oct 2011 extract - plan and deliver a successful website build
TRANSCRIPT
Plan and Deliver a Successful Website Build
18th October 2011
Tuesday 23 August 2011
All too common - clients and web
developers
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Tuesday 23 August 2011
So who is to blame?
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Only two parties
1. You (client)2. The Developer
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
You
• don’t know what you want• don’t know how to communicate it• never understand what a developer is
talking about• don’t really want to do web stuff• can’t give it time• have unrealistic expectations
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Web Developer
• doesn’t know what you want• is mediocre in the first place• is either a graphic designer or a geek -
neither think/communicate like a Normal person
• underprices the job• has too many layers
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Agenda
• Initial ideas on what you want and what you need - realistic expectations
• Writing a specification document - format and detail–business and customer requirements gathering
Tuesday 23 August 2011
Agenda (cont.)
• Running a tender process - selecting developers, shortlisting and interviewing
• Managing the build once a developer is selecting–Do you need a content strategy?
Tuesday 23 August 2011
...selection of slides from the workshop
Deciding what you want &
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
2nd Challenge
• Around the time required from you–can’t be too much. Can it?–the web developer will be able to make
decisions on loads of the details - they are experienced. Aren't they?
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Solution
–Depending on the size of the build allow from a third to a half of your time once the build starts
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
You have to take complete responsibility for the success
of the build project
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
The Tender Process
Deciding what you want & the Build
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
I would recommend
• Working with a selected short-list of developers if you can
• 5 is a good number to circulate your document to
• 3 weeks is a good time to give them to respond
• At least 3 to be interviewed
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
• Designers
• Geeks
• Full service agencies
40 shades of web developers
Tuesday 23 August 2011
Graphic DesignTuesday 23 August 2011
Print DesignTuesday 23 August 2011
Web DesignTuesday 23 August 2011
UI DesignTuesday 23 August 2011
Full Service AgencyTuesday 23 August 2011
SoftwareTuesday 23 August 2011
You are looking for:
• A good to great site for themselves
• In business a couple of years is a bonus
• At least 3 to 5 people in the business
• A strong portfolio of which some are directly relevant
• Relevant platform expertise if integration is required
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
You are looking for (more):
• Communications you can understand
• Individuals you get on with - and who will be actually working on your project
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
–TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. MOSTLY
–ie if the work on their site is substandard, or appears that way then that is what they will do for you
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
You can and will change your mind during the build
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Every time you do that it will:a) cost you money
b) push out the timetable
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
sign off....
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Sign off
• If you are following the “normal” website/software build these are messy
• A lot of stuff gets dumped on you quickly - with you expected to test it, consider it and decide on it–if you delay the build stops......–if you rush it you will absolutely miss important
elements of it
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Sign off - possible solutions
–On the initial timetabling get a week allowed (or 2, better still) for each sign off from you.
–Clear time for yourself and other internal people to spend on the build at those times.
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
required from you....
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Content
–The developer is building an empty solution (usually)
–The time taken to assemble content - text, images, white papers, videos etc etc always, always extends the closing date of projects
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
Content - Solutions
–Get content delivery built into build timetable–Use external resources if required
• photography• freelance journalist
–Consider time for a content strategy
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
http://books.alistapart.com/products/the-elements-of-content-strategy
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Tuesday 23 August 2011
18th October 2011
–book here: http://iia.ie/events/event/342/plan-and-deliver-a-successful-website/
–more on workshop presenter Keith Bohanna here: http://www.keithbohanna.com
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Tuesday 23 August 2011