Virtual Mind Study

Mentioned below are the steps which client’s usually undergo for hiring a firm or a web designer, as a first step for the initiation of a project. As a part of the exercise the Project Manager should have the feel to study the client’s mind through it, while undergoing communication with them.

*) Research
This is listed as 'Step *' for a reason - do not even start to look for a designer until you have done your research (the fact that you're reading this article is a good start!) Never start to scope out designers when all you know is "I need a Web Site". Not only is the designer going to need more information, it is vital that you understand some basic background before you contract with any designer. Much of your decision making process will rely on you having some background acquaintance about what accurately you necessitate - and for that you need to know both what is possible and which of those are easy and which are not.

What to do:
• Research Online - Everything you ever wanted to know about the Internet - is on the Internet!
• Find Sites you like - Jot down web sites you like, but be sure to look at them as if you were their customer - don't just focus on how they look, examine how they function as well. Make specific note of what your competition is doing on-line.
• Be Ready with Branding - Most designers will want to match the look and feel of your web site to your corporate brand (logo, colors etc...) make sure you have this ready or are prepared to work with the designer to create a brand prior to starting work on the actual web site.
• Plan for the Future - Develop a long term goal for your web site. How will it be maintained? Are you planning to add new features later? Is your business poised to expand into other areas?
• Know your budget - Have a good idea what you can have enough money to spend and keep this in the back of your mind as you select a designer.

These are just a basis on which you need to think on before selecting a designer or a design firm...


1) Choose Dynamic vs Static
• A Dynamic web site is built with integration to database (MS SQL, MYSQL, ORACLE, ACCESS etc.) and allows the site owner to make changes to the site without involving the web design firm.
• A Static web site is built by the designer and can only be changed by uploading new files to the server.

2) Look at their portfolio
Almost all web designers/firms have an on-line project portfolio (if they don't that would probably be cause for concern). Look through their portfolio and see if you like their work. The design part of web design is a creative process and therefore is, to a large extent, based on the taste of the designer. If you find that you don't like any of the web sites in the firm's portfolio - then you probably don't share the same tastes as the designer. There isn't much point trying to force a design you like from a designer with different taste.

What to do:
Look at portfolios - find design firms that create web sites that you like. Look at their structure and form - just like an artist, most designers have a specific "feel" that tends to run as a common theme in their work.

3) Talk to their customers
As with any professional, web designers/firms should be eager to share some references. Talk to their customers, find out about how the design process went, how the web site is performing, and what the customer is feeling about value for the price they paid. Along with the schedule and professionalism already levied to them..

What to do:
Talk to at least two references from each of your short-listed web designers/firms. Ask them for their opinion of the firm.

4) You don't always get what you pay for...
I have been in this arena for over past 4+ years, had seen and developed many web sites/applications - all too often I have also seen the unfortunate get fleeced by paying sometimes as much as 10 times what they should have. Usually when a web designer/firm is charging too much for their service it's for one of two reasons, the obvious one is that they are unscrupulous and are simply trying to rip people off. However, equally common is that they don't really understand the technology that they are selling and are charging an arm and a leg for something they find incredibly complex and difficult (because it's going to take them a long time to make it work). Neither one of these bodes well for the customer.

The other extreme is the free web site built by someone like your sister's nephew - in these cases you probably do get what you pay for and that is generally going to be something that needs to be replaced before it even gets launched.

What to do:
As with pretty much anything be sure to shop around. Get quotes from several design firms and make sure there are no hidden costs. If you're getting quotes that are excessively high or low - try to find out why. Try to get a clear understanding document exchange with the web designers/firms mentioning the project requirements and understandability by both the parties.

5) Get a Contract
Make sure you have a contract in place for your design project. Contracts should protect both parties and a good one will eliminate any confusion about what is included, who owns it, what are the works which hare required to be accomplished, how much time will it take, stakeholders involved in it, and how much it will cost. You are hiring a professional - and that should always include a contract (either an NDA or a SOW).

What to do:
Most web designers/firms have a standard contract, get a copy of this before you commit and read it carefully!






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