Articles

September 2007 - E-marketing Minute - Do the Homework on Your New Web site

Do you intend to build a new Web site or improve your existing site? Do your homework and get it right the first time.

“Ambiguity is expensive,” says Alex Yakubovich in a column that appeared recently in Crain’s Cleveland Business. “If the scope is poorly defined, Web agencies will often quote high to avoid getting burned.”

Your first task is to browse the Internet. Look at your competitors’ Web sites and see what you like or don’t like, writes Mr. Yakubovich. In addition, if your site needs back-end applications, for instance, a shopping cart, do a Google on “shopping carts” and get some idea on pricing.

“Secondly, write out the precise criteria for your project and specify what you must have, what you would like to have and what would be nice to have,” Mr. Yakubovich wrote. “Knowing precisely what features you want can help to significantly lower the estimate on your project.” Include all the features you may want to add later, so that developers can build a site that’s easier to expand.

Although it is possible to have your site built anywhere in the world, Mr. Yakubovich, a partner at O-Web Technologies in Cleveland, recommends using a local company. There are times that a face-to-face meeting is really helpful. Besides, local companies have an incentive to protect and enhance their reputations.

Other tips from the column:
Get several quotes; compare them piece by piece and you may find you can drop some noncrucial part that has an oversized price tag.

Have a contract.
Clarify project management and content management responsibilities.

The article can be read in its entirety at:
http://crainsclevelandbusiness.com/article/20070611/FREE/70608007

Here’s to a great relationship with your Web designer!