8 Point Checklist When Working with a Web Design Services Company
So you’ve chosen your small business web site developer . Now what? After agreeing on your contract and conferring with your business partners or colleagues on the direction you want your website to take, go through the following points to smooth your interaction and eliminate any potential headaches.
1. Send all your marketing materials and company info.
Very often, small business owners have composed their own marketing campaigns on the fly and are surprised to have to supply artfully-written copy and carefully selected photos to their web design partners. Compile all your company slogans, vision-mission, and photos in a CD, flash drive, or zip file – or better yet, compile Basic Info Checklist: What Information Every Small Business Website Should Have
2. Check your spelling and copyrights.
Did everything pass through the spell check? You should either use royalty-free, buy stock images, or have your designer design or buy for you the right to use original photographs and images. Just because it’s online does not mean it’s free for you to use – unless you want an infringement lawsuit.
3. Identify your market and which products or services you want to highlight.
An honest web design firm who has your best interest will not just copy and paste your marketing collateral. With so much competition on the web, he should highlight the products most valuable both to you and site visitors.
4. Be clear about your purpose for your homepage, and every page.
Will your potential customers be looking for a way to contact you after hearing about you? Are they looking for schedules of your seminars or pricelists? Specify these to your designer to make sure they prioritize what you think are most important for your customers.
5. List possible reasons why people would contact you.
Different people have different needs from you. Some may want to ask for a quote if you’re a service provider. Are you an industry expert who’s invited to speaking engagements? Knowing this will help your designer craft a contact form that’s truly easy for your users to tell you what they need from you.
6. Integrate with your social network profiles.
Are you already active on Facebook , LinkedIn or Twitter ? Bring your social network to your website and back by having your designer display your latest tweets or letting your customers find you on Facebook. Speakers, personal coaches, and individual professionals are recommended to maximize this capability.
7. Is your website a part of a bigger offline marketing campaign?
If so, you may want your web development partner firm to design separate landing pages for any promo codes you might give out. You’ll also want to be able to monitor how effective your flyers are in bringing visitors to your website using analytics software that your provider can set up for you.
8. Communicate!
You and your website developer should have a system in place for giving updates or approvals. Whether it’s just through email exchanges, instant messaging, phone calls, or an online project collaboration tool like Our Email Marketing Client Site or Basecamp – keep in constant contact but give ample time and space for them to do their work.
Freelance web designers, professional web site development firms, and big web shops are not created equal. Some work fast, some are pricey, some just use templates while others come up with truly unique designs. Keeping these 8 points in mind will help you keep your sanity and let you stay focused on your core operations while awaiting the Internet creation of your 24/7 salesperson.