Nothing can make a design project draw on and on like a client not knowing what it is they want. From basic design elements, to features and usability, you should have a good idea of what it is you want your website to look like and what it can do before you dial up a web designer.
Here’s a basic list you should have ready before you meet with a web designer.
- Consider what information you want on the site. Now, write that down.
- Who’s going to be visiting your site? Why will they visit and what would you like to deliver?
- Will your site need frequent or infrequent updates? If you need to update the site constantly, find a web designer that can train you to make updates yourself.
- Are you selling something? Do you know how you will process the payments (paypal, merchant account, unsure, etc.)?
- Do your ideas seem extreme or unnecessary?
- Are you interested in building traffic from surfers using search engines like Google, Bing, etc? This is called SEO (Search Engine Optimization). If you can benefit from people seeing your site in relevant search results, be sure you bring this up with your designer.
- Are you interested in bringing added interactivity by utilizing social networks like Facebook and Twitter? If so, make sure it’s useful. Be sure you’ll be able to update those additional platforms.
- Do you have your own graphics or do you need new graphics, like logos, created?
- How soon do you need the job finished?
- What is your budget?
This will save you both time and money. Having the right information ensures efficient work flow. If your designer has to constantly consult you for changes and new ideas, what seemed like a 4 week job can easily turn into a 12 week job.