| Most, if not all businesses today, can benefit from a | | | | expertise, they are few and far between. There are |
| web site. If you already have a site that is not | | | | many though that will have all the skills you require. |
| working for your business, or you are starting the | | | | Most developers that work on many types of |
| process of finding a web developer, you can save a | | | | projects will be a 6-9, on a scale of 1-10, in the |
| lot of time, trouble, and most importantly money, by | | | | various competencies your project requires. |
| answering a few questions before choosing a web | | | | The upside to working with a web developer who is |
| designer. | | | | not a 10 in any area, but who has multiple areas of |
| What is your budget? | | | | expertise, is just that. The entire project can be |
| Money and time are the two most important factors | | | | managed by one person or group. Having worked on |
| to consider before making your choice. In general | | | | projects where multiple developers are involved, I |
| most of the sites I've worked on, or been have | | | | can say it automatically adds a new layer of |
| asked to work on, fall into three cost levels. | | | | complexity to the project. Since you will have several |
| Realistically, $500, is the minimum that should be | | | | developers working on various aspects of the |
| budgeted for the design/redesign of any site. It | | | | project, you will have to manage work flow, |
| should be easy to find a good designer for $300-400 | | | | communication and eventually piece it all together in |
| to create a good basic web site. But you will most | | | | the end. For these and many more reasons it is |
| likely have a few changes and updates, especially the | | | | always best to work with just one developer or web |
| first month or two after you launch your online | | | | design company at a time. |
| presence. So it is always a good idea to add 10-15% | | | | If you are working with a company that may have |
| to your budget for any changes, etc. that will most | | | | many people working on your site, it is always a |
| likely come up. | | | | good idea to ask a few more questions. You still |
| Many businesses already have some sort of web site | | | | have the advantage of having the entire project |
| or online presence by now. If you or your | | | | managed by one entity, but the problems of |
| organization fall under this category, and are looking | | | | communication break downs and lag times can still be |
| to redesign and/or update your site, you probably | | | | an issue. Most likely the project will be handled by a |
| have a better idea of what your budget will be. Most | | | | project manager that will then delegate and relay |
| likely it will be more than $500. The web site or | | | | requests to various people within their web design |
| application redesign could even cost thousands of | | | | company. |
| dollars. So for redesigns, finding a developer with the | | | | A good practice is to always back up any |
| right combination of skills is going to be the next | | | | communication in writing and make sure that |
| major decision made. | | | | deadlines are part of that communication. For |
| There are basic skills that you should look for in any | | | | instance, much of my communication is by phone. It |
| web designer. For instance you want to make sure | | | | is very helpful to type up an email that covers all the |
| that they can truly produce a functional web site. | | | | action items, issues, etc. that were covered in the |
| This seems obvious. But there are professionals that | | | | phone or in person meeting. I simply ask that they |
| specialize in developing templates, flash and or other | | | | respond to the email to verify what was covered, or |
| products, that can be converted to web sites. But | | | | clear up any misunderstandings before work begins |
| they are not truly a final product. These are valid and | | | | on any given phase of a web project. |
| valuable services. Just make sure that your final | | | | Written communication to verify that everyone |
| outcome will be a published functioning website. | | | | understands what is expected, and when, is a best |
| Other things such as communication, schedule | | | | practice for virtually any situation. It is even more |
| conflicts, experience in your market area, and looking | | | | important when you are working with a company |
| at their previous work to see if their design style is a | | | | instead of directly with a single web developer. |
| good fit for your organization, are basic questions | | | | If your budget is less than $300-500 range, try to |
| that must be considered when looking at your | | | | find some extra resources somehow to allow more |
| candidates for your web project. Beyond the basics | | | | budget for the project. Otherwise, you will most |
| skills it is also helpful to look at the exact skill sets of | | | | likely need to out source it to a company overseas. |
| the various designers vying for your project. | | | | You also have the option to do the site yourself; Or |
| Today, the title webmaster encompasses a wide | | | | find a rookie designer or friend with some knowledge |
| variety of specialists and skill types. For instance, | | | | to help. The downside to this is that it will take a lot |
| many webmasters have a graphic design background. | | | | more time. |
| If you or your organizations requirements call for | | | | If you simply can not increase your budget, the best |
| animation, video and/or a graphic intensive design, | | | | thing to do is seek out a developer on a web job |
| you would want to specifically find a web designer | | | | board. Sites such as guru and elance have many low |
| with a lot of experience with flash, photoshop, etc. | | | | cost developers that will bid on your project. If you |
| Some other common backgrounds that webmasters | | | | choose to go this route you can cut down on the |
| come from are: Computer Science, Marketing, | | | | amount of time lost by having a very clear idea of |
| Copywriting and Sales. There are many more. The | | | | what your final site should like and how it should |
| main idea is to have a good idea of what the internet | | | | function. |
| developer specializes in and the way you want to | | | | Increasing your own technical knowledge can also |
| promote your site. Matching your developers | | | | save some time. Since you will mostly likely end up |
| background to your requirements can make the | | | | working with a web developer in another country |
| process much smoother. | | | | and another time zone, any mis-communication or |
| There are also quite a few, like myself, that fall into | | | | diversion from the original request can leave you out |
| many of the categories above. Although, some | | | | of money with an incomplete web site. And as I said, |
| webmasters have a strong grasp on multiple areas of | | | | will definitely cost you days, if not more, in time. |