What work has to be done, creating a generic to-do list.
Before we decide to find a developer, graphic designer, freelancer, small company or even to do it yourself, it’s useful to make a preliminary to do list that will include the decisions you made previously and a list of tasks that need to be accomplished. Staying organized will make the website creation process much faster. The budget ranges discussed in this guide provide for a wide variety of to-do lists and each one will need to be customized for the actual specifics of your business and for what resources you already have created and made available. Since I can’t cover all the bases here, I’ll use sample scenarios which you can use as examples in creating your to do list.
Do it yourselfers or very small website designers can skip this section.
Should you find a developer now?
That really depends on the scope of your website project. I think it’s definitely time to go over how to find a quality developer, where and how to get great graphic design, and finally the marketing, and refining of the entire project. After this section there are lots more tips and information on building the blocks of the site, but considering this guide is comprehensive enough to include various sized websites, the smaller guys will be ready to jump in, and I would highly recommend they do just that.
- What type of entity should you hire to build your website?
A website involves a plethora of separate tasks that encompass a wide skill set. When it makes sense to hire an individual or a freelancer: If you have a small budget, know what you want, and can complete some of the tasks yourself including long-term maintenance, it can make sense to hire a freelancer.
- When it makes sense to hire a small company
If you have a medium-sized budget and a small to medium sized website, you may want to use a small company. It is helpful if the small company has the varied skills necessary to market in this “New Media”
- When it makes sense to hire a larger company
If you have a large budget and a more elaborate project that needs significant project management over a long period of time, you want to look for a larger, more full service, cross-discipline company capable of fulfilling your project needs and integrating marketing into the considerations.
This book is a living work in progress: please add to it your contributions below!
If you're still looking for a good team to take your project to the next level, the authors of the 2010 Rothman Guide to Building Successful Websites are available for free, no obligation, creative consultations that you will not forget! Call 1-866-945-1113 or e-mail your contact info to info@socialmediasystems.