Tips on How to Navigate the Web Development Process

While the web development process may not be something your business handles on the day-to-day, it has the potential to be an integral factor in the success of your business. As Bill Gates once said, “If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business.”
 
This may sound like propaganda to influence businesses to get a website; however, it is quite simply an accurate observation for today’s industry. That being said, this article will offer tips to help you get the most out of your interactions with your web development company.

Designate a Main Point of Contact

When it comes time to communicate with your web development company, it is best to route all of your communications to your assigned point of contact, or account manager. These individuals are specifically trained to delegate tasks to those who are best equipped to handle your requests. By keeping their contact information at hand, you will be able to get in touch with them directly, making for the most efficient middleman possible.

Additionally, assign an individual from your organization to act as the liaison for your business. Doing so can help to make sure information is communicated efficiently. This will prevent important details about a request or a project specification from getting lost in translation. Be sure to use your liaison to convey the company’s thoughts, goals, and wishes for your new website. This may mean that the business holds internal meetings before the design meeting occurs. Doing so will ensure that stakeholders for your organization have a shared vision regarding how your new website should look and function.

Finally, be sure to always keep your account manager in the loop; notifying them of changes you'd like regarding the direction of the website's design or functionality.

Be Prepared

Spend a lot of time internally to discuss and decide what you would like to communicate to your Account Manager. Here are a few things to think about for starters:

• The message you want to communicate to your users
• How you want a user to interact with the website 
• Other websites you admire; make sure to note particular features or design aspects that you like about those websites
• Consider what your competition is doing. Do you need to replicate or include similar features? And if so, how you could improve that feature for your website?
• Think about the content well in advance; if you’re starting from scratch or even doing a revamp, the content typically takes twice as long as you think it will! This isn’t to say that you need to have everything figured out by the time you first meet with your account manager; just be aware that creating content is time-consuming. Here at Global Reach, our Internet Marketing Team is experienced in content planning, development, information architecture, and more!

Speak Up

If there is something you aren’t sure you want to move forward with, or if there is something in the design that you think you might like changed, say something as soon as possible. Differentiate between a design element and a development aspect of a project. If you wait until after the production process has begun, you are now looping two parts of the process into one, which may accrue additional time for the go-between on these revisions. A web development company will of course understand that things do change, and these moments do come up; however, it is important that, as a client, you understand the potential implications of these requests.

Understand the Process

As a client, it is important that you read the proposal in its entirety and become familiar with the implementation process from the early planning stages to launch day. This is yet another way to solidify the communication processes and know what role each party will play throughout.

Keep in mind, these are just a few things to think about when preparing for a web project, and every company’s process will be different. This article is meant to prepare you for your project, but you are not in this alone in this endeavor! Do know that your account manager is there for you! They are trained to help you consider your options, guide your decisions, and ensure that the transition from your old website to your new website is executed as smoothly as possible! 

Ready to embark on your next redesign? Reach out to us today!