Want site? Even better, want your site within time frame and budget? The choice for the right designer for the job is crucial for success. But before you rent or even interview designer, you need to do something "destination search". Define your reach and educate themselves will help to ensure that delays and frustrations to a minimum......
Every company needs a website, should also their logo, marketing message, city, phone number and products or services. Their ultimate site may include information gathering, product sales or integration with internal systems. Once you determine what you expect from your site and what functionality you need, you can begin the search for a web designer. Keep in mind the best design professionals as consultants - your understanding the scope and proposing solutions.
Step 1: Create a "wish list"
Whether you're creating a website from scratch or upgrade an existing, the first thing to do is to identify your goals and objectives. It is not good enough to just have a website, you should expect tangible results from the investment and targets will help you measure your results. Here are some common website goals. Want to:
• Enter the information? Many companies have only offered services, contact information, directions and hours. This type of site is the least expensive and works for doctors, dentists, restaurants, veterinarians, local shops, pet-service providers, and other small businesses.
• Sell your products online? An e-commerce solution is more expensive, but can yield big profits for the companies offer unique products and if they can ship.
• Set customer support or customer service? Many companies have reduced staff only through the involvement FAQs, e-mail capability, complaint forum, politics, instructions, tips for troubleshooting, use and care information and more on its website. Some solutions include real-time chat with a customer service representatives.
• gather data for sales or marketing purposes? As e-mails, newsletters, testing products and services. These functions can be added static and e-commerce websites.
Once you know the goals, you can have more specific questions:
• Do you need a URL (domain) acquired?
• Do you need a hosting service for your site?
• What you need pages in your site to the above goals? (About, location, prices, menu, services, products, customer service, press releases, articles, sign up pages, photo gallery, calendar of events, archive)
• Need interactive features? (Database connection, order tracking, log-in, calculator or a function, where visitors would interact with your site)
• Do you have a content writer or do you need this service available?
• Do you have photos, the photos or bought shares?
Her website can be as simple or complex as your imagination and budget. Once your "wish list" will help the designer develop an accurate job, appointments and resource list.
Step 2: Get an Understanding
To understand how a website is important. If you are not educated in the basics, you leave yourself vulnerable, risking a bad choice of providers and unexpected problems.
Web site design and development is a two-way process, which consists of three parts. It consists of design (front end) what your site looks like (including images and text). Graphic designer focus on the front end, the selection of appropriate images, and layout. A good designer has an understanding of what works visually on the screen as a visitor scans a page, and what technical limitations exist for Web development. Your designer will be one of you the contents - written and visual, or help you find a writer and secure photos as well.
The second part of the process is Web-development (back), programming necessary to your site operational. A good Web developers know several programming languages, what is most important is HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). This code allows browsers to display pictures and text. Other code words you can hear are:
• JavaScript - for simple client-side interactivity, pop-ups, and some animation.
• DHTML - for interactive menu navigation
• ASP and PHP - to adapt and interactivity (database connectivity, account information).
• CSS - Monitoring the view from a central file.
• Flash - creates interactive menus, tools and animated messages.
The third part is to consider future growth and updates. Most websites should be updated at least three or four times a year. May retail want to change top offers of the week and e-commerce sites may be updated daily.
There are three ways to ongoing maintenance:
• Your design team updates. Typically, you would pay a fixed monthly fee, or by the hour.
• They make updates. Upgrading to a content-management system would allow the working of some text and images without programming. Cost depends on the complexity.
• your employees makes updates. If the staff in place or have the budget for an additional person, this option may be cost-effective and give you more control.
You may find a combination of the above fits your needs. For example, your e-commerce website, you can add, change and edit, but also other parts of your site need the attention of a designer.
Step 3: Compare Options
Some companies offer all the services needed to fulfill your wish list. These types of companies may have a staff of designers, developers and technical support, or they can outsource parts of the contract to another company or freelancers. After your website designed under one roof offers these advantages:
• One point of contact and project management
• Better communication and integration of job elements and phases
• Big Picture Performance and not just the completion of daily tasks
Many larger companies offer other marketing services such as e-mail campaigns, search engine marketing, and other programs to help drive traffic to your site. Make sure to ask what additional services are available, regardless of whether you fear that you need it or not.
Reduce your choice for design companies - you need a group, your project is on schedule and within budget. Start by looking at the designer's portfolio. Founded design companies have developed a comprehensive portfolio of work on its website. Thoroughly review the portfolio for samples, which have the same features you are interested in (design style is important, but a good designer should be able to create a variety of looks). Features are super important, because a company that designs a beautiful static site may not have the programming skills to create a database driven e-commerce site for you.
Here are 10 references, to a successfully completed project design:
Clue # 1: If you choose to hire a designer, and they do not have a website… RUN! These days there is no excuse not to an online presence for your advertising and marketing companies.
Clue # 2: If all or most of the samples on a Web site designer say "Coming Soon" or "page not found"… RUN! Obviously, they are probably a company that does not completed projects.
Clue # 3: If your portfolio has many samples, but they are all for the same campaign or companies (and you have never heard of it)… RUN! Probably these samples are done school for design, not real world.
Clue # 4: If the site or work samples have typographical errors, broken links and outdated information… RUN! If they've done it before they will do it again.
Clue # 5: If you interviewed a designer and not ask the three main issues… RUN! Your designer must answer these questions: What does the client do what the customer wants done, and what is the project period.
Clue # 6: If you have trouble getting the design companies on the phone, or they are not answering your e-mails in a timely and efficient way… RUN! This is only a foreshadowing of what will come when the real work begins.
Clue # 7: If you are not an offer (and / or pressure estimate) in writing… RUN! Verbal estimates are amateur, indicating that that designer is so good.
Clue # 8: If the price sounds too good to be true… RUN! It is probably too good to be true. They are either never completed the final project, or you get what you pay for it. Get several bids to see what the ballpark figures, if you have this new one. And do not rely on Internet companies and how many are abroad communication impossible, again… and you get what you pay for it.
Clue # 9: If you are not asked to enter into a contract… RUN! Do you know what the payment terms, owns the copyright, there are royalties or usage limits, and so on. Not every hire contractors without written consent.
Clue # 10: If you have not asked for money in front… RUN! Think of it as a holder, and usually an assurance that your offer is seen as a serious priority. If you have gotten to this point with your research, a deposit of 30% or 50, you should not frighten.
After looking at samples, check references. Get a period of at least three and ask these questions:
• Have the deadlines?
• Has the company flexible?
• Do they make suggestions?
• What were their strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Would you hire them again?
There is tons of renowned, talented, and yes, affordable creative service companies around. The care of you at the top have to pay large, if you have a finished project, what you expected (or better), that is within budget, that's the time, and most importantly, that is effective at Meet your marketing objectives.
Step 4: Getting Started
Your selected website design team will interview you to understand your company, your objectives for the site and your budget. It should be a project plan with the pricing defines each step of the project, is responsible for what, deadlines, contain features, prices and extras with their costs. A contract is a must! Make sure your contract has, lists what the terms, the timing and the process of approving additional fees.
Armed with good information, a well-thought out plan and scope, and answers to some questions in advance, your site development should be smooth and painless from start-to-end.
http://www.inspired2designllc.com .
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