WEBSITES AND BUSINESS
A well developed website is more than a business investment. It is an extremely powerful tool that enables businesses to showcase their services and products, and more importantly to communicate with their audience. The advanced capabilities and features of a website are extensive and often overwhelming to any business owner. It is essential to do your research and to strategically plan how your website should function to best suit your business objectives whatever your industry may be.
An important factor to remember is that once developed, a website will not automatically turn enquiries into sales or potential clients into key accounts. Once your website is “live” in cyberspace, this is when the critical and often intricate job of targeting your audience begins.
We discussed the steps involved in website development with specialist, Patrick Templeman-Twells of Templeman-Twells Web Design. Providing sound knowledge, clear insight and useful tips into the developmental stages, Patrick describes the steps to achieving a website that is a sound investment to your business.
The first step in the development process is to determine the objectives of your website as these provide clear guidelines for the creative layout, content structure and dynamic functionality of the site. These guidelines are determined by the required function of the website such as increasing brand/product awareness, detailing product information, increase in revenue through online selling, database development including creating a centralized database portal for intranet usage among staff.
Once the objectives of the website have been defined the second step is to determine the layout and formal structure of the website. The best method to determine this is by compiling a concise and structured site map. The site map will detail the page categories and sub-categories, the dynamic requirements including images, video and audio, the Content Management System (CMS) capabilities, multi-lingual display and secure links throughout the site. These elements need to be determined and discussed with your web developer to ensure the resulting outcome is an operating website that aligns to the objectives from step one.
The third step is to research reputable website developers who have the industry experience, knowledge and credibility to make your vision materialize and who can ensure the correct functionality of your website according to your stated objectives. There are two categories of website developers, to which there can be both advantages and disadvantages, the first being the website development agencies and second the freelance website developer.
The points to consider when hiring an agency to design and develop your website are as follows:
- Consistent development times
- Larger pool of resources
- Higher overheads can be passed onto client quotations
- No guarantee of direct contact with the web designer
- No guarantee of being managed by a single account manager
The points to consider when hiring a freelance developer to develop your website are as follows:
- Due to minimal overheads the project costs are lower which passes on a saving to the client
- Fewer projects in development, therefore more time to devote to each client
- Direct contact with website developer
- In some instances freelancers partner with other freelance developers to complete various stages of the development. This can increase efficiency but it can also cause delays depending on the communication channels apparent. Ensure you are aware of all freelance developers working on your project and that they are easily contactable throughout the projects development.
- When the web developer goes on leave the project can be put on hold
There is no correct or incorrect option but it is important to be completely aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both scenarios and to discuss these with your web developer.
It is vital that both the business and the web designer remain transparent with project information, client expectations and unforeseen inconveniences. Ask to be introduced to all members who will be working on your website and to understand the working arrangement between the web development team. Some web developers outsource to graphic designers to compose the creative layout of the website, while contracting a web programmer to build the intricacies of the website to meet the functionality requirements of the site. In these instances there may be delays along each step of the development process and unforeseen costs involved.
Patrick also highlights that it is essential to provide a clear and detailed brief to the web designer to eradicate unnecessary backwards and forwards in layout, design and content structure. This is an element that can quickly become a costly oversight in the development process.
A final thought from Patrick, is to always keep your website objectives clear and concise and to provide your web developer with a detailed and thorough brief. Regular contact and communication throughout the project are essential to ensure you are always aware of the progress updates and completion timeframes.