Effective Web Planning Series - Lesson 2

Continuing our discussion from Lesson 1, we were talking about how the vendor/client relationship in the Web development world is an exercise in managing expectations and education.

A typical scenario would be the client calling the Web Developer, asking them a set of questions about what they would like done with their Web site or applications, e.g., We need a redesign, Do you do Flash?, do you do eCommerce?, etc.

While the Web Developer is used to these questions and will be able to answer most of them, he has only one thing on his mind:

• Do you have a budget?

It is critical that the client has answers to these questions. Does the client need to say a definitive number in regards to budget? No. But they must have a range or as we like to say, “a number that scares them.”

By a client telling a vendor that they have $10,000 or that they cannot go over $100,000 allows the vendor to answer questions intelligently and bid accordingly. If a client asks for a redesign, e-commerce, and the need for multimedia and then says they have $5,000--a vendor should know right then and there if they are the right vendor for the project.

It is up to the vendor to immediately educate the client and tell them there is no way that is possible for that amount of money.

What will follow in the upcoming weeks is a series of articles and case studies that specify the development process and what to expect. However, it is all moot without a clear understanding of budget constraints and the reality of what can be accomplished.