| initial web site design brief is the cornerstone to a | | | | Describe the webmaster’s experience. |
| sound and profitable web site design project. Get it | | | | What functions and info can the webmaster access |
| wrong, miss out on the key elements and you could | | | | on the web site? Put down what is required for you |
| end up at best losing a lot of time and money over | | | | to start the web design project, e.g a deposit, the |
| the simplest of web site design jobs. At worst you | | | | material, photos, texts etc. |
| could end up in a dispute with your web site design | | | | Make it clear how long the web design project |
| customer with a few hassles. While most serious | | | | will last. |
| web site design companies will draft and present their | | | | Put down the cost involved to complete the |
| customer with a proper quote with all the web site | | | | web design project and the payment terms. |
| design specs and conditions, many feel it is not | | | | Do not forget to mention other costs like |
| necessary to have a similar document for smaller | | | | domain name and hosting. |
| web site design projects. This is a mistake because a | | | | Make your term and conditions clear on the |
| badly planned small web site design project could end | | | | quote. No small prints. |
| up being a big headache if things get out of control. | | | | I would recommend you draft your own specs based |
| So getting the initial web site design brief right from | | | | on the customers web design requirement, even if |
| the outset is critical. | | | | the latter has provided a well documented specs |
| So what is this initial web site design brief? It is | | | | sheet or rfq. By rewriting the brief with the web |
| basically what you and your customer agreed to put | | | | design requirement you are making sure that you |
| in the web site design project before you take his or | | | | understand every one of the web design features. |
| her good money. Very few customers, especially in | | | | The devil is in the details. If you have any doubts at |
| the discount web site design market, have a well laid | | | | this stage, ask the customer. Do not assume |
| out specs sheet of what they require in a web site. | | | | anything because once you submit the quote, the |
| More than likely they have an idea, they have seen a | | | | customer will assume that you have understood and |
| few web site designs and they will try their best to | | | | hold you to it. If there are web design features you |
| explain to you what they want. So far so good and | | | | feel you cannot deliver, do not hesitate to make this |
| there is nothing wrong with them explaining their web | | | | clear to the customer. Although very often you can |
| design requirement verbally. The problem comes up | | | | come to some arrangements, it is preferable to |
| when complications arise. If you have a piece of | | | | sometimes lose an order than to promise web design |
| paper or an email that lists the features of the web | | | | features that you cannot deliver. |
| design, it is easy to go back to it and have a point of | | | | Most importantly, do not give your customer high |
| reference for future arguments or additional work. | | | | expectations if you are not sure about your ability to |
| I’d advise every web design company to | | | | deliver. It is much better to be conservative about |
| draft a quote listing the following: | | | | your capabilities while quoting and over achieving than |
| The aim of the web site being designed. What is | | | | the other way round. Salesmen are generally very |
| the intended purpose of the web site being | | | | good at over selling and promising the sky. Anybody |
| designed? | | | | who has worked in bespoke web design production |
| List all the features and functions of the web | | | | knows that the time spent on a web design project |
| site as much as you can. | | | | can quickly snowball unless you have a good brief or |
| Describe the visitor’s experience when he | | | | quote and the project is tightly managed according |
| or she is on the web site. | | | | to the brief. |