Building Web Sites From Start to Finish

Planning can start the minute a client contacts a Web site designer for a meeting to discuss a site.

The first step can be done in advance of the meeting — finding a suitable domain name. This can be frustrating because most companies will find that their options are limited, at least in the .com and .net markets, either by the company name or domain name availability. Because of other companies with similar names or initials and because of squatters, it is increasingly more difficult to get the domain name the client may want.

You also run into strange things from time to time. Recently a client of mine wanted his site to be bigassphotos.com, highlighting the fact that his studio produces poster size photos from 35 mm film. The problem he ran into is that his server would not allow the name, and he didn't want to change ISPs. Thus, he chose another, less colorful name.

It is good to have 3-4 options available, thus enabling the client to be presented with reasonable choices.

If you are not an ISP, it is a good idea to have a few in mind, along with their latest prices, to present to the client. That can save your neophyte clients some anxious times. Further, if you know the ISP to be reliable with a good down-time record, you can save some angry phone calls from your client to you.

The First Meeting

Never think that there is anything more important than finding out what the client wants and expects. The most beautiful site in the world is a dud unless it accomplishes the client's goals.

To that end, there are a number of factors to be considered, and often, deciphered. Frequently, the client may in the beginning have only a vague idea of what is sought.

"I want a Web site," the client might say. "I don't know anything about it, but everyone says I need one."

Thus, begin by finding out if the client really needs a Web site and how much of a Web site is needed. While it is not fun turning down a client or taking a smaller order than might have been possible, sometimes it is necessary to keep that person as a future client. If you don't treat your client right, someone will let them know in short order.

My company sometimes has clients from our small community come to us and want to close their brick-and-mortar store and operate strictly as an e-commerce entity. Unless they have an extremely unique product or service that cannot be found in communities worldwide (or at least nationwide), I usually keep a new T-shirt packaged that I pull it out of the desk drawer and offer to them.

"Why do I need a shirt," the client asks.

"Because you are going to lose yours," I reply.

One of the most important steps is to determine the client's target market? If the target market is the client's local town, and the client doesn't have a unique product or service that it can deliver nationally, a small site to use for advertising is fine.

For those types of clients to close their brick-and-mortar store selling typical products and to think they will sit at home and fill orders from around the world is pure folly.

If the target market is more regional or national — and the products and services are unique and can be delivered that way — I recommend doing both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce for awhile to see how it shakes out. Just because the client thinks the products are must-have items does not mean the rest of the world will agree. Besides, Web sites generally take some time to catch on and land somewhere useful on the search engines.

It is about this time that it is prudent to ask the client how much money they have budgeted for the project.

If they say $50, good manners dictate that you at least make an attempt to stop laughing within a five-minute time frame. Anything longer than that is considered tacky. If they give you a reasonable response, it is time to get busy.

What are the client's goals?

Now it is time to discuss the actual site and the client's goals for that site. Speed is frequently an issue because clients, who usually are Internet users too, know how frustrating it is to sit in front of a blank screen waiting for a site to open.

I recommend that a site open in 30 seconds or less. While studies show people are willing to wade through long pages, those same studies show that people have a quick trigger when it comes to leaving a site that is slow to open.

I have had clients in certain industries say they would rather have a flashy intro, even if it takes longer, because it is more suited to their line of business. But even then, it is important to reduce the startup time as much as is possible.

That does not preclude flashy intros and the like; it precludes slow intros and the like.

Next, discuss the content the client wants on the site. Remind them that contact information is vital, as well as a full explanation of the products and services they offer. Information about a company on a Web site — including photos of the business — can be comforting to people who would rather not do business sight unseen.

Never forget that content is king. If the site is little more than a business card itself, there is nothing to lure the customer. That is why it is so important to discuss content and plan its presentation.

It is important to find out what elements a client may wish to have on their site. Something as simple as the overall color scheme can make a huge difference as to whether or not the client likes the final results.

Gather from the client all logos, pre-determined and created content, photos, and other items for the site before actually planning the site. Sometimes, clients can throw a designer a curve with things they want that the designer might not expect.

Another issue is whether or not the site will require daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance. If it does, is the client able and interested in taking care of those changes, or are you expected to provide those services? You may have to design the site differently to account for the differences in ability. That will become important later when you tally up the bill.

Once all of that information is gathered, it is time to send the client home and begin the design process.

The Fun Begins - Figuring Out How Much To Charge - Page 2