and will propose several solutions.
Discuss and agree upon such crucial components as the timeline, process and. Even though dates may slip, it gives both parties a common frame of reference.
2. Chemistry
The decision to choose a web developer goes beyond their design portfolio, technical expertise and even prices. Instead of asking, "How much does it cost?" your first question should be "Can I work with this designer?" It is important to see eye-to-eye with your Web designer in every step of the way.
Chemistry between client and developer is one of the most significant factors in creating a successful working relationship/partnership. When you meet with a potential developer, assess if it is a good personality fit.
Determine if they are willing to work with you and your staffs (if any) in the Web site development, listening to your wants and needs for the site. More importantly, assess the developers attitude towards accommodating revisions. Gauge how open he or she is to suggestions. Knowing these things can ease the inevitable obstacles that arise during the development process.
3. Level of Knowledge and Understanding of Your Sector
Along with questions about the designers technical abilities, you need to ask questions about the designers ability to understand your business objectives and translate those onto the site. Does the developer begin by looking with you at your business, your needs, your customers needs, your vision, your goals, and how a Web site can and should address and serve all of these?
They should also have prior experience in developing the type of sites and tools that your Web initiative will require. Does this developer specialize in serving businesses like yours or businesses on another scale?
It helps if a Web developer has a special interest in your industry, product or target demographic. They should display enthusiasm for your initiative and actively engage in suggesting possibilities for you to consider. Evaluate if the developer is particularly interested in the prospect of working with your company and helping you meet your goals, and is not merely taking on the project for a learning experience or for monetary reasons.
4. Expertise and Technical Skills
A web designer must have the ability to create a site that makes visitors go `Wow and deliver consistent quality through the following pages. It is important to choose a developer who has the desired design capabilities and technological know-how to execute the site you want. In addition, you should work with a developer who typically builds sites within your budget range. Remember to keep your desires in line with your budget.
Because the Web allows for graphic presentations, it is easy to get caught up in the design. Your site should be attractive, but not overwhelming with gratuitous animations and slow loading pages. The designer must understand that your site is not merely a showcase of his or her technical prowess and artistic abilities. Your site must not be designed for design sake; but as a means of conveying the best possible look for your business.
Check his portfolio and look to see whether each site the developer designs uniquely reflect the business it represents, or whether the site has a uniform look. Ask them to discuss how they can translate their past experience into a value-add for your project.
5. Process
At the onset, clarify with the designer the milestones of the development process. Know whose input and approval is required to make each decision in order to proceed past each milestone. The more effectively you can anticipate any potential bottlenecks, the easier it will be to prevent them. Make special note of deliverables and deadlines, and make sure you feel comfortable with the work-style of the developer you are interviewing.
If you are working with a design firm, be sure to clarify who their focal point will be.
6. References
In hiring a web designer, you need to study their existing portfolio of work, ask questions and check references. Request for samples of their work, and study how well their designs fit the overall business of their clients. Ask yourself, "Do I like the designers solutions?" Does the design complement or overwhelm the business? A list of four to five existing client sites can provide you with a good example of the firms use of graphics, text integration and user-friendliness. In assessing a firm, speak to their references, as well as their past customers before signing a contract. It is important to gauge the working attitude of your potential Web collaborator. Reliability is an issue that cant be ignored. Ask them what they learned in working with the designer or agency and how responsive they felt them to be throughout the process. Some of the questions that you need to ask are:
Was the designer qualified?
Did he meet deadlines?
Are you happy with the site?
Was the designer easy to work with?
7. Communication
A good channel of communication between client and developer fosters an easier building process. Projects can get off track when clients and developers fail to communicate regularly. It is important that both parties have complete awareness of any obstacles, budget constraints and scheduling problems that may arise throughout the course of the site development. If you are working with one or more outside agencies (i.e. an ad agency, strategic consulting firm, or PR firm) you will want to evaluate the ability of the Web developer to interact with the different parties and their past experience in doing so.
In your interview with the designers references, you need to determine his or response time on e-mail and phone calls. This is especially important if the designer is working on a part-time basis. Many part-time designers have other full-time jobs that keep them busy during the day. Others are students working odd hours and some are professionals who have short workweeks with regular office hours. In these cases, response time to phone calls and e-mail is an important key in gauging the expected level of service.
8. Scope of the Project
The objectives, scope and limitations of the project must be clear at the onset. Oftentimes, projects outgrow its budget because of miscalculation or underestimation of its size. A thorough, well-written scope of work is essential to a successful project. You also need to determine if the partnership will be a short-term fix, where you essentially "hire a style," or a long-term solution where the design team plays an integral part in your ventures future. After a careful evaluation of several Web development agencies of similar size and background you should have a good sense of how your project might develop.
An important question that you need to clarify is about who has access to and control over site content, as well as the ownership of the site and all the graphics that it contain.
About the author:
Cpoyright 2000 PowerHomeBiz.com, LLC, Power HomeBiz Guides. for more articles , visit Power HomeBizGuides at powerhomebiz.com an online magazine designed to stimulate your entrepreneurial mind. We make small business do BIG business. To subscribe to the bi=weekly newsletter , send an e-mail to newsletter@powerhomebiz.com
:To contact see details below.
nachm@powerhomebiz.com
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/
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