Website Development
Developing a website isn’t a one step process. There are dozens of things that need to be taken into consideration. There are writers working to provide new content for a build, web developers creating the structure and layout of a new site, porting over existing information or setting up an easy framework for writers to add onto. PPC campaigns are prepared for a sites launch, so that strong back links direct users to a clients new site in addition to providing it with much needed authority. Some of a development companies employees are working pre-launch, others are waiting in the wings until the account goes live.
All of these employees are eager to work on a clients behalf, providing them with the best launch possible. When this goes smoothly a website can be developed in as little as a weeks time. So how come so many clients end up waiting on their websites, and what can be done about it? Like so many things, it boils down to time and priorities.
Client Responsiveness
There is one fundamental difference between a developer and a client. The developer has one job, to create the client’s website. For the duration of the web build the client has two jobs. One is to provide the developer with everything needed to perform their job, the other is to perform the expected duties of their own position. Duties can vary from managers to owners and assistants, but the workload doesn’t. Clients are busy people.
Problems arise when the developer doesn’t have everything they need to do a particular job. These freezes can happen often, and for a variety of reasons. Many times a client is too overloaded with work and cannot find the time, other times they view it as a spec on a horizon filled with priorities, all of which are battling for attention. There’s something a client often forgets when it comes to their website though, and it’s one of the oldest chapters in the business book.
Time is Money
A client’s time is incredibly valuable. Missing a phone call because they’re performing work on the website could mean missing a financial opportunity. What many clients forget before their website launches is its purpose.
A new site with search engine optimized content, better functionality, and mobile responsiveness provides new opportunities. We’ve had clients receive massive jobs for key-terms they weren’t even ranking for within 24 hours after launching a site. That’s not business they would have received otherwise, because before their site was launched, no one would have found their business looking for that key term. So a client has to ask themselves, what is my time worth?
The Value of Time
Consider these factors:
- Time – What is your developer asking for? How long will it take you to gather the requested documents and send them in?
- Worth – What is your time currently worth? How much money would you have made in the time it took you to aid your developer?
- Cost – What is the cost of your inaction? Do the benefits of putting off your developer (Aiding current customers, finishing paperwork, attending a meeting) outweigh the benefits of aiding your developer (Increased business, easier scheduling and information gathering, higher visibility and mobile responsiveness).
We’ve not had a single instance where allowing a developer to complete their work in a timely manner has not been beneficial to the client. Everything your developer does is designed to help bring you new business, make your life easier, and provide customers with a good experience. So how can these delays be avoided? By getting your developer everything they’ll need up front of course.
Crucial Information every Developer needs to Finish Your Site
Before work on your new site even begins, make sure your developer has all the key pieces of information they’ll need. Lead Developer Blake Geist put it most succinctly when he said, “Give use everything that you have, appraise what we have.” Below is a breakdown of the main information you’ll want to give to your developer as soon as possible.
- Any and all website assets – This includes content that will be carried over, logos, images (staff, photos of work, property images), and any other pertinent information from your current site.
- Current site login information – This covers what content management system you use, your existing domain name and your host login information.
- Social media – If you receive social media management you’ll need to supply all account usernames, passwords, and URLS’s.
- Google analytic information – Every company should be monitoring this to track the performance of their current site. Supply your developer with any saved analytic information and webmaster tool login information.
Don’t forget the details
Blake went on to say, “I need to know what you like about it (the current site), what you don’t like about it, and what changes you need.” Details like color schemes, menu layouts and other personal preferences should be communicated before the developer begins. Though changes can be quite easy within a WordPress site, static sites are more difficult and many clients want their site to look a specific way but neglect to express these opinions.
Now that you know what information your developer needs, you need an exceptional internet marketing company. From reputation management to complete search engine optimized site development, call (360) 450-5171 or contact Effective Web Solutions.