Got Web Ideas? Fishing for the Answers?
Think Outside The Code First!
|
|
Facts, Thoughts, and Opinions About Web Development and Business Strategy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You want a new data-driven Website. Where do you turn? What is the easiest thing to conceptualize?
The look of the Website. Thus, many people turn to Web Designers to get started. It makes sense.
After all, if you shop for new cars, are you first drawn to the one that looks good or the one that
has the best mileage?
It is only natural to start with what you can close your eyes and envision. However, Websites that will
involve data-driven features really need to be split in to two sections:
- The look and feel (design)
- The data processing (data-driven development)
|
The data processing is impossible to close your eyes and see because it is invisible. Yet, it is the more complex of the
two things mentioned above. The data-driven portion is likely going to cost four times as much as the design for a full-scale
data-driven Website. While the design of the Website is important, it is also the less important of the two. The data
processing features are the things that will make the Website usable and profitable. They also take more time and require
more communication to complete.
Most will hire a Web design company to build their Website. The designer will also be in charge of finding a developer
to complete the data-driven portion. They will play middleman between the client and the programmer. This is where the
entire process is backwards.
Right now you are expecting me to say that the programmer should be the middleman between the client and the designer.
I do believe this to an extent but there is an even better way. All three parties should be working together in direct
communication with one another. This allows both developer and programmer to completely scope out the project and truly
lend their expertise to the client. Design and programming are two completely different things.
However, the above often does not happen. You can see this all the time on contract bidding Websites and telecommute job boards
where Web design firms are looking for programmers. They want to play middleman. They are trying to get a job done
as cheap as they can and they think a 5-sentence description is a well-rounded project specification for data-driven
development. This often leads to a slew of inexperienced programmers making bids on projects and the more
experienced programmers telling the designer that enough information is not given for a proper quote.
The drawbacks of trying to get Web development done as cheaply as possible through job bidding boards are another story
for another time.
The point I like to make is this - the designer does not have sufficient experience to oversee the data-driven development
of the Website. Flat-out! This portion of the Website is far more advanced than 5 sentences. It requires interaction
between client and an experienced programmer so the proper questions can be asked and the tasks at hand are well-rounded,
well thought-out, and well planned. Not doing it in this way can cause all sorts of strained relationships between
parties. As I stated, the designer wants to be the middleman. Be careful what you wish for!
Of course, a Web designer needs to make the project competitively priced. There is a lot I could say here but I will keep it
brief. If it is going to cost 5K for a professional data-driven developer to do the data-driven development then it is
going to cost 5k. Yet, many will keep passing the project around until they find someone to do it much cheaper.
Now read the paragraph above this one again.
Many Web designers get themselves in a catch-22 when it comes to managing a full-scale data-driven Website. Unfortunately,
one of the drawbacks with projects that involve heavy data-driven integration is that the fact that the client may not have
enough money to do it properly. It is a shame that Web designer will lose out on design money because the data-driven portion
is not affordable. But that is not a reason to shop it at rock bottom rates. That only makes the chances very high that it
will not be done properly. Now what?
Clients seeking quotes for Websites that will require data-driven programming should strongly consider doing one of the following:
- Insist on working as a team with all three parties working directly with one another.
- If you speak with a designer first then ask for the name of the person who does the data-driven development
for them. It is perfectly acceptable if they give you more than one name but make sure they are quick to the
gun with a name. If they cannot provide a name then watch out. This likely means they have to shop it.
- If the data-driven developer is another contractor then request the Website of that person so you can
check them out.
- Get the quote broken down in to two sections - one for the design and another for the data-driven development.
Failure to do so may result in multiple trips to the Web development mine.
| More |
|
• AJAX and the Back Button
Friday, July 25, 2008
|
|
• Heavily Data-Driven Classic ASP Websites - Should You Still Upgrade?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
|
|
• Web Design - Let Your Content Take You There
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
|
|
• The Best FREE Textbox Editor on the Market
Sunday, July 13, 2008
|
|
• Mixed Bag Development
Friday, June 20, 2008
|
|
• Does the Cutting Edge Cut-Out End Users?
Thursday, April 03, 2008
|
|
• Web 2.0 = Internet Users 2.0
Monday, March 17, 2008
|
|
• Design Width: Fixed Width or Play the Percentages?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
|
|
• Don't Plan On Going Overboard With Design
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
|
|
|