Web Development - Are
you looking for a Masterpiece or a Sales Force?
 Before
you contract a developer to create your website, take a deep
breath, sit back and document exactly what you need the
website for. Don't worry about the technical side of things,
just write down the purpose the website will serve in your
business. This is important and this should be the #1 focus of
the development project once your contract someone to build
it.
One of the problems in the internet industry is that function
is often sacrificed for form. A beautiful, flashy presentation
will sometimes make you forget what you wanted the website for
in the first place. You could end up contracting a development
firm who knows nothing about business but do know how to make
beautiful things, who then create what you paid them for. A
masterpiece that sits on the shelf where no-one can admire it.
As a business owner, you should look at web development as a
back office administrative person. At the end of the day, all
a web developer is is a person who types on a computer. So
don't be fooled by a flashy presentation or a portfolio of
beautiful past projects. Offer a brief and get the back office
to explain how they are going to resolve the brief. If they
can answer this to your satisfaction, they are probably a good
organisation to use to build your website. At least they
listen. If they seem more interested in their own artistic
capabilities, run as fast as you can. You're about to end up
with another non-performing business expense.
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