A one-liner may not be the best way to provide a brief to your web developer who you expect to understand and deliver exactly what you envisaged in your head. Make your life – and that of your developer much easier by providing clear and concise messages.
Communication is the key to getting the most out of your web developer, so here’s our top five tips on how to get your ideas across and getting a nifty website for your business.
- Brain dump
Starting a new website design is a blank canvas for your web developer, so in order for them to create the design you have conceived you need to tell them, with as much detail as possible.
– Confusing briefs or unclear descriptions will unsurprisingly result in an inaccurate interpretation of your website design. Be as clear as possible about your ideas for your site including look and feel and usability.
– Your developer might not have an insight into your business or industry so make sure you tell them! Let them know about your business, your products and your target market.
– What messages does your website need to get across? What impression do you want to give customers of your website and your business? Ensure your site has a ‘purpose’ as well as looking good.
- Collaboration and communication
The phrase web developers hear the most is “I don’t know much about this”, which is fine, that’s why you came to us in the first place! At Plesilium we want you to tell us your thoughts, ideas, things you like and don’t like in a website. Getting questions and thoughts out on the table will ensure everyone is on the same page and establish clear communication and collaboration from the start of the project.
- Managing expectations
Web development isn’t a five minute job. It’s a very complex and highly specialised field of work and takes a certain amount of time to complete. We may make it look easy, but that’s because we have spent years perfecting our skills and cultivating the latest practices in website builds.
A good web developer will be able to give you an estimate on how long your website will take to build, but it will be an estimate. From initial discussions to designs to final development and upload are dependent on a number of factors and individual clients.
- Listen to your web developer
Your web developer has been designing and implementing websites for years so they are best placed to offer advice and suggestions on setting out your project. Nobody knows your business like you do so give that information to your designer. Tell them who your audience is and how best to connect with them, and have confidence in the experience of your developer to bring those ideas and objectives to life.
- You’re all aiming for the same goal
If your website is mind-blowingly awesome then both you and your website developer have met your objective, which is great for you and hugely rewarding for your developer – especially if you recommend them! Working together and developing good communication will guarantee the process runs smoothly and any issues are sorted out quickly.
If you are stuck or unsure of anything then just ask your developer – they will probably be able to offer several different solutions that you are struggling with. If you are happy with your finished website then your developer will be too, because an unhappy client isn’t great for business.
Remember, you are an expert in your field and you know how to engage with your audience. Your web developer will rely on you as much as you will rely on them to develop an amazing website. If you focus on the points made above you will get far more value out of your next website project.