Client involvement in a web design project is essential to its success. Helpful tips and resources appear below.

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Web Standards: What Are They, and Why Should You Care?

Having a web standards-compliant website means that a client is shielded from the nightmare of completely redesigning an outdated website every few years. When one hears the term "web standards," oftentimes it's assumed that it only applies to a disabled person's ability to navigate a website. However, it's far more than that. It includes meaningful web page markup without presentational coding. This is possible through the use of style sheets (CSS), allowing all pages to link to one document that determines the type styles, link styles, colors, and in some cases, the layout. A website should also be accessible through any user agent, such as a PDA (an example of a PDA is a Palm Pilot). Having a website that complies to current web standards means that it will be much simpler to maintain, far easier to upgrade or revise in the future, and thus far more cost-effective.

What A Client Should Know and Ask

A client should know why they need a website, who the target audience will be, and how it will be maintained and updated. A good website designer will have many questions of a prospective client prior to submitting a proposal. The ultimate goal of the designer and the client is a complete understanding of the scope and strategy of the website project. A client should ask a designer to clarify what services they can offer. The client should also ask the designer what they will need prior to beginning the project. And, a written contract that clearly outlines the obligations of both designer and client, with agreed-upon deadlines, is essential.

Website Branding

"Branding" is a unique graphic style, color, and an appropriate use of multimedia ... in short, the creation of a "personality" or "brand" that can positively influence target audiences. For example, the website for a clothing manufacturer offering a brand of jeans could convey the worn, relaxed, and rugged look of jeans to a target user group. As another example, the web designer Robin Button appropriated her last name of "Button" as a graphic icon and used her preference for clear, crisp colors and clean layouts as part of a website "brand" for Sites By Robin.

A Website is Successful if ....

the visitor to your website is rewarded for taking the trouble to log in. They find what they want or need, hopefully with no more than three clicks. A user-sensitive approach is essential. Know your target audience. An effective website design should not be a reflection of the website designer and what they prefer. One-time hits are indicative of nothing. Repeat visitors come back because they were enticed to return. A disorganized navigation scheme, slow download time, and poor or outdated content diminishes the number of return visitors.

A Website Project Contract is Essential

Before beginning a website project, both the designer and the client must understand, and agree upon, their roles. A good contract protects the interests of everyone. For example, it should validate the qualifications of the designer, designate project deadlines and payment terms, define copyright issues, and prevent confusion or misunderstandings once the project is under way. A website designer that presents a contract is validating their professionalism and integrity to the prospective client.

Common Terms

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Scope

Scope is defined as the the size and complexity of a project. Determining what website features are needed is part of project scope. Also, it should be determined whether it will be expanded upon later, as this could affect initial design. If there is an existing website needing revision, this could also affect scope. A client should also consider who will be part of the website project team and what talents they will bring to the project.

Vision

A vision statement defines the purpose of the website. It should be clear and concise enough to provide focus for those charged with fulfilling the vision. An example could be: "We will become one of the top five web design firms in the San Joaquin Valley by the end of 2006."

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Strategy

An obvious website strategy is to attract and retain users. One way would be to examine comparable websites to determine what does and doesn't seem useful or workable. Strategies will vary with the type of client.

Mindmapping

To "mindmap" is to put pencil to paper, writing out ideas in the order that they occur in a non-linear fashion. It is the first step to developing a navigation scheme and determining desired content for a website. Some clients have engaged team members in an activity of scribbling thoughts and ideas on adhesive-backed paper which are placed on a wall for everyone to see.

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Proposal, Project Plan, or "Spec"

Once the vision, strategy, and scope of the project has been defined, the website designer should present a proposal or project plan for the client to review. This will include items such as what website features are recommended, whether or not additional contractors are needed (such as programmers), and a visual diagram of the website structure. If the proposal is acceptable, the next step is the preparation of a contract to be signed by both parties.

Contract

Before beginning the development of a website project, both the designer and the client must understand, and agree upon, their roles. A good contract protects the interests of everyone. For example, it should validate the qualifications of the designer, designate project deadlines and payment terms, define copyright issues, designate sign-off stages, and prevent confusion or misunderstandings once the project is under way. A website designer that presents a contract is validating their professionalism and integrity to the prospective client.

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Copyright Issues

Copyright issues are important to know and understand from both the client and vendor perspective. For example, the client must be assured that any contracted graphic art or website design becomes their property once the project is completed and paid in full. Also, responsibility for the website content (text, logos, etc) should be designated. Copyright issues are an integral part of the website Contract.

Usability

Usability is making sure that the website works well, and that a person of average (or below average) online ability and experience can determine how to use it. It should be very obvious at slightly more than a glance how the website is navigated and where to go to fulfill the user's reason for being there. If a website is truly usable, virtually no effort is required of the user.

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Navigation Scheme

A website navigation scheme should allow a user to easily "travel" through a website, never losing their purpose for being there, and always aware of where they are and where they have been. There is nothing more frustrating than becoming lost in a website, with no clue as to how to return to a previous page or in some cases, to return to the home page. A successful website navigation scheme should never rely, either wholly or in part, on the browser "back" button.

Content

Content can be existing photographs, text, and graphic art such as a logo. Such information is needed in advance by a website designer, as they cannot complete the project without it. Content should be determined by what a targeted user would expect to find on the website. It's important to know the difference between printed material and website content. An editor skilled in web content is usually recommended.

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Content Manager and Webmaster

Before beginning a website project, the client should determine who will be responsible for maintaining the website. The skill level of this individual(s) will often determine what website features can be offered. A content manager would be someone responsible for ensuring that content is periodically reviewed, rewritten, updated, and deleted as needed. Depending upon resources and skill level, the content manager could also be the webmaster. The webmaster would, at a minimum, be charged with the technical duties of website maintenance.

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