So, you’ve been sitting on the same website since 2007 and finally decided that a few cosmetic changes here and there won’t be enough to keep you competitive in the marketplace.
You look at your options and decide to go with a professional web designer to create something that is both modern and easy to use and looks amazing. Get some references and do some research and you’ll find a company that seems to fit your needs and can work within your budget.
Are you ready to leave. But then, for some reason, it seems to take a lot longer than you expected, and nothing seems to be easy.
What happened?
Maybe they kept asking questions. Perhaps he will recommend a style that was not the one you had in mind. Perhaps fifteen other things seemed to be slowing down your progress and delaying the launch of your website.
We’ve discussed the importance of building a strong relationship with your SEO agency before, and most of these principles are absolutely applicable here.
A smooth path from concept to launch requires a good relationship.
You can participate in this process and help complete and launch your website on time by following these simple tips.
Acknowledge Your Experience
Building a website is not an easy task. While there are plenty of DIY templates and site builders out there, you chose to work with a professional designer because you want to make sure everything is done right.
You chose the designer based on his portfolio and experience, so let him trust his expertise. They have the knowledge of each essential step in the process to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. This means that when they give recommendations that aren’t quite in line with what you originally wanted, there’s probably a good reason behind it.
Establish trust with them as they assess the complexities and time frame. Remember, quality work takes time and the more you trust it, the better the end result will be.
Get Ready
Designers are problem solvers, not magicians. Your job is to create a design that looks good and provides long-term solutions for your business. Your job is to provide them with a detailed scope of the project so they can deliver the best possible solutions.
Many design processes start with a questionnaire that helps the designer learn more about your business and better understand your target audience, competitors, site goals, etc.
Don’t skimp on this part. Go into as much detail as possible. The more information your designer has, the better the design will meet your expectations.
Other information that may be required includes: brand assets, text content, photos, site credentials, plugin information, etc.
Be sure to deliver these items in a timely manner so you don’t delay your project.
Collaborate and Communicate
When your designer provides the first draft, he’s eager to hear what you think. Be sure to review your work carefully, providing helpful and timely (and constructive) feedback, and staying engaged as the site moves through builds, prototypes, and builds.
Don’t be silent! When you sign up for a new website, agree with yourself to give the project your full attention throughout the entire process, otherwise you’ll only be wasting time and money. If too much time passes, the goals may change and the project becomes boring. A collaborative and focused approach ensures the best possible outcome.
Don’t Give It Too Much Thought
Your designer wants you to be involved, but not so much that you begin to assume your role and insist on minutely controlling every detail.
It’s important to remember the trust factor at this point, and to remember that your designer is first and foremost a problem solver. They always have a reason for choosing a certain font, color, image, or layout and have probably spent hours obsessing over those little details.
Designers also think about how the site will become if the call to action links are prominent enough, how the user will navigate the site, what elements should be interactive, how the design will be mobile responsive, etc.
And the decisions we make are based on our years of experience building effective websites.
The best question to ask is why I don’t like this particular item? Is my opinion subjective or does it affect the ultimate goal of the site? If it’s the latter, then it’s worth talking to the designer and starting a discussion about it. So let the designer find another solution.
That’s why you hired us.
Avoid Excessive Cooking
After viewing the designer’s designs, you may be tempted to ask others (such as friends and family) for their opinions.
This can end up doing more harm than good.
You may feel confident until someone says, “I don’t like blue” or “I don’t like the way it looks,” which can fill your mind with doubt. This can strain the client-designer relationship and will likely result in unproductive cycles of change that will discourage the designer.
At the end of the day, you and/or your stakeholders are the decision makers and fully understand the goals of your project. Be assertive, leave subjective opinions behind and focus on the objective.
If you have to ask for an outside opinion, be sure to give them ample context so they can objectively critique the design.
You Have A Role To Play In This
While the designer is responsible for how the site looks and functions, the client is generally responsible for providing the content that their visitors will read.
If you don’t know what your website will say, it can cause significant delays.
Time is money, so be sure to plan ahead and think about the copy you need to collect in the process instead of rushing to write it all in one sitting.
If you’re having difficulty with your copy, ask your designer about copywriting services. Copywriters will take the burden of writing endless pages of content off your hands, including keywords for search engines and phrases that encourage visitors to engage that will add even more value to your site.
In the end, it is important to remember that we are working towards the same goals. We want to get your site up and running as quickly as possible, but we can’t sacrifice quality and ease of use to change the way it looks in a certain way.
Quality work will take some time, that’s true, but when you follow these tips, you can see great results.