PART 6:  WALK ME THROUGH THIS

You have selected a web developer/designer for your business online present.  Super, the next step is going to 100% about you.  Here are some questions that any designer should be asking you, before a single design has been created, drawn or presented.

1. What is your favorite color or business colors? 
Stupid, not really, that look is going to be your calling card.  So what you have on your business cards, adverting and any digital or piece of paper is going to follow this color scheme.   You want people to remember and associate a look with YOU. 

2. What is the purpose of the site?
Seems obvious, but it may be not.  The goal here is to fully explain what your goals are for this investment and what you expect the results to be.  There will be some dialogue as to what is hoped for vs what is possible, this the question that you and the developer come to an understanding. 

3. Who are you trying to sell to?
Before you say, everyone, let’s see why the who is important. Styles of website and the user interface, can be dramatically different based on age, gender, educational levels.  if your audience/buyers is not drawn into the site, mo matter how many fancy techniques and visuals you have, you’ve lost out. 

Why so different?

Millennials are a very tech-savvy generation that knows what they like. This is also currently the largest age group, making it likely the audience you’re targeting. When it comes to designing for millennials, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative.

Young professionals don’t mind a sophisticated navigation, provided it’s useful. Full-width layouts and well-designed landing pages are trending, and make for smart choices in this area.

However, your 50+ group, can get lost in the completely of what is not obvious to them.  They just don’t get it.  Fighting a website is the last thing on their minds.  If they have to do that, they quit.  Whereas your Millennials, will find that complexity, interesting and intuitive.  Simply put, it is just a different brain set. 

4. Ask for 3 different layouts
As a part of the interview, indicate that you will require at least 3 different design layouts prior to any programming to start. 

5. Ask for a schedule.
Developers who know what they are doing, have a pretty good idea of how long it is going to take them to get a preliminary version of a site done.  Usually this is done on a test site, behind a protective wall, until the launch date.  Sometimes, they even develop it off line. 

6. Require access during the development process.
This is YOUR site.  Even as the site is under development, you have a right to see progress.  So during the interview, ask how you are going to get access and when.