What to Expect from Your Web Developer
If you are responsible for your company’s Web site, you do not necessarily need to know all the technical terms or procedures involved in making and maintaining your Web site. You do need to understand a few basics and know what to expect realistically from your Web developer and from who ever will be responsible for future Web site maintenance and changes. How do you know if you are getting a professional Web site design for your product?
Some important things to talk about with your Web developer
Some important things to talk about with your Web developer
- Domain name and domain name registration:
Costs range from $6.95 to $35 a year. You can register your chosen name or your Web developer can do it for you. Be aware of domain name registration renewal dates. - Hosting:
This is the monthly rent you pay for space for your Web site on a server (computer that is always accessible from the Internet). This fee can range from $6.95 to $25 or more a month depending on the provider. A secure (encrypted) server is more expensive and is important if you take credit cards for payment on your site. - Choices for selling your product:
How are your customers going to buy your product?
Write, telephone, or fax in orders? Alternatively, are you going to use e-commerce-(selling on-line-with shopping cart or buy buttons where the customer can utilize their credit cards)? On-line sales require a secure server and payment gateway service for the payment portion of the transaction. - Graphic design:
The look and feel of your site. Does it fit your product? Does it look professional? Is it fast loading, easy to navigate, and easily readable?
Be sure you have full rights to the design and any pictures used on your site. - Keywords and Search Engine Submissions:
Does the Web developer do keyword research, add metatags to your pages, and assist you in developing keyword rich text to both help in marketing your products and help your placement in search engines? These words and programming code help search engines find your site for prospective customers on the Internet. Does the developer submit your site to search engines and Web directories once the site is on-line and ready? - Future maintenance:
Is the developer including Web site maintenance in their package? How much will future work cost? Can you or one of your staff do all or some of the updates? Who will do future search engine and directory submissions?
- A good rapport with the developer is necessary. Web developers should talk in language you understand. They should also understand your industry enough to use your jargon on your Web site. I recall a saddlemaker who said his Web designer kept misspelling the word “tack.”
- They should complete work quickly. If a Web site design drags out for months, the person probably has too many customers or does not understand what he is doing. Web site updates should also be done in a timely manner. 24-72 hours is a realistic period unless an exception is made.
- Changes: If you want the developer to change the site in some way, they should do it quickly and willingly or explain why the change is not appropriate.
- Monetary cost is not necessarily a valid criterion for the quality of the final design. A good many Web sites seem to be overpriced for the results. Average people with Web sites do not know if they are getting a professional job or getting the run around. Sometimes unprincipled designers can take advantage of the customer’s lack of technical savvy.
- Realize your own responsibilities with regard to the site. Be sure to do your part in getting text and photos to the developer in a timely manner. Provide passwords and user names as needed. Without your material, the developer has nothing to work with. Be sure you proofread your site and suggest changes. Everyone will miss something and sometimes the site will look completely different on your computer than it does on the developer’s computer. Keep your bills paid in a prompt fashion and remember renewal dates.