Top Ten for the New Buyer

Top Ten Items a Web Design Client Needs to Keep in Mind

You have decided that you need a website, but you don't have the knowledge to create it yourself. Or perhaps you simply don't have the time or energy to devote to learning how to design and build your website. So, you decide to outsource your web design needs.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? You find a designer and voila, you have a website! But nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems, is it? There are a few issues you ought to be aware of:

Planning

  1. You will need a clear purpose or goal for your website. You need to sit down and decide exactly why you want the site? What is it's "reason for being?" Why do you need the site? Be ready to communicate your needs and goals to your designer so that the site can be created to achieve that purpose. Ask yourself some of the following questions:

    • Are you trying to bring in business?
    • Are you trying to sell yourself or your services?
    • Are you publishing your art, photography or writing?
    • Are you trying to get information out there about some organization or subject you care about?

    Without a clear purpose, both your site design and your site content will meander.  Your visitors will sense the lack and will not return.

  2. You need a site outline. What information are you planning to place on your site? You would be surprised how many clients contact a designer with no clue as to what kind of content they wish to include in their site. This can be extremely frustrating, especially when your designer is attempting to develop some sort of coherent navigation plan.

    Sketch out your site for yourself. Set out the skeleton of your site. Organize your thoughts and ideas so that when you discuss the issue with your designer, you are prepared and focused. It doesn't have to be an extensive outline, just a basic idea of what types of sections you are looking for, how many, what type of content will go in each section. In this way, your designer can get an idea of what is going on in your head, and can design around your ideas.

Behind the Scenes

  1. You need a domain name. A domain name is the section after the www in your Internet address. While many good domain names are already taken, all you really need is a little bit of brainstorming. Many web designers, including myself, are more than willing to assist you in finding and purchasing a good domain name, but you need to at least have done some of the preliminary brainstorming about the name or names that you would like.  I would advise having between three (3) and five (5) alternate domain name options thought through before discussing this with your designer.  You can go to Network Solutions and learn whether or not someone has already bought the name you want. Alternatively, while at Network Solutions, you can try a "Whois" search - this will let you know who owns the domain name, and their contact information, if you would like to purchase the domain from that person. BE WARNED: They may not be willing to sell - or they may want far too much for the name. It is always best to come up with your own solutions than to try to buy a domain name from someone else.

    You may also wish to be aware that assisting you with finding and purchasing your domain name can be considered an 'extra' with many web designers.  Many designers place this type of service under branding or identity design, while others place it under webmastering or website development - most will charge extra for this service. 

    If you already own a domain name, and need it transferred to a new hosting service, your designer may be willing to assist you. Be aware that they will likely charge you for that service as well.

  2. You need a hosting service. Every website needs a server. A server is a computer that is dedicated to storing and delivering websites and web applications.  Companies who own multiple servers are called hosting companies, and most will charge you to host your web site.   If the company does not charge you to host your site, you can be sure that there is a catch - most "free" hosts require that you place their advertising either at the top or bottom of every page on your site - or can even place your pages in their frames.  The charge for a paid host can vary from around $5 a month up into the hundreds of dollars a month depending on the size of your site and the amount of traffic you experience on it.

    Your web designer may host the site for you, but most will encourage you to sign on with a preferred hosting company.  This will be a separate contract from your web design contract. Again, your chosen designer can help you with this process, but you should retain control of payment and ownership of the domain. Many hosting companies will register your domain name for you as well. Again, be aware of what you are paying for. Shop around and be a wise consumer. If your hosting service requires more than $15 (US dollars) yearly for a typical .com, .net, or .org name - you are most likely being overcharged. However, if you do choose to allow your hosting service to register your domain name, the time for your name to become active is much shorter this way.

Content Issues

  1. You need to be open to original design. While most designers will ask you to give them a list of your favorite sites, and will want to know what you like about those sites, DO NOT expect them to copy the look or feel of your favorite sites verbatim. That is copyright infringement. They might be willing to do a variation upon the same theme, but don't ask them to find you a photo or create you a graphic that looks exactly like one found on another site. Just because it is on the web, doesn't mean it is just "free for the taking."

    Not only is it copyright infringement, but think about it. If someone else has already done it, why would you want your site to be just like them? It may work if the site is not a competitor of yours - but if they are in the same business or have the same type of content, trust me - your visitors will know that it is the same design. And many will be quite unhappy to see that same design used on your site.

  2. You need content. You will have to provide the information that the designer puts together in the website. This might be images, text, keyword ideas for search engine success or something else. You have to commit the time to put all this together. Most web designers are more than happy to create graphics, or search stock photographs for you - but be aware this can also be an added service. 

    If you don't feel confident enough in your writing and selling skills, you can contract with your designer to write the copy.  However, this will add a significant amount to the price of the contract.  You are the expert in your field, your designer will have to intensively research your field, perhaps interviewing you on a number of occasions.  Both you, and your designer, will be much happier if you commit the time, energy and knowledge to creating the text for your site.

  3. Your content should be fresh and original. Be aware of how original your information is.  It is extremely easy to publish information to the web - and because of that, some articles and other pieces of information are repeated throughout the web ad infinitum (and ad nauseum)!  Again here, there is the issue of copyright infringement.  Copying an article from a newspaper, journal or magazine and posting it to your website without permission from either the author or publisher, is just as much plagiarism as if you were publishing it in a book.  And if it is already found in multiple areas elsewhere on the web, just link to the best or most complete version - don't repeat information.

  4. Your content should be refreshed at least once a month. Expect to add content at least once per month in order to encourage return visitors to your site.  Unlike a brochure, a website cannot be created and only revisited once a year - it is more organic, and needs constant care in order to entice visitors.  A good designer will assist you - by either offering a template for adding this content, or offering a maintenance contract that allows you to send them content to be added to the site. As your website grows, you may consider a redesign of your website that includes an entire database of content.

Contract Issues

  1. You should have a contract. Deal with someone who is a professional. Sign a contract. It gives both parties, you and the designer, a legal basis for doing business. Make sure you know how much you will be charged for the work, and be aware that it could only be an estimate. Some designers charge by the hour, some by the job. Many ask you to pay half or a third of the price up front, so be prepared to do that.  Prices can vary depending upon the location of the designer. 

    Be willing to negotiate, and be honest about the budget you have available.  Many designers are willing to work with smaller and emerging companies. if your budget is tight, see if the designer is in need of some of the products or services you can offer.  Bartering is one negotiating tactic that is highly under-rated.

  2. Remember this is a business transaction. You are doing business with someone. Don't expect free services, such as examples of what they would do with your site before you'll agree to hire them or before you pay them any money. That is why they have gotten together a portfolio. Imagine that you own a car dealership. Would you let me walk onto your lot and drive away with a car for free, because if I did, then I might come back and pay for it if I really like it?  

    As designers, this is what we do for a living - it is how we pay our bills. If you would like to know what your designer is capable of, take a look at their portfolio.  If the designer does not have a portfolio, do not contract with that person. The portfolio does not need to be extensive - as long as it has some range of sites within it so that you can see their capability.

  3. Also be aware that the buyer decides what design will be chosen.  Just because a site found in the designer's portfolio doesn't seem original or exciting to you, doesn't mean that the designer is not creative.  Many buyers limit the designer's ability to be original or innovative - which is their prerogative as the paying customer — remember YOU will have that same final decision.  Look at the designer's professional site, and peruse their personal site if they have listed one.  See what kind of design originality they indulge in when they are not limited by a client's wishes.  Do they look just like every other site out there or do they use every plug-in and trick just to show you that they can?  Or do they have a pleasing design, carefully thought out, and available to multiple browsers?

If you keep these thoughts in mind when contacting and contracting with a designer, you can't go wrong.