Making a Website: Behind the Scenes

A quote has stuck with me for some time now, ever since I first read it:

“Travel alone, and you will go fast.  Travel together, and you will go far.”

Powerful!  For quite some time now, I have wanted to write a book that not only helps others with their website in terms of getting it to that elusive next level that everyone talks about.  Beyond that, I have also wanted to use it as a platform to tell everyone about what really goes on in developing a website.  I”m not interested in talking about what goes into making a horrible website.  I”ll leave that for another post.  I am talking about the inner-workings of the development of a world class, highly polished website that drives business.  Lets break this down into all of the possible players in this game:

• The Client
• The Salesperson
• The Specifications Writer
• The Project Manager
• The Programmer(s)
• The Designer
• The Motion Graphics Artist

I have streamlined the development process in my own business, so while it may not be an easy task to take on, it is definitely a simple one to explain:

1. The client tells the salesperson what they want
2. The salesperson goes back and forth with the client until all of the wants/needs/desires are understood
3. If approved, the specifications writer takes the specifications and breaks it down into a technical document that is easy to comprehend, and ensures that client, project manager and all workers are on the same page.
4. The project manager makes sure that all of the assigned workers are working at a pace consistent with the deadline, and frequently communicates with the client for status updates, as well as taking in change requests.
5. Based upon the feedback and research, the designer and motion graphics artist both work diligently to produce a relevent and high quality layout that will capture the client”s audience.
6. The coding is developed, and the layout is placed over coding.
7. If the client is ecstatic, the website is launched!

As you can see, there are a number of positions to be filled when it comes to developing a successful, in-depth website project.  If any one of these positions are not properly filled by a highly skilled, creative and reliable person, then the project runs a high risk of failing.  This is why, in the website development projects I do for my clients, I hold fast to the saying:

“Travel alone, and you will go fast.  Travel together, and you will go far.”

 How does that sound to you?