WHAT TO EXPECT (AND NOT TO EXPECT) FROM A POTENTIAL WEBSITE
DESIGNER OR DEVELOPER
Most people, understandably, expect a website designer or
website developer (WD) to tell them how much a website will cost
and how soon the site will be finished. This article will
briefly touch on some pointers on what to expect and not to
expect from a potential WD. Also, I will explain the basic
difference between a designer and a developer.
First, the designer is usually the person who makes your website
pretty. The developer is usually the person who does all the
behind the scene work to make your website function properly and
assist you with other features you might require (e.g., provide
site search for your visitors, build or integrate a shopping
cart, add your site to a server, etc.) - at least this is the
way it is supposed to work, but usually the designer and
developer is the same person. This is especially true for people
who have an at-home website business.
Now for an analogy of why you should NOT ask a WD to give you a
quote "before" they have had the opportunity to assess your
business needs. Scenario: you have an illness and you call the
doctor and say, "I feel ill doc, how much will I have to pay for
you to make me better?" Do you think you will hear the answer
before he/she has examined you? Well, the reason the doctor can
not give you a quote is because he/she has to exam you first,
just like a WD has to assess your business needs before they can
give you a quote. Websites and requirements are so different, it
is impossible to just stick a price on them like retail stores
stick tags on their products. You may want to run away when a
developer hesitates to give you a fee because you think the fee
will be too much for your budget. It would advantageous to take
the time to chat with the WD so that he/she will know exactly
what your project requires - the fee may not be as bad as you
think.
I do want you to be aware of something though: Don't expect a
good website design with 10 or more pages for less than $500
(more if it has a database connected to it). There is much more
to designing and developing a website than you might realize
until you get involved in having one built, even then you won't
realize what is going on behind the scenes unless you are very
familiar with programming, html, scripting, database design and
development, etc.
Some WDs will give you something like a timeline so that the
project can move along a little smoother, but sometimes this
timeline has to be revised for many reasons. The timeline is
always a good general way to gauge how long it may take to
finish your website, but never expect your deadline to be
written in stone.
You should expect to sign a contract too. This contract should
include all bells, whistles, fees, and a mention of who owns
what until when so that there won't be any surprises while
building, testing, and implementing your website. A contract is
always the safest way to enter into a business venture,
especially with the purchase and development of a website.
I am hoping that once you have finished reading this article you
will be a bit more aware of what you are asking a WD when you
ask for fees and timeframes before an assessment has been made
of your business requirements. It is always advantageous to you
to communicate with your potential WD before you enter into a
business venture with them.
Remember to sign a contract so that you will know what to expect
from your WD. Take care and don't hesitate to contact me by
visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kisw/