How to ensure your website developer can implement your website

Guide for clients who are implementing a website

The amount of work needed to create a website is significant for all parties. Of course, many individuals can string together a few pages in WordPress and publish it within a few days. Those capable of maintaining their Facebook account or Instagram profile can definitely get to grips with using a WYSIWYG editor such as Wix.

The result will be a website which does little and is just there because it is there. This can be fine in some cases as clients simply want a website for an online presence.

This guide is a very brief guide on how to ensure you get the information you want on your website with as little pain as possible. Please do more research for yourself.

Time is the most important consideration

Time to;

• Create the content.
• Get the branding.
• Research competitors.
• Implement the website.
• Monitor website traffic.
• See the benefits of Search Engine Optimisation (Website Traffic).

Website Content - how to prepare your content for a web development company

How to write and save your content

We use Microsoft OneNote and have a page per web page. You could use Microsoft Word or Evernote. Web content structure can be more appealing in smaller blocks, so think in that way too when writing documents.

Managing images

We recommend creating a folder for images, ensuring they are a minimum size, and naming them clearly.

Possible ways to work with images;

• Create a windows folder per page, drop the pictures in each folder. Optionally, include a folder for smaller images that end up in the page columns (vertical columns on a web page).
• Put the images in one folder. In an excel spreadsheet, name which image goes where.
• Refer to the image in the document.
• Discuss with your website developer, normally, images aren't a hard thing to worry about.

Check other websites

Look at other websites, not just competitors, see how their content works and does not work. Think if what they are saying makes sense. Perhaps you want to say a lot and it would be better in an article or a pdf document?

Ensure your content works

If you provide services, make this clear. If you have products, make this clear. If you are describing your operations or business, make this clear.

Photos

Find royalty free stock photos or use your own. Ensure you are not including brands in these photos which may themselves have copyright restrictions.

Sometimes, what you like is right

"Too many cooks spoil the broth". No website can appeal to everybody. Indeed, a website can be as much about being found as about the content itself - which seems strange. Website consultants can help give ideas on where content should go - so don't be afraid to just write content and get their feedback.

Content to impactful website is a long process

Info Rhino's website has taken months of part time research and analysis. Tying the website into our products and services took time. Even now, we think there are many improvements we would like to make - just to the content.

This means, if you are planning to have a website built from scratch or relaunched, it can take many months before even starting a project.

Your content always serves a purpose

That your content is always there for a reason should drive the focus. Sometimes you are;

• Providing customers with information about your service.
• Aiming to sell a product or service.
• Complying with a legal requirement.
• Providing information online to save your time answering queries.
• Engage debate.
• Increase footfall/website traffic.

Design, logos, and branding

You must get a logo and think about themes and styles. This helps the web developer think about your website and plan it better.

Think about features you need

General functionality

• Galleries
• Maps
• Users
• Applications
• Social Media Integration
• Payment handling
• Content Management.

Minimal website functionality

Think about the minimum features you need. Whenever working with a website company, start with a minimal implementation, but ensure the website development company can implement all your needs.

Here are some ideas;

• Have a starter website initially.
• Get that company to add to it over time.
• Consider having a starter website whilst the bigger website is being built.

Consider additional costs

Not exhaustive, here are some additional costs to consider;

• Compliance - GDPR, Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy.
• Licensing - Google Maps for example, can incur very high costs if your website received a lot of traffic.
• SSL certificates.
• Web Hosting costs.
• Support costs.
• Email spam handling.
• Site backup.
• Email backup.
• Advertising for increasing web traffic.

Other guides

It is recommended you take a look at other guides on our site;

• How to prepare a website for a website development consultancy
• https://www.inforhino.co.uk/article/Discussion/Guides/Email-Business-continuity-for-the-small-company
• [General ideas on preparing your content for a website]https://www.inforhino.co.uk/article/Discussion/Guides/Preparing-your-website-requirements-for-a-website-development-agency

Written with StackEdit.