3 Tips to get the most out of a website project
21 Feb
So you’ve hired a designer or you’re looking for a website designer, but now what? There are lists all over the internet so I thought I’d but down a few of the best. Despite our best efforts, web designers are not magicians and it is up to the client to create the content of the site. In fact, even starting a design is not a great idea until we (web designers) have what we need from you, the client. Here are 3 of many tips.
- Organize. Figure out what you want on the site. Everything from photos to text to downloads / videos / testimonials, etc. Don’t leave it up to the designer to figure out what the site should say. Not sure? Ask the designer or pay a professional writer to help organize thoughts and write concisely and intelligently. This also means get files to the designer: Logos, photos, videos and other content are all necessary for a web designer to decide on sizes, dimensions, colors, spacing, etc. To have a designer start without having what you need first will only end up costing you time and money. So get the files together and email them as soon as you can.
- Reference other clients and work. I’ve heard many small business owners who hired a web designer only to find “they flaked out, I never heard from them again” or “the site looks horrible.” And I find that usually there were several warning signs of a bad designer.
- Trust the web designer, at least for a while. Be active in letting the designer know what you like and don’t like, but the web designer is going to be aware of limitations of the site and what things work and which things don’t. Don’t get hung up on the little things, yet. Let the site have a chance to take effect before deciding it doesn’t work or is ugly. That means a couple months usually, especially for search engines to pick it up. Ask your customers and friends, but take everything with a grain of salt.
For some a great article with advice for designers, check out eight ways to save your client money.
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