As a web developer I sometimes get clients who already have websites, but are seeking to move elsewhere. For one reason or another the current provider is not filling the role properly or has possibly ceased to exist. I have been privy to all sorts of stories of anguish and frustration, and since the survival of my business depends on it, I’m very interested in not repeating the mistakes of developers named in these stories. I am now sharing some of the mistakes I hear about which the client had control over in hopes that managers looking for a site built can have a better experience.

It’s important to note that a failed project or poor results aren’t strictly the fault of the web development company. Two clients can use the same firm and have drastically different results as a result of the questions, planning, and requirements of the project. A good company will steer you in the right direction, but ultimately the creation of a website is a team effort and you are part of that team.

Here are 9 things that will help doom your project, and which you can assert proactive control over:

1) Don’t Get References

There are an incredible amount of companies out there to choose from, so feel free to scout around and find someone that you can communicate well with and is experienced in the kinds of things you are looking for. Always speak to former clients and find out what the service is like past the graphical design. There are many details involved in building a site and a great looking portfolio could be filled with duds. Find out if the work you like is that of the person or people who will actually be the ones working on your site.

2) Set Out Vague Guidelines for the Project

You may or may not know what you want on your website and what your objectives actually are. If you do know then make sure to communicate these to the company working on your project. Paint a clear picture and make sure the other party “gets it”. If you don’t know why you are getting a website or what the best features for yours are, then make sure to walk through these with your developer. Some terrifically talented people and companies make the mistake of going along with whatever the client asks for - afterall the “customer is always right”. I’ve made this mistake in the past before realizing that I have no right to expect the client to know what works and doesn’t work on the web. Make sure you and your developer both know what the end purpose of your site is so that the developer can propose a solution that can actually meet this.

3) Hire a Company Using Outdated Technology

Speaks for itself, although not always easy to avoid if you aren’t tech savy. Look for recent portfolio additions that have dated graphics, clumsy interactive elements, and generally “feel like 1997″ sites for a start. However looking at a site hardly tells the whole tale. Be sure to ask questions about the “backend” of things, such as how your website is hosted and what is done to keep it running.

4) Ignore the “You Get What You Pay For” Rule

Everyone loves to get a great deal, but a website is not the exact same gadget regardless of the store you buy it in. Figure out roughly what your budget and expectations are, then find the best company within your general price range instead of going for the lowest bid. You will get far better results and could even pay less in the long-run than a supposedly low priced competitor.

5) Assume You’ll Get What You Pay For

Pricing varies wildly in the web development industry. Add to this the complexity of the service and the different pricing models used by different firms, and it becomes very tempting to assume the higher the cost the better the quality. This is silly in general but especially dangerous here as the amount that a company charges consists largely of intangible and difficult to price qualities like talent. While there may be some bragging rights to having an expensive and amazing site, you will surely be the laughing stock if you pay a high price for poor results.

6) Assert that You’re Always Right

You definitely want to make sure that you are getting the specs you asked for and have a right within reason to expect your chosen provider to act on your requirements. However the people working on your site are professionals and a good company will provide suggestions for changes that are likely in your best interest. This is especially true for features that may make a site “cooler” but will reduce usability or search engine rankings. Do consider the suggestions and don’t feel that everything must be done your way - part of the price tag of your site is the expert advice you receive!

7) Don’t Have a Clear Timeline or Regular Meetings

It’s important to keep the project moving on both ends and communication plays a big role. Staying on top of things ensures that your project has the same priority assigned to it by the developer as it does in your head. Having regular status updates or meetings also helps steer things towards what you envision. Specific dates and milestones need to be outlined and monitored.

8) Ignore Security and Usability Issues

What the web company doesn’t mention could really hurt you. While security and user-friendliness may be wildly different issues, they are both hyper important topics that tend to get pushed off to the side or not brought-up at all. Consider the target audience of your site in terms of computer skills and likely devices that they will browse on. Consider the security requirements of your data and the consequences of a hacker break-in. Find someone that understands and can deliver.

9) Not Knowing How Your Site Will Be Updated and the Costs Involved

Many companies such as my own provide tools to allow our clients to easily update their own sites. Some companies don’t, and there are always projects and circumstances that justify having web developers do some or all of the update work. Find out what is available and what the costs involved are. If you place yourself in a position where making changes to your website is too expensive or difficult then inevitably you won’t make the updates, resulting in a stale and dead site. This is just one of the hidden costs to be wary of.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 at 9:19 pm and is filed under Websites, e-Commerce. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.