Web Design Conversation

The Web Design Conversation

The customer is always right. Right?

One of my biggest challenges as a Web Design and SEO professional is protecting my clients from themselves.  In the end, they are always right!  However, in the beginning of the process most clients need to be protected from themselves.  Misinformation, realistic expectations, and budget restraints tend to take its toll on the idea that the customer is always right.

A web designer or web developer has to be more politically correct then most other service providers.  Being a real people person is a big plus in this line of work.  Years of experience has taught me one thing, communicating effectively both to your clients and for your clients is the only way you can have any hope of eventually delivering the web solution that they came to you for.

I have found taking the time to sit down and really carefully listening to what the clients feel they need and identify all the key points is critical for great web design. I take as much time as necessary -- this can be done over the phone or in person.  I try to learn as much about their business is possible.  For example, who are their target market, age, education and geographic location?  Are they selling to a local market or an international market?  Who's their competition, are they competing against other companies approximately the same size as there's or are they competing against a multinational corporation.  These factors and many more eventually contribute to the web design and ultimately the company's success online.

I take the time to answer all their questions about design, search engine optimization and social networking, anything that would help contribute to their online success.  Today being able to be found at the top of the search engines is a high priority for most small to midsize businesses.  Being careful to build web sites with as little dynamically generated content as possible is a necessity; unfortunately a lot of my competitors prefer to build web sites this way because it's quick and easy and therefore more profitable for them and affordable for the client.  The problem is, the search engines often can't index these types of web sites and if they can't index your website you won't be found on the search engines.  In today's economy companies are keeping a close eye on the bottom line, unfortunately determining who you're going to have design your website by price alone can hurt you.

Recently, I was called by a midsize insurance agency here in Central Florida who had four different websites designed by a company here in town using only dynamically generated content.  Their complaint was that they were unable to find themselves on the search engines even though the web design company claimed they had put in all of the necessary SEO elements to be indexed by the search engines.  In all fairness the web sites were very attractive and easily navigated by humans but not by search engine spiders.  After a lengthy telephone call with the web design firm they admitted to me, they were just trying to keep the client within a budget that the client had specified, and that budget did not allow hand coding for the search engines. 

Often when you sit down with a new perspective client they have already called around and often received a number of quotes for their website.  It is really hard to explain to them that that beautiful affordable website the other web design company gave them a price for isn't going to be able to be indexed by the search engines, believe me, I've tried.  It isn't until months later that I often receive a second telephone call asking me to look at their new web site to see if I can get it indexed by the search engines.  You see not only am I a web design professional, I'm also a very well know in search engine optimizations specialist here in Central Florida with over a decade of experience.  Imagine their frustration When They Discover that a large portion of their website will have to be rebuilt so they can be indexed by the search engines.

A Web Design Conversation with new clients always seems to bring out strong opinions on all sides.  Often if I was to give the client exactly what they ask for when we first met they would be happy for a little while.  That is until they discover it doesn't work for them the way they thought it would.  Web design is part science in part art and it offers many pitfalls for both the designer and the client. Determining the client's real needs and delivering those needs on time and on budget without everybody getting aggravated at each other in the process, is the trick.

I have discovered over the years the only answer is careful documentation and having everyone sign-off as Particular goals are met.  I used to believe that documentation was time and time was money and it would be hard to make any money in this business if I had to document everything.  Let me say this about that, I was wrong.  Time after time careful documentation has kept everything on schedule and on budget and most of all kept the client happy. 

 Here's a curious fact, most people believe if they had the time they could do just as good a job as any web design company and it really shouldn't cost as much as it does.  After all, just put up some photos with matching colors, generate a little text, link to a few websites, and submit the finished product to the search engines and Walla, it's done.

I recently was at a dinner party with friends and eventually the conversation came around to what we each do for a living.  One of my friends dates turned to me and ask -- so what do you do? I replied by saying -- I'm a consultant, I helped design interactive websites and position them at the top of the search engines for people like Honda Motors America, Marriott, and Mattel that increase sales, builds branding, and doubles traffic.  She pauses for a moment clearly contemplating something, and then she asks -- how long does it take you?  I replied -- about a month depending on the competition. Then she asks -- how much do you charge?  I replied by saying -- it depends on the company, but it can cost as much as $30,000 for my consulting fee.  She exclaims but it only takes you a month!  I replied -- no my dear, it took me 12 years of studying search engines, web site design and how they best work together.  You see your not paying for my time, you're paying for results.

I have found that clients won't follow your suggestions until you build a rapor with them.  Myself, I seem to have to take the time to build a relationship with a client.  I've got to get to know them and adjust my approach to fit their particular personality.  I try to quickly identify and understand their unique business challenges.  I need to identify all of the different objectives, prioritize and organize all deliverables and decide who will be responsible for each part.  Next I have to write a project schedule and then figure out if I really want to take this job or not.  For me this is often the hardest part.     

Please feel free to contact me today for any of your marketing needs Office: 386-951-5179 Cell: 321-527-8714

Web Design Services, Web Design Services Florida