4 Things Business Owners Shouldn’t Say To Their Web Designer
Contrary to what some people may think, the web design process can be tedious.
It involves many tools and techniques to produce and maintain a website that is not only aesthetically-pleasing, but is also functional and usable.
That is why it is important for business owners to be clear on what they want and what they seek to achieve with their website to get excellent results.
However, we all know that that isn’t always the case.
Some clients have little to no experience working with a web designer, and their lack of understanding on the processes involved in designing a website often lead to unrealistic expectations and various conflicts. To avoid such, here we list 4 things business owners shouldn’t say when working with a web designer to ensure a smooth and successful website design project:
“I just want something simple.”
The first thing that can create confusion when working on a web design project is when clients demand something simple. But as anyone in the business would tell you: simple ain’t easy.
It is a product of great skill and effort; thus, before telling your designer this, see to it that you are sure about what kind of ‘simple’ you want to achieve. Does it have anything to do with the overall look of the site, number of pages, functionalities or resources? You can give examples of websites you like to give your designer an idea on how you want your website to look.
“Content? But I don’t have time to write them.”
One of the biggest reasons why a web design project gets stalled or postponed for a few weeks or even months is because the client has failed to prepare content specifications or hasn’t provided the appropriate text for the website.
Remember that unless copywriting services have been included in your web design package, you can’t expect your designer to write the content for your site. It’s necessary that you supply the appropriate text you want to appear on your website, or have a professional do it.
Having good and informative website content is essential as it is one of the factors that can drive traffic and can capture a visitor’s attention.
“Why does it take that long?”
Most web design agencies take approximately 6-12 weeks to complete a web design project. For some, this may seem agreeable. But for others, 6-12 weeks can seem forever.
It is understandable, though, why some businesses are in a big rush to launch their website because, as they say, time is money. However, it’s also good to understand that there are various factors that can affect when the website can go live.
This includes the quality of the graphics, complexity of the site, number of pages, and the round of revisions the customer asks for. A good web designer will be able to explain to the client the stages of the project and lay out a reasonable timeline that will be convenient for both parties.
“Can you get my site to rank?”
Every business these days needs to rank in leading search engines, like Google and Yahoo, in order for prospective clients to easily find them. Your web designer can help you, in part, with this by building you a website that is less complex and offers a fast loading time.
However, it’s wrong to assume that a good web design alone can help lift your website’s rankings. You still need to apply search engine optimisation (SEO) practices to bring your website on the first few pages of search engines.
Whether you’ve already found a web designer to help you with your project or still looking for a reputable web design company to assist you, it’s important to keep these things in mind to make sure your site turns out exactly as you want it to be. With research and careful planning, launching a website that reflects your brand and attracts your target audience can happen in no time.
By Debra Wright
Debra Wright is a Marketing specialist, social media enthusiast and online author trying to make a mark in the web in not less than 500 words. Her motto: keep to your side of the bed. Follow her on twitter @debrawrites…