Why have a website on the Internet?
When I talk with clients about their website desires. The reasons or actual needs that are explained are always very interesting and a bit confusing. There tends to be a want and desire but little true direction on what shape or form the web site should have.
The true heart of what we find to answer the why are:
- Grow a business by expanding the customer base through the use of the web
- Reach various current or new target audiences, knowing that more and more people use the web to find the business services they want or need
- Find new and more efficient ways to communicate with existing and future customers
- To keep up with the times and show you are a savey business that understands your clients needs
- The client’s customers expects to see a web presence
Understanding the why of the client.
A website must be an extension of the clients and their business. The feeling and impressions found on the site are vital. Designers must know their clients direction and business concerns. Web Designer’s activities always need to center on the clients web needs and what business activities they wish to have that involve the web. The best way to do this is with a formal survey process plus one on one meetings. The formal survey process and recorded information insures that the designer and clients are as we say, “on the same page”. With the survey, the designer attempts to capture and understand and the direction in which a clients wants for the web presences, plus it insures that no vital area has been overlooked.
We find that through interviews with the principle parties of the business. The design team leader thus can understand and actually walk the client through their own thoughts and concerns the client wants the project to follow.
Good web designers tailors their efforts to the clients true sense of why they want the site and answers the how of the equations with program elements laid out in an integrated plan. I encourage you to look at the design process KMH Kreations has outlined on their website as a strong method to understand the clients whys of website development.
