How to Be the Perfect Web Design Client!!

The information below is written by Jed Wylie (http://www.morganwylie.co.uk/), and I think its very usefull for everyone thinking of getting a website designed. It makes the relationship between client and provider run smoothly, resulting in a website which you are both happy with:

THE RELATIONSHIP

Here are some simple things you can do to create a smooth and enjoyable working relationship with your web designers.

1) When sharing your vision – write it down! (Don’t leave anything to interpretation.)

2) Introduce yourself to everyone working on your project

3) Be available for consultation at any time

4) Be willing to take advice

5) Be patient – websites may look simple on the surface but complex technology lurks beneath and that takes time to develop.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Your web design company will be responsible for managing their side of your website’s build but you are central to that process. Here are some tips to help that go smoothly:

1) Make sure you have a good project management tool. (If you don’t have one check out http://www.basecamphq.com/.)

2) State your expectations and deadlines up front. (Don’t assume your design agency will approach the project as you would.)

3) Be ultra clear about what you want – always check that they understand your point before progressing

4) Take the time to understand the process of how they intend to build your website.

5) Ask at what points during the development cycle they need your input

6) Give your feedback quickly. (Remember any delay from your side could push the deadline back.)

7) If you request changes don’t assume they’ll be absorbed into the project cost. Make sure you are aware of any extra costs before commencing the work. (You don’t want any shocks when the invoice arrives.) Be decisive – how many times have you said “I should have followed my instincts”? Well, one of the reasons we don’t act on them is because we over analyse and this leads us to indecision. Listen to your intuition and make a decision, it’s incredibly liberating, speeds up your response times and help maintain the project’s deadlines.

DESIGN ISSUES

You want a stunning design BUT I’m guessing you’re like me – I know what I like but I couldn’t actually design it! Design is one of the most testing parts of building a website and because it’s usually the first thing you see from your chosen company it can make or break the relationship.

1) Don’t panic if it’s not right first time – it’s a process and can take a while for the designer to ‘get’ where you’re coming from.

2) Be guided by your designer – they’ll know how to create a design that works

3) BUT, if you hate it and its just plain wrong don’t be afraid to say!

4) Don’t fall into the trap of wanting everything to catch your Browser’s eye (headline, telephone number, text, graphics, etc). The design should make your eye flow down the screen seeing things in an order which funnels you to the next action.

5) Remember, less is more – don’t succumb to the idea that you need everything on 1 page

6) Don’t keep ‘trying things out’ on the design. A good designer will probably have thought and tried a number of approaches before settling on the one they present to you.

7) Don’t review the design according to what you like. It’s how your target audience will react that’s most important. Find some tame clients and ask for their opinions.

CONTENT

This is the point at which many projects can stall. Getting your content together is the most challenging and time consuming part of your role. Below are a few tips to help you along.

1) Remember you’re responsible for the content which is the MOST IMPORTANT part of your website

2) As soon as the design is done (if not before) begin the writing process

3) Look at where the space for copy (words) is in your design and write to those dimensions. (Writing too little will look daft and too much will make the page scroll.)

4) If you’re really struggling to get the content written consider employing a copywriter to help

5) Don’t underestimate how long this process will take. And don’t forget that content isn’t just the copy but also photos, audio, PDF documents, video and so on.One more thing… keep a little contingency money in reserve, just in case. (But don’t tell anyone about it though!)

Now no-one can ever complain about you because you are the Perfect Client!

Wonderweb Shop Now Open

Our online shop is now open, offering all our print services such as business cards, flyers, letterheads, compliment slips and stationery packages to be purchased online with all major credit and debit cards through paypal.

Our popular business startup package can also be purchased via our online shop.

www.wonderwebdesign.com/shop

Wonderweb Design launch Mark Chester's Schooled On Troubled Terraces Website

Mark Chester was one of the founder members of the notorious "Naughty Forty" firm who followed Stoke City FC during the 80's and 90's. Mark has now turned his back on football hooliganism and decided to lecture students and the general public on the dangers of football hooliganism and his experiences while been involved in one of the most feared firms in the land.

Wonderweb Design have helped Mark produce an informative website with usefull resources for students to study the effects of football violence.

You can buy Mark's books and unseen DVD interviews with Mark chester from his new website at www.mark-chester.co.uk

Yahoo, Google, MySpace form OpenSocial Foundation

Yahoo said on Tuesday that it is backing a program by rival Google to make software work fluidly across different social networks, and will create a joint foundation to promote the effort.
The normally fierce competitors are working together in the OpenSocial network, which Google formed in November to lure web software developers and other social network sites away from the emerging market leader in social networks, Facebook.

Many social networks — including News Corp's MySpace, Friendster and LinkedIn — support OpenSocial, a set of technical specifications that lets software developers build applications such as games and photo shows that can run on any social network, expanding the audience for such software.

However, neither Facebook nor Microsoft, which gave Facebook $240m (£120m) in backing last year, has signed up to support OpenSocial. Microsoft, which has mounted a $42bn hostile takeover bid for Yahoo, also has an agreement to sell advertising on Facebook's site.
One industry analyst says OpenSocial is in catch-up mode.

"There is only one place developers go right now, and that is Facebook," Forrester Research analyst Charlene Li said.

Our new brand and website launched.

For the first time since Wonderweb Design was started in 2005, we have had a fresh makeover. Our new website has been launched today along with our new company logo. Please feel free to leave comments and feedback.