{"id":13870,"date":"2013-11-21T07:13:32","date_gmt":"2013-11-21T12:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webhostinggeeks.com\/blog\/?p=13870"},"modified":"2017-12-17T13:10:12","modified_gmt":"2017-12-17T18:10:12","slug":"building-your-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webhostinggeeks.com\/blog\/building-your-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How Building Your Website SHOULD Progress"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most frightening processes for any business, especial a small to mid-sized business, is when it’s time to build a website. There are few resources that speak in non-technical terms, and when shopping around for professionals who specialize in web development and design, costs and further technical jargon can make one’s head spin. Still, there are those, albeit a few people on the technical side that understand a client’s needs, both in design\/development and how to relay the project in simple, easy to understand terms. The upfront discussions usually will tell both parties if there will be a smooth project ahead.<\/p>\n

\"Hand<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

An Education Few Have Learned<\/h2>\n

A recent gathering for a program entitled, \u201cEducational Night: The Business of Design,” the evening\u2019s program was hosted by a local design studio that is making leaps and bounds in the local and national scene, so it didn\u2019t take long for the reservations to pour in until there were no more spaces to be had. Both designers and clients were present for this talk, and the difference in approaches were evident by the banter going back and forth before the lecture started.<\/p>\n

\"Multiethnic<\/a><\/p>\n

The account manager started the lecture by relaying his start as a designer and being forced through increasing responsibility to the studio of having to learn to deal with clients. This is not just talking to people but knowing the nuances of negotiations, trouble-shooting, explanations, and everything else involved in running projects as the client contact. He added:<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve held the role of designer, art director, creative director, studio manager, account manager, and wearer-of-many-hats. Dealing with people is hard enough on a daily basis as you drive, shop, and use a public laundromat, so having to maintain a working relationship, bound by a contract, many thousands of dollars, and a process that few, if any, clients understand, is a unique challenge.”<\/p>\n

\"Hand<\/a><\/p>\n

A Clear Process<\/h2>\n

Tough economics, competition between creatives and studios, and the cost of a web site with certain collateral projects has clients worried\u2026 not that they weren\u2019t worried before but now it has become imperative to waylay the client\u2019s fears with a lot of \u201chand-holding,\u201d explaining what will happen when, how, and why.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it makes perfect sense. How often do designers complain about a project going awry because a client injects a want at the wrong time or mushrooms the scope of the project? By explaining the process, in detail at the beginning, both parties should understand the milestones and what can and should be expected by BOTH the client and the creative team. As someone at the meeting interjected, \u201cwouldn\u2019t you want a doctor to tell you why and how he\/she was going to operate on you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a defined process \u2013 and not the type that we brand, hype up and never use \u2013 that is engrained in our culture, we not only understand internally exactly how every project will go, but we have the ability to establish the same expectations with our clients,\u201d explained the account exec. \u201cWhen buying creative services, there is much trepidation around working with free spirited artists. This process removes much of the variability that keep clients awake at night.\u201d<\/p>\n

By simply stating, \u201cThis is what we do, and this is what it typically costs, is this a good fit?\u201d it eliminates a lot of the needless bartering and wasted time crafting custom proposals for clients. By defining what \"Businessmen<\/a>we do for brands, and what we don\u2019t do, it\u2019s become easier for us determine cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

The studio owner related on how this has impacted the studio both in the bottom line of financial considerations, such as profit margins and people hours on a project but also on repeat clients as opposed to one-time clients. \u201cDesign,” he continued, “is a valuable services to clients, and conversations about cost shouldn\u2019t be awkward and embarrassing. They also should happen as early as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProcess allows designers and agencies to streamline their internal efforts, and helps clients have a better understanding of what they\u2019re buying. But on a more broad scale, it allows us to fight the commoditization of our industry. Let\u2019s be honest, designers are a dime a dozen in a client\u2019s eyes. The market is so saturated that our clients are losing the ability to distinguish between us (designers), resulting in competition based on price rather than talent. Bottom line: they think that all designers are the same, so they hire the cheapest one possible.”<\/p>\n

\u201cProcess represents a chance to stand out,” he continued. \u201cit demonstrates that a designer understands what it takes for he\/she to consistently do good work, and depending on the process employed, may allow them to produce more strategic, educated creative than their peers. Clients will notice the difference and usually pay for it, too.”<\/p>\n

\"Hand<\/a><\/p>\n

Process on the Client End<\/h2>\n

As with any business expenditure, be prepared to pay for quality. If you hire an electrician to wire the power for your office and they quote $7,000 do you really want to chance a beating when you tell them \u201c$200 is all (you\u2019re) willing to spend\u201d or go out and find someone who will actually do $7,000 worth of work for $200? If so, keep lots of fire extinguishers handy and insure your expensive computer equipment for when power surges blow out the processors.<\/p>\n

This is not to say you shouldn\u2019t shop around. Perhaps a competent electrician with a good reputation can wire your office for $5,000. Well, you just saved $2,000 and will have piece of mind that you won\u2019t die a fiery death. The same goes for any professional service. A friend of mine was so excited to have bought all of her office phones on a New York City Street for a quarter of what she would have to pay in a store. It would have been a coup if the phones actually had any wiring inside them.<\/p>\n

\"webdesign.coding\"<\/p>\n

Shop around for a designer but make sure they are wired inside. It\u2019s better to have a reliable source in case there is a problem with your site as a reliable designer will solve the problem right away, saving you income if you depend heavily on your site, rather than trying to go through contest or bidding site channels to get in touch with the person two continents away, in another time zone, to solve the problem\u2026 after negotiating another fee and creating the paperwork and contract through that site. Time lost and time is money.<\/p>\n

\"ConfusedNaturally, the bigger the design firm, the higher the cost. True, there MAY be higher service and abilities (a firm can write content, develop, design, program and come up with branding and a marketing plan\u2026 but so can a freelancer in many cases). A freelancer, in many cases, may be freshly out of a big design firm and has the experience to give you whatever you need. Check their r\u00e9sum\u00e9 to see what other clients they have serviced. Talk to them about how they work and what they see for your own needs. As with any service provider, referral or not, shop around.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, you should feel a comfortable bond with your creative provider. Trust, communication and transparency are the utmost in your relationship.<\/p>\n

You might need a first web site for your business or just want to update your existing one with some new technology, want to establish or freshen your brand or create some paper or digital marketing material. Whatever you need, there are great design studios or freelancers available to deliver your needs.<\/p>\n

For the sake of this example, let\u2019s say you need a new web site. How do you find a competent vendor for the development and design?<\/p>\n