Need help designing a great website? Just decided to build a website? Or maybe redesign an existing one?
Then you must be in the market to find the perfect web designer at the right price. We may all be comfortable working on a computer and browsing online but, for the most part, a lot of us are still pretty clueless about how websites are built and put together. Unfortunately, because of their lack of knowledge in the field, business owners tend to use pricing as the main criteria for hiring a web designer.
While price is an important part of the process, it shouldn't be the deciding factor. In doing so, you may be missing out on real knowledge and basing your choice on a short-term gain that might have some long-term effects.
Create a clear job description or "blueprint" that will help you communicate your needs based on these six principles. This will also help you list which activities are your responsibilities and which are your designers'.
Define the site's purpose. Is it a corporate website? Is it product-centric? Should it directly generate sales? Clearly define your goals and who your target audience is. Otherwise, you and your developer will go in circles finalizing and amending features to the site. Providing content is your responsibility while making sure that the designer is on the same page in terms of site layout, design and color scheme.
Research on where your site files should be hosted. There is a lot of information online. However, you may seek the recommendation of your web designer in giving you the advantages and disadvantages of different site hosts.
Arrange content management. A CMS (content management system) is a great tool that allows, in principle, a layperson to modify and maintain a website's content. But it's not always straightforward. It would be best to include training as part of your agreement with the web designer or agency. If possible, have the web designer provide a quick guide to CMS operation so you can easily train future staff, if needed.
Don't reinvent the wheel. Work smarter, not harder. As an entrepreneur, you are often used to doing things yourself. At some point though, you have to realize that reinventing the wheel is a waste of time. Use website templates as a starting point for example. All developers do this. Together with your web designer, you can modify the template and make it your own. Please remember when a client looks at a design more often than not they see the aesthetics like the design, colors and placement, but a developer sees the technique and the programming blocks.
Take enough time. If you want quality, then you've got to give the site development time. It could take up to four months to develop a good site with all the content and designs finalized and approved. A great side requires double that time, at least.
You get what you pay for. An informational site with little to no content change will cost much less than a site that either carries a large amount of features or has specialized functionalities.
Check these five important features in a website development project:
1) Sitemap/Base
2) Wireframes/Architecture
3) Design/UX
3) Production/Development
4) Testing/Debugging/QA
5) Going live.
Each of the above steps needs to be included in the detailed project plan before starting the project. In addition, feedback between the client and agency should be a regular part of the project process.
© Zawya BusinessPulse QATAR 2014
Then you must be in the market to find the perfect web designer at the right price. We may all be comfortable working on a computer and browsing online but, for the most part, a lot of us are still pretty clueless about how websites are built and put together. Unfortunately, because of their lack of knowledge in the field, business owners tend to use pricing as the main criteria for hiring a web designer.
While price is an important part of the process, it shouldn't be the deciding factor. In doing so, you may be missing out on real knowledge and basing your choice on a short-term gain that might have some long-term effects.
Create a clear job description or "blueprint" that will help you communicate your needs based on these six principles. This will also help you list which activities are your responsibilities and which are your designers'.
Define the site's purpose. Is it a corporate website? Is it product-centric? Should it directly generate sales? Clearly define your goals and who your target audience is. Otherwise, you and your developer will go in circles finalizing and amending features to the site. Providing content is your responsibility while making sure that the designer is on the same page in terms of site layout, design and color scheme.
Research on where your site files should be hosted. There is a lot of information online. However, you may seek the recommendation of your web designer in giving you the advantages and disadvantages of different site hosts.
Arrange content management. A CMS (content management system) is a great tool that allows, in principle, a layperson to modify and maintain a website's content. But it's not always straightforward. It would be best to include training as part of your agreement with the web designer or agency. If possible, have the web designer provide a quick guide to CMS operation so you can easily train future staff, if needed.
Don't reinvent the wheel. Work smarter, not harder. As an entrepreneur, you are often used to doing things yourself. At some point though, you have to realize that reinventing the wheel is a waste of time. Use website templates as a starting point for example. All developers do this. Together with your web designer, you can modify the template and make it your own. Please remember when a client looks at a design more often than not they see the aesthetics like the design, colors and placement, but a developer sees the technique and the programming blocks.
Take enough time. If you want quality, then you've got to give the site development time. It could take up to four months to develop a good site with all the content and designs finalized and approved. A great side requires double that time, at least.
You get what you pay for. An informational site with little to no content change will cost much less than a site that either carries a large amount of features or has specialized functionalities.
Check these five important features in a website development project:
1) Sitemap/Base
2) Wireframes/Architecture
3) Design/UX
3) Production/Development
4) Testing/Debugging/QA
5) Going live.
Each of the above steps needs to be included in the detailed project plan before starting the project. In addition, feedback between the client and agency should be a regular part of the project process.
© Zawya BusinessPulse QATAR 2014
