Businesses and organisations, nervous in the knowledge that a website is essential if they are to survive and succeed, can be overwhelmed by the challenge and the complexity of new communications.
It can be easy to go too far, too fast and too soon, running the risk of overlooking the basic building blocks that under-pin one's operation. It’s just as easy to hold back, delaying and deferring decisions in the hope that something will just “happen” for you.
Just how commonplace these dilemmas are – and how damning the consequences of either approach can be have been effectively outlined in this TVNZ bulletin.
The ideal way is to simplify, demystify and develop the website design for the client, working through every stage to build sites that meets the clients' initial requirements while being capable of rapid expansion as needs evolve. This usually involves holding the client's hand throughout the process, guiding the client and educating them throughout this what can be a daunting process.
Once these initial structures and strategies are effectively in place, many business owners and managers quickly realise that their websites are in fact only one aspect of a broader digital strategy, and that they need to formulate forward plans to include social media, email marketing, electronic advertising, rich media . . . all cohesively working with their websites. Once again, the designer or developer should guide the client through these steps.
Skills, services and systems focus on ensuring a clients’ website is the central component of an ever-broadening universe of digital corporate communication. Brand personalities, identities and strategies are interlaced with evolving technical components, and with an ability to function within specific campaign and promotional requirements.
The developer should inter-relate closely with the clients’ in-house marketing teams to formulate website planning, develop assets and create an on-going maintenance programme that greatly enhances communication output. The websites should meet every need for functional efficiency, delivering the multiple channels of engagement that are at the core of today’s international business world.
Your designer and developer/programmer should understand the ways into, through and beyond the Web – and grow your understanding as they work alongside you - the client.
