How to Hire the Right Web Developer: Part 1–Defining Outcomes and Setting Boundaries

Posted: February 9th, 2009 | Filed under: Business and Entrepreneurship, Leverage and Outsourcing, Web Design, Web Programming | Tags: Business, Business Owners, web designer, Web Technology |

Finding the right web developer can mean the difference between a website that brings you results (i.e. ideal clients, money in the bank, greater worldwide reach and effect), and one that falls flat, drains your bank account, and launches in spite of months of work and revisions. In this two part series we explore 1) how to clarify what you’re seeking for in terms of results and a web service, and 2) how to navigate the sea of web applications, web services, web designers and developers out there to find an ideal match for you.

We’ve got a lot to cover so let’s get started!

PART 1: DEFINE YOUR OUTCOMES, FIND YOUR BOUNDARIES

Even if you don’t have an understanding of web technologies, and even if your business is just in the “ideas” phase where part of your exploration is to contact a web developer to begin to researching the viability of your idea, having a grasp of where you stand gives you a powerful foundation to stand on.

It’s like trying to build a house. Would you approach a contractor with just the instructions, “I’m seeing 3 or 4 rooms, with an area to gather and chat, and a nice kitchen,” or would you seek out an architect to appropriately render your vision, challenge your vision with ideas that might improve it, and then seek out a contractor to build your vision? Or, do you already have your clear outline of what you want to do, with a plan and outline, and simply need a contractor to execute your instructions?

Either phase of idea generation and development is fine, but it’s beneficial to know where you stand and know what kind of assistance you will require.

Another way to think about your blueprinting process is to imagine picking someone up from the airport whom you’ve never met – you’ll have a better chance of finding your person if you know exactly what they look like, from clothes to hair to skin color to jewelry to shoes. Think of what it how much easier still to know that person’s name, and enroll others in helping you find them!

Not only will being more organized on your end help you, it makes you more attractive to your web developer to want to work with you, want to take the extra time to add the little bells and whistles to add that certain “bling” to your site.

So what does it mean to know what you want in a website or website solution?
It’s having a clear sense of both business objectives and an understanding of your boundaries.

These boundaries include:
- Time spent managing the project
- Your technical knowledge, and the technical knowledge and understanding of your team
- What you want to spend, for both the website and for ongoing maintenance
- How much input you want to give to the creative process (not necessarily the approval process, the creative process itself)

Let’s take each of these boundaries one at a time, and how to prepare for each of them.

Business Objectives
1. Website aside, what is your overall business objective? Once you have this, How does your website fit into this overall objective?
2. How will you measure success? Higher site traffic, increased number of sales, larger transactions (i.e. more revenue per transaction), more leads?
3. Who is your target market? Who is your target PERSON? If there were a magical machine that took everyone you thought was in your target market and spit out a single person named “Bob”, what would he be like?
4. What SINGLE PRIMARY ACTION do you want people to take as a result of visiting your website? For example, “Call for more information”, “Sign up for my newsletter”, “Book a consultation”.
5. What SECONDARY RESULT do you want people to take as a result of visiting your website? For example, “Feel confident they found the right product or service for their needs”.

Project and Creative Involvement
How much time do you want to spend managing the project? Do you have a clear idea of what you want to do, or would you rather give ideas to your web developer and let them work their magic? The following questions will help to guide you towards how much support you will require, and where.

What level of care are you seeking? Think “spa” and “concierge” vs. the hand massager you get at Sharper Image. Do you want to direct each piece of the project, or do you want to leverage your time with a more experienced web developer?

Time to Launch
Do you have looming deadlines, or a event that your site launch has to coincide with?

Budget
How much are you willing to invest to build your website? If you could guarantee your return on investment, what then would you be willing to invest?
How much do you want to spend to maintain your website?
- Do you want it maintained for you, or do you want to maintain it yourself or by your team?
- Do you have technical expertise to maintain it, or will you need a straightforward content management system to easily maintain it?

Even if you are starting up, there are ways to customize your website to brand yourself.

Website Design Ideas
I put this section last because, although the “look and feel” is usually what people gravitate towards first, it doesn’t matter how beautiful your website is if your business objectives are not met. Additionally, budget and timeline will affect how creative you can be in execution.

When conducting your research, look at your competitor’s websites also for ideas.

Here are a few sites to look for design and structure ideas.

Design Directories
1. http://www.designmeltdown.com
2. http://www.commarts.com/webpicks

Site Examples
1. Squeeze/Landing Pages plus content:
http://www.doubleyourdating.com
http://www.ezinequeen.com
http://www.OperationShapeShift.com
http://www.QueenOfTheUnseen.com
http://www.SoloSuperheroes.com
http://www.DailyCandy.com
http://www.UrbanDaddy.com
2. Branding Websites
http://www.RockRacing.com
http://www.RockAndRepublic.com
http://www.ErinHuggins.com

Create Your Checklist and “Website Wishlist”
Answering the above questions and doing a bit of research gives a solid foundation to continue your search for your ideal web solution.

Complete this process above, then check out Part 2 where we use these answers to map out a plan of action.

What Kind of Web DESIGNER Do You Need?

Posted: February 5th, 2009 | Filed under: Business and Entrepreneurship, Leverage and Outsourcing, Web Design, Web Programming | |

When it comes to websites and the online world, there are many ways to describe the kind of websites out there: a branding website, a Flash website, a “flashy” website, a corporate website, a splash page, a squeeze or landing page, a sales page, a blog, a social networking site, the list goes on and on.

But what about Web DESIGNERS?

With the sea of different ways to express oneself and one’s business online, what kind of web designer do you need?

One that will simply change a bit of text on a template?
One that will take a template and make it yours?
One that will make a website from scratch?
One who works halfway around the world and leaves you guessing whether or not they’re going to deliver what they say they will, or just run with your money?
One that has knowledge in a variety of different kinds of websites?
One that can program as well as design?
One that only knows how to execute ideas given to them with extremely precise detail, or one who can take a concept and run with it?

How about one who has extensive marketing, creative direction, and design experience who has a “mountain top” view of all the kinds of online experiences out there, and can point you in the direction that’s going to bring *you* the best results?

If you know exactly what you want, know exactly what kind of technology to use and how you want it to look, your can take advantage of some lower-cost options and off your ideas, sketches, and content to them.

On the other hand, what if you’re new to the game and not quite sure what you want?

Or, maybe you think you know what you want, until you realize many thousands of dollars later that what you got wasn’t really what you wanted or were expecting. 

One question I get asked all the time is, “How much do you charge for a website?”

The answer is usually, “It depends.” After which some people leave scowling, thinking that I’m trying to dodge their answer.

But think about it – if you’re just starting out on a shoestring budget, do you really need all of the bells and whistles you think you need?

Maybe you’re part of a large, established corporation with very strict and rigid branding guidelines, like a Lexus, Nike, or Hewlett Packard?

The site requirements and budgets for each of the above types of businesses vary wildly.

For the new business, how about just getting something simple up, and start selling your product or services?

In this day of online interconnections, the first thing that often comes to mind when starting a business is, “I gotta get a website!”

Pouring money into a beautiful website is not necessarily what’s going to have money pouring into your wallet. It’s the thinking behind the website, the strategy, the idea, the target, the copy, the graphics, all tied together, all working together.

Oftentimes what people come to me for is a website. However, what they need is a business and marketing plan.

Sorry if this is sounding harsh, or if I’m squelching your enthusiasm.

I know I’ve gone through building myself some bling, flashy websites that did me nothing, while a simple page with my information on it and maybe a “Sign up for announcements” contact box got me more results that I’d ever imagined.

And while I’m all for taking your money and building you something awesomely cool (think movie studios with large advertising budgets) (hey, I’m in the City of Angels after all!), sometimes what you need to get started is a simple webpage.

You can always add the bells and whistles down the line.

IF it’s what works for you and your particular business.

IF it’s executed properly.

 

Thanks for letting me share with you.

Stay tuned, I will be creating a Checklist to Hire the Right Kind of Web Designer for Your Needs crib sheet. Knowing what to ask and what to look for when hiring a web designer can give you that peace of mind knowing that your website will work FOR you, not against you.