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Continued...
When you do narrow your
decision down to a few designers, check out their Web
sites for look and feel and thoroughly examine their
portfolios.
Bring samples. Surf the
Web and determine the kinds of things you like and
don’t like before ever walking into the office of a
Web design firm. If you have an idea of what you want
your site to look like, express it – even if it means
providing an embarrassingly rough drawing on your own.
Web designers are very creative people, but if you
don’t give them some direction, they’ll create
without your input.
You have to be specific.
Don’t tell your designer you want a “cool” site.
While it’s true that you may want a cool site, you
should bring to the table the types of things you
imagine to be cool. Your designer is there to help you
determine the best style for your site, so don’t be
afraid to provide specific examples of how you’d like
your site to look.
Get it in writing. As
with any other business partnership, you must get
everything in writing. This means going beyond the
initial contract you and your designer sign. Keep notes
during meetings and save every e- mail and written
communication. There may be times when things are
decided during “casual” meetings, such as when
certain site elements will be completed, or something as
simple as adding a graphic or two. By tracking these
conversations, you will have a record to return to if
things go off track or off schedule.
Web Design Firm or
Independent Programmer? Web design firms are not your
only option when it comes to launching a Web site. There
are many independent programmers out there who can
provide the same service as a design firm, and for less
money. Most of these programmers worked for design firms
before striking out on their own.
There are advantages and
disadvantages, of course. Independent programmers may be
less expensive, but you are limited to receiving only
the service that particular programmer is skilled in. If
you decide to add a component to your site that your
programmer cannot develop for you, you’ll have to pay
someone else to do it. Most design firms employ
programmers of all capabilities in order to meet
customer requests, and their services are part of the
deal when you hire the firm.
Independent programmers
are harder to locate than design firms. Part of what
makes an independent programmer less expensive is the
fact that he or she does not have the same overhead as a
design firm. Advertising is expensive.
If you think you would
rather use an independent programmer than a design firm,
return to your friends and colleagues and ask around. If
you resort to an online directory or your local
telephone book, use the same process of selection as you
would a design firm: ask to see samples and a portfolio.
However, getting a programmer recommendation from
someone you trust is best. Not all programmers are
created equal and an impressive portfolio does not
convey an individual’s customer service skills.
Making Edits and Changes:
the waiting game. When you hire a Web design firm to
create and launch your business’s Web site, you are at
the mercy of their busy schedule. You must request edits
and changes be made for you, and they may not be made as
quickly as you’d like them to be.
Some Web design firms
provide customers with site administration tools that
allow you to make simple changes and updates as needed.
This type of technology can be more expensive, but worth
it if it gives you more control of your site.
Understand what you’re
paying for. Determining the look and feel of your Web
site (the design) and actually building the site are two
different processes of launching a Web site. Be sure to
understand what is included in your contract and what
will cost extra. If you wish to add an eNewsletter
sign-up, will it cost more? Will you be charged for
every E- commerce transaction? What will it cost to
accept credit card payments on your site? These are the
questions you need to ask when negotiating prices and
deliverables.
You may be responsible
for setting up your own business’s and then work with
a programmer to incorporate it into your site. Web
hosting fees are an additional cost you must consider,
as well.
Find out if your site is
being built from scratch or from templates. Many
designers use pre-made templates, which can bring down
the cost of building the web site. Designers who create
your site from scratch may actually own the source code,
which limits your ability to move the site later on, if
you wish to. Be sure to ask your designer up front how
he or she intends to build your site and get written or
legal documentation of the ownership source codes so you
don’t run into disputes down the road.
Be patient, but
attentive. Designing a professional Web site is not an
overnight project. It takes time to create and construct
the Web site you want. However, every day you and the
designer spend tweaking the site is another day you are
unable to advertise the site, attract visitors to the
site, or sell products online. Be patient with your
designer, but keep track of the agreed schedule.
I also recommend hiring
an attorney who is versed in E-commerce businesses. You
will need one to write the “Terms and Policies” for
the web site, as well as proofing the site for any legal
complications that may come up.
Imagine your Web site as
a storefront. If you were building a brick and mortar
business on main street, you would: 1) find the right
contractor; 2) have an idea of how you want your
business to look and what you want it to contain; 3)
expect the project to take time; and 4) be prepared for
set-backs in scheduling. These are the same
responsibilities and obstacles you will encounter while
designing your business’s Web site.
Creating a Web site for
your business is an exciting and worthy undertaking.
Take the time to do it right the first time, because
there is no fun or enjoyment in having to do it all over
again if you don’t. For some additional tips, review
the Web Site Starter Kit at HYPERLINK "http://
www.inc.com". To view “cool” and award-winning
sites for ideas, check out HYPERLINK "http://www.designfirms.org/awards/".
Karen Torbett is
founder of Venture Point, LLC http://www.VenturePointOnline.com.
She spent almost a decade running someone else’s
company before she achieved her goal of business
ownership. Now, Karen helps entrepreneurs like her
seeking to buy or sell a business on their own. Contact
her at: Karen@venturepointonline.com.
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Tips
for Launching a Small Business Web Site.
