Even for a basic brochure website, successful development hinges on both you and the developer having a clear picture of what you want. The best way to do this is to create a website design brief for the project. In the first instance, the brief doesn't have to be complicated; your target market and what you want it to achieve is a good start. Your brief is unlikely to survive the whole development process intact, but it will provide a starting point from where the detailed planning, design and implementation can flow.
There are some key points that you need to include in your initial brief:
Who you are and what you do
Briefly state what your company does, your history, main markets and competitors. This will help the developer place you in the market. Don't write an essay. A couple of lines will do. For example:
CJJ Products has been established for 10 years and supplies cleaning products to NHS and private hospitals. Our main competitors are XClean, YWorry and Zbeds. Our year-end turnover was £10m and we currently have 41 customers.
Why you want a website
It's important that the developer knows why you need a website now. There's a difference between wanting to allow your customers to order and re-order online and simply having your product brochure available, or building your corporate brand. This section of your website design brief will help your developer plan both timescales and costs for your project.
Who uses your website
If you already have a website, use the web analytics available to determine who is using your site now, where they are coming from and what they do when they get there. If your website is a brand new proposition for your company, identify who you want to use the site, and how you anticipate they will use it. Keeping the customer as the focus of your site should mean that the site is planned and developed for the most important people to your business - the paying client.
Functionality
Use the website design brief to specify anything you particularly want to see on your site - for example, a dedicated login area for existing customers, or the facility to order online. If you've seen features on your competitors' websites that you want to add to yours, mention it here.
Budget and Timescale
Be as specific as you can about this. Website development is no different to any other project; it can easily go over budget and over time. If you want your website to be up and running in time for a trade show, or product launch, make sure you say so, and build enough time into your own schedule so that you get in touch with the web developers in time. The more complex your website, the more time it will need.
You'll also need to have thought about your budget. If the amount you can spend is very limited, you may have to compromise on functionality. Make sure you include VAT and any extra costs the development may incur.
Progress Reports
It's a good idea to show your developer that you intend to be fully involved in the project. Whilst you'll be happy to leave the experts to the development, you should always know what stage your project is at. Ask for progress reports at reasonable intervals, depending on how long your project is likely to take. This will show the developer that you are interested in the work they are doing, and it also ensures that errors or amendments can be made throughout the life of the project, rather than all at the end.
There may be other development issues that you want to include in your website design brief. Once you have gone through these with your developer, you can produce a more detailed plan and then the real development work can begin.
Get help with your website design now! Talk to The Web Marketing Group - click here or call 0845 555 5040
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