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Web Design Tidbit – July 6th, 2009

Kristy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:03:34 +0000

Creating a print stylesheet from scratch can be a time consuming matter and is more often than not overlooked when nearing the end of a web design or development project. One of the quickest and easiest ways to deploy a print stylesheet is to use the Hartija CSS Print Framework.

This is not an end solution and you will need to modify it to add your classes and ID’s, but it is a big boost over starting from scratch. When you’ve completed your print stylesheet simply link it like your other stylesheets.

Just make sure to set your media to print!

See you next week for another tidbit!

How to Write a Website Design RFP

Kristy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:35:05 +0000

We’ve seen our fair share of RFPs (Request For Proposal) and it seems as if all of them miss one or more important elements. Elements that we, the web design service provider, need to know in order to respond. So I have included our recommendations for writing a website design (or redesign) RFP. We hope this will help you when preparing your next web design RFP.

Company Information and Background

This should be a brief overview of the company, its history, services or products, business focus, marketing objectives and market demographics. These are just a few elements you could include here. Give as much information here as possible to create a complete business profile, but also keep it neat and short. Also include how decisions about the RFP will be made in this section. Is there a committee review process? Include the members of the committee here with their title and role in the committee.

Project Background and Objectives

This is where you can outline the project objectives, but not the scope or requirements, that will come later. Give the history of the website and how it currently used, both internally and by the general public or your customer base. Address how you see this use changing with the new website. Outline search engine visibility requirements, search engine marketing objectives and/or social media marketing goals. What are the goals for the website and how will you measure success?

Requirements and Scope of Project

This is probably the one area where businesses do not include enough information about their website design project. Start by addressing elements of the current website that should stay. These include any interactive applications, shopping carts or web forms to be transitioned to the new site. Include information on any other systems that interface with the website, or should interface with the website. These include things like an intranet, CRM (customer relationship management) system or email marketing system.

Provide an outline of how you want the content to be managed, by whom and what access they should be given. Specify where content will come from- whether imported from the current site, newly developed or a mix of both. Who will be responsible for generating content prior to the launch date and after.

Outline new applications and functionality as well as design requirements. Be sure to include relevant items from your brand standards guidelines if you have them.

Website Hosting Requirements

This is, by far, the most overlooked piece of information when compiling an RFP. We have lost more than one bid because we provided a solution for a Linux host and the prospect wanted the website hosted internally on their Windows server. If it truly does not matter to you then at least include a statement that hosting is up to the vendor.

Web Design and Development Experience of the Vendor and Key Staff

Ask for testimonials and/or references of other websites the vendor has designed or developed. Ask them to outline their responsibilities for the project. Request identification and resumes for key personnel who will be working on this project. Request information on their web design and development approach including items like revisions, design iterations, scope changes, standards and technologies utilized.

Project Timeline

This is the second most overlooked element of web design RFPs. Make sure to include your anticipated schedule. Even though these will often change as the project progresses, without one your project may never finish.

Project Pricing

This should include a detailed outline of all costs, both one-time and recurring, for the website redesign and development project.

Submission Information

How and when should the vendor respond to your RFP? Be sure to include the deadline and the format for submission, as well as who it should be sent to and at what address.

How Much Does a Website Cost?

Kristy — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:31:20 +0000

It is something we get asked all the time and it is akin to asking “How much does a house cost?”. Sure there are ways to determine some kind of median price point, but just like with a house the number of variables that affect the price are almost infinite. You need to ask yourself what “must-haves” you are really willing to invest in and what items are “want-to’s” that would be nice if your budget permits.

In the Reno/Sparks area a house might set you back $50,000 or $3 million. Just as a website from a Reno/Sparks web design agency might cost you $500 or $30,000. Do you want to live in a one bedroom apartment in a less-than-desirable part of town or do you want the sprawling estate in the foothills? Do you want a cookie-cutter template site or a robust custom web application? Plywood or hard wood floors? Iframes or AJAX? I could go on this way all day, but you get the point.

The beautiful (and the frustrating) thing many people fail to understand about the web is it’s flexibility. If you only have a $500 budget there are ways to get a website started for you. However, you need to be realistic about your expectations. You wouldn’t expect a $50,000 house to have marble floors, so don’t expect your $500 website to process online orders.

Your Website Should Cost Nothing

All that being said, a website should not cost you anything. Zip, zilch, nada, nothing. Your website should help you generate revenue or in some way get a return, therefore it is not a cost – it is an asset. If your website costs you money then your web designer or developer has done something wrong.Â Yes, you will be required to invest something up front for this asset. Usually this investment will come in the form of time and/or money. If your website is a money pit with no discernible return on your investment it is time to ditch your designer. If you’re working alone stop trying to do it yourself and seek professional help.

Just like all your assets, your website will require maintenance to maintain and even improve it’s value. So make sure you are taking care of your website and are not neglecting it to the point where it becomes a liability. Once it becomes a liability then it will cost you money to bring it back to the point of being a valuable asset and this is always more expensive than maintaining it’s value.

Just remember, like most things in life, with your website and online marketing you get what you pay for.

Westward Strategy & Design Group Launches Three New Websites

Kristy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:39:28 +0000

Our team at Westward Strategy & Design Group, LLC. recently launched three seperate websites for our local clients: ACS Business Insurance Services, Inc. of Sparks-Nevada, Integrated Wealth Counselors, LLC. of Reno-Nevada and Marv McQueary Excavating of Carson City-Nevada.

Allthough each business is in a completely different field of service ranging from Medical and Life Insurance to Business and Financial Planning an then to Excavating Dirt for the New Carson City Freeway, all three businesses had one goal in common – generate more traffic to their websites through Search Engine Optimization and Natural Search – and that’s just what we did.

ACS Business Insurance Services, Inc. – www.acsinsurance.com

About ACS: ACS Business Insurance Services, Inc. provides you with quick access to health care plans and affordable health insurance quotes from leading medical insurance companies. Understanding your health care options is critical to finding affordable insurance coverage; whether you are looking for group health insurance for your small business or individual and family insurance.

Integrated Wealth Counselors, LLC. – www.integratedwealthcounselors.com

About IWC: Identifying Business Needs and Integrating Solutions in a Single Environment
Utilizing our professional team (either independent of or in conjunction with your existing professional advisors) we can help you identify your needs and bring essential services together for you in a single package.

Marv McQueary Excavating – www.marvmcqueary.com

About Marv McQueary Excavating: Marv McQueary Excavating, Inc., is a leader in public works, commercial, residential projects consisting of earthwork, underground utilities and paving for Northern Nevada and surrounding areas. Founded in 1979 by the McQueary family, Marv McQueary Excavating, Inc., has earned a solid reputation for dependability and customer satisfaction.

FOR MORE EXAMPLES OF WESTWARD STRATEGY’S WORK AND MARKETING AND WEB SOLUTIONS, VISIT WWW.WESTWARDSTRATEGY.COM

Coming Soon:

Winnemucca Works
Creating Effective Organizations