From understanding the client brief, to a site plan that makes sense to everyone, to consistent page design, each stage of the website development process requires transparency. If all parties understand the aims and objectives of the development project, it is less likely that there will be communication failures and conflict.
Interpretation
It is vital that the web developer and the client have the same vision and understanding of the project. Working through the initial brief, item by item, should ensure that each party has a clear idea of what the project is supposed to achieve.
Planning
Once the brief is agreed, a detailed plan should be made, with an overall impression of how the site will work, together with a list of features. This plan should be written in a language that's easily understood by the client and that can be measured in terms of cost and time.
Order
The order in which the development is approached should be clear. It may be that some features require more work than others and so the client may not see certain sections of the site for some time. It is important that they know what order the developer is working with, and that they see work as it is developed, to build their confidence in the project.
Progress
The client should receive regular progress reports on the project. Ideally, this should be a meeting between client and developer, where completed, in-progress and pending work is discussed. This gives both parties the opportunity to see the project unfolding, and also provides a forum where errors, alterations and amendments can be identified.
Testing
Each stage of the website development should undergo testing to ensure that it works. This reduces the potential for errors to appear when the site goes live. Everything from basic navigation to complex links and forms should be tested so that both client and developer are confident that the site works before release.
Design
There are thousands of articles written about website design. We're not going to write another one here. But clarity, consistency, readability and usability are the keys.
Build clarity into every stage of your website development process, and you are more likely to end up with a successful website that works for you and your clients.