As a business owner or executive, there is probably a lot
you want from your web design team. You need the best of their artistic
instincts, responsiveness when you have questions, edits, or revisions, and
technical expertise when it comes to things like search engine optimization and
social media marketing (to name just a few items).
However, your web design partner needs some things from you,
as well. And, the better you are at giving them what they need, the easier it’s
going to be for them to not only meet your expectations, but blow you away with
the perfect layout and online marketing plan.
A lot of business people don’t necessarily understand this,
and end up sabotaging themselves as a result. To help you avoid that, today we
want to give you seven ways you can help your web designer to do their best
work… and to help yourself in the process.
#1 Be Patient During
the Discovery Phase
Often, the start of a business web design project feels like
a whole lot of talking. That’s because long conversations are exactly what
should happen when planning a new website.
If they are any good, your design team is going to want to
know what your company is all about, where it came from, who your customers and
competitors are, etc. The better understanding they have of this information,
the easier it’s going to be for them to design a website and online marketing
plan that matches your needs perfectly.
Some clients like to rush through this process, usually
because they are excited to start seeing new design ideas. That’s
understandable, but the discovery phase is the foundation upon which your
website will eventually be built. Be patient, share as much information you
can, and realize that you’re helping your web designer to make you more
profitable with every answer or insight.
#2 Put the Focus on
Your Business Goals
Your creative team can help you to attract new leads or
customers, improve your recruiting, or even boost online sales. What they can’t do, though, is rewrite your
business plan for you.
Everything about designing and promoting a website gets
easier when we work with someone who understands what it is we are trying to
accomplish. There are a lot of possibilities, but you should come into the
process with some ideas about the bottom line targets you would like to reach.
How do you want your business to affect your website? What specific and
measurable goals would you like to see reached?
There are a lot of things that can go into your website and
online marketing campaigns, but not all of them are right for your business. To
achieve a sense of clarity and make sure you get the ROI you want from your new
online presence, it’s crucial to know what you’re trying to achieve.
#3 Provide Prompt
Feedback When You Can
One thing every web designer dreads is a period of unbroken
silence from a client. This happens when we submit a site map, outline, or
potential design and hear nothing in response.
There are lots of reasons clients might not respond, of
course. They could need a day or two to think about things, or might be busy
with other projects. That’s all normal and understandable. But, when the
silence goes on for weeks, bad things happen. For one thing, we might begin to
wonder whether you actually like the work we’re doing. More importantly, we can
lose focus and momentum on your project, meaning the entire job will take
longer to finish.
You don’t have to get back to your web designer immediately,
especially if they’re asking for a decision or opinion. However, by being
prompt with your feedback, you help them to stay focused on your project and do
their best creative work.
#4 Try to Be Specific
With Requests
If failing to get any feedback is a huge challenge, then
getting feedback you don’t understand is an even bigger one. That’s exactly
what happens, though, when clients don’t express themselves in ways that are
straightforward.
When possible, tell your web designer that you prefer
something “lighter” rather than saying you want “more energy.” Show them the
design you really like, instead of asking for a new layout. See if you can be
specific when talking about elements like fonts, colors, and spacing.
Being clear when you communicate with your design team makes
everything more efficient, even if it’s just to say that you don’t like what
you are seeing. The more specifics you can point to, the less chance there is
you’ll find the next design idea to be disappointing, too.
#5 Give Your Web
Designer Time to Work
Let’s begin this point by admitting that it isn’t fair to
suggest clients should respond promptly while web designers need time to pull
out their creative best. Still, it’s a fact that artists in any field can get
tired, sick, or overwhelmed. When that happens, you’re better off waiting a
little bit longer than you are rushing the work.
Sometimes, a new client will begin “checking in” weeks
before their initial design is due. When that happens, we have to love their
enthusiasm, but also try to slow them down. We’ve been around long enough to
know that the goal isn’t to produce a design as quickly as possible, but to
come up with something that they’re going to love (and that will help their
business).
When you rush your web designer too much, there is a chance
you’ll get something that’s not quite as good as it could have been. As long as
they’re keeping within agreed upon deadlines, give your creative team the space
they need to give you their best.
#6 Give Your Web
Designer Great Content to Work With
The design and layout of your business website are
important, but even the most talented artistic minds can’t help you if your
content (that is, the images and writing you provide) isn’t up to par.
It’s important for you to know that and act accordingly. If
you plan on generating your own content, and supplying things like images
yourself, then it’s best to get started early in the web design process, so you
aren’t rushing to complete them later. Alternatively, if you want your web
designer to have content generated for you, then make that decision from the
outset and give them some direction to work with.
Ultimately, content on your website will attract search
engine visits and persuade potential customers to buy from you. Give your web
design team great ingredients to work with and they’ll turn them into something
perfect for your business.
#7 Don’t Disappear
After Your Website Goes Live
We often caution business owners about hiring a web
designers who seem to disappear into thin air once a site goes live. You want a
creative partner who will be around to offer continuing support, web analytics
reviews, website audits, and content updates. In other words, ongoing service
and online marketing are important to your success.
Sometimes, though, things happen the other way around.
Clients get their websites launched and then disappear completely. This is
difficult for us for couple of reasons. First, we miss out on the chance to see
how their business is growing and expanding, which is the most rewarding part
of the process. And second, we can’t help them stay up on the latest trends and
best practices, which means they don’t get the full value from their website
over time.
If you choose a quality web design team, consider them to be
your marketing partners going forward. If you disappear, they can’t help you
achieve the results you’re looking for.
Want a Web Designer
Who Can Help You Grow Your Business?
If you put these seven pieces of advice together, they all
amount to one simple philosophy: that web designers need to work together with
their clients to not only build the perfect site, but to create a winning
formula for new sales.
That mindset has helped us become a leader in
Arizona web design and online marketing for more than a decade. If you want to work
with a creative team that puts your results first, contact Kinetik IT in
Phoenix today!