MikeyCampling

If you’re a web pro, then what I’m about to say will be obvious.  But if you’re just dipping your toe into the wonderful world of the web, read on.

Stage 1 – They’ve got one, I want one.

Stop. Take a cold shower.

Better now? OK.  Listen.  Web projects are complicated.  Yes, I know your nephew made a website for his rockband and he’s only twelve but then, just because I can make a pretty good macaroni cheese, I don’t claim to be a chef.  If you want your site to be effective, it’s got to be done correctly and that will take time.  And it will cost money.

I may be shooting myself in the foot here, but please stop and ask yourself if you really do need a website.  Will it be a worthwhile investment?  Will it actually increase your sales or make your life easier in some way?

If you aren’t ready yet, then please wait.  So many small businesses have awful websites and, as a consumer, I find that bad websites put me off.  By all means, register a domain name.  Many registrars will allow you a free parking page and an email address and both could be useful.

Stage 2 – I’m ready to go online.

Great.  So your business is going according to plan.  You have some cash to spend and some time to spare. Your site can be up and running by next Tuesday – right?

Wrong.

It’s time to think and plan. But not about websites – about people.

Who will be the stakeholders in this project?  Who will take responsibility for it?  How will your users interact with your site?

Get all your stakeholders together and get them talking.  Try to value everyone’s contributions.  Do your best to get everyone involved.

Try to pin down some measurable objectives for your site, e.g. we will increase sales by 10% over 12 months.

Stage 3 – Talk to the Pros

Research your local webdesigners.  Try to meet with a few of them. Do they seem willing to understand you and your objectives?

You’re going to have to build a relationship with your designer so consider if you could work with them long-term.

Avoid anyone who promises you the moon (i.e. a number one ranking on google) for a suspiciously low cost.

If money is tight, consider using a one man band; they’ll have lower overheads.  Also, be prepared to balance cost and time.  A large agency can charge more but will employ several people to get the job done quickly.  If you can wait, you could save a lot of money.

Stage 4 – Go for it.

It’s time to commit.  Agree a timescale and a budget with your designer.

At this stage, don’t forget those stakeholders.  Keep them informed and share progress with them.  Ask for their opinions but don’t let them derail your project – remember those objectives.

A couple of pleas here.

Don’t expect your designer to work without a contract (if they are – be suspicious).

Please don’t expect a designer to prepare any preliminary work for no pay.

Stage 5 – Test and sign off.

Don’t sign off your project until you’ve tested it with stakeholders and users.  A good designer will encourage you to do this – but don’t expect them to hang around forever.  A couple of weeks of intensive updates and modifications should cover it, but discuss this with your designer.

Stage 6 – Review

Some web guru said that websites are never finished, only abandoned.  Monitor your website, check your analytics (or pay a pro to do this for you) and be prepared to pay for any modifications that you request after you’ve signed the project off.  Look out for new opportunities as the online world changes and expands, e.g. social media integration, advertising, e-commerce, email newsletters.  If your site has been well-built, it should provide a solid foundation for your online future.

That’s it.

Very brief I know, but perhaps you can suggest some additions?

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