How to Get the Best Work out of a Web Design Shop

Digital LoomBen Di Maggio, Technical Director

Victoria Merriman, Creative Director

Some assumptions about you• You don't have a dedicated web technologist

• You’re very clear on your org’s goals

• You don't want to spend a zillion bucks

How to write a website RFP

How not to write an RFP• Get hung up on a particular technology

• Create a list of unconnected features• Forums• Tagging• Social media• Document repository• Etc.

Where are you now?• What does your org do?

• Audiences

• Brand

• What’s good and bad about the current site? (Hint: don’t guess. Ask stakeholders.)

Where do you want to be?• Goals for the next few years

• What should people be able to do on the site?

• What’s the competition like?

• Benchmarks for success?

The World Alliance to Caffeinate Undercaffeinated Peoples

or, WACUP

How to pick a good agency

A good agency…

• Makes you feel smarter

• Listens carefully

• Has a solid portfolio

• Is loved by former clients

Questions to ask references• What problems did they help you solve?

• How did they solve them?

• What were the challenges working with them?

• Are you happy with the website? Why/why not?

How to run the project

Where do websites come from?

1. Discovery

2. Information architecture

3. Design

4. Development

5. Usability?

6. Beta testing

7. Launch

Your project manager• S/he can get consensus

• S/he has the power to make decisions

• S/he has set aside time to make this happen

Some disappointing truths• Prototypes are always imperfect

• Launch Day is exciting in both good and bad ways

• You have to write your content

How to write your content

Our 7 points of web writing1. Common language2. Be objective3. Short4. Scannable5. Consistent tone6. 6th grade level7. Tell stories

Again, WACUP

Measuring website performance

Google Analytics

• Visits, not hits

• Unique visitors

• Top entry and exit pages

• Most-visited pages

Goals, on and off the site• Use Analytics’ Goals feature

• How is the new site helping your org in the real world?

• Site metrics might suggest new goals

Thanks!

• More details at http://www.digital-loom.com/webshop