Many website projects actually fail before they even get started.
This is not intentional, but with technology driven projects, it is easy to get derailed before the train is out of the station.
However, by following guidelines below, you can find the right technology partner for your project, save time and money, and having a successful project.
What s the rush?
In the rush to get pricing for a website or a custom programming project, and to get the project underway quickly, many clients will provide far too little information about a project and will not take the time to interview potential technology partners, often relying on the lowest price quote.
This is a recipe for disaster. First of all, slow down. Take your time and work on getting your project off to a good start.
Here are five tips to avoid a false start and to make sure your project is a total success.
Provide project requirements.
Answer vendor questions.
Set a realistic budget.
Read and compare the proposals you receive.
Check references.
TIP 1 Provide project requirements
Try to provide as much information about your project as possible. Detailed requirements should include the number of pages your website will have, special capabilities needed such as a customer login, online operator, knowledgebase, and other features.
If you need an ecommerce website, the number of products going on the website is vital to getting an accurate quote or estimate.
TIP 2 Answer vendor questions
If you avoid answering vendor questions, potential vendors will make assumptions about your project and will pad the quote because they are just not sure about some of the requirements.
Professional vendors will want to understand your project in order to both give you a fair price and provide the right solution. It s also a good idea to speak with potential vendors so you can get an idea of what it will be like to work with the vendor.
TIP 3 Set a realistic budget
Even if you do not have any idea how much your project will cost, determine what you are willing to spend for your project, and be willing to share your budget with a potential technology partner.
If your requirements are for a $25,000 project, and you only have a budget of $5,000 to spend, it s better to let a potential vendor know what is realistic for your project, so they can provide a proposal to suit your budget, or help you to break your project into different phases.
TIP 4 Read and compare proposals you receive
Proposals are very revealing about a potential vendor, and will give you insight into whether a prospective vendor is right for you. Great proposals will detail the process of the project, the technology to be used, the time line, and should include references and links to comparable projects.
Proposals that address your requirements and demonstrate the vendor understands your project. Make sure there are no gotchas and that you own the project files and that the vendor is not recommending a solution that will force you to remain their customer.
TIP 5 Check vendor references
It s easy to get caught up in the details of proposal, and to skip checking references. Finding out that a technology vendor cannot or will not be able to deliver what your project needs in the middle of the project will spell disaster.
Reputable companies will provide recent project contacts so you can make sure the company you are considering is the right one for your project.
Author Resource:
Vann Baker, President of Design-First, has been creating websites since 1995, from small business websites to large ecommerce, social network and informational websites using content management systems. For more information on creating a website and more, go to: http://www.design-first.com/website
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