To get the full experience from this blog you need to watch this 60-second video first. It is a bit of fun but actually carries a serious message.
Now you’ve witnessed the results of what happens when the right amount of time (even just a very small amount of time) is spent on something, in this case, a drawing of Spiderman.
This theory can be applied to many things in life and in business. Perhaps you’ve kicked yourself for not spending just a little bit more time working out measurements so that a picture hangs central or a rushed proposal that could have benefited from just a little more time and thought.
Exactly the same applies when creating a website. The little bit of extra time that is put in right at the beginning will pay huge dividends down the line.
When looking at a website proposal, take note of how the time is allocated. An agency that you can trust will allocate time to specific areas throughout the website project that, in our opinion, should never be compromised.
Six stages where you should embrace paying an agency more time
1. Understanding your business and your customers
The purpose of having a website is so that you can connect with your customers.
It is therefore important for the website agency you engage to dedicate time to understand your business, your industry and your clients. The result; a great user experience that resonates and engages with them and generates the return on investment for you.
The time the agency spends conducting a competitor analysis, industry sector research and meeting with you is invaluable, and it is worth every penny.
2. Visual impact
Design is key with any website. It is the most visual element and key to captivating your audience as soon as they land.
If the design is rushed then you’ll end up with a repetitive site, elements that don’t look quite finished and areas that could have been much better but are merely okay. This means the customer experience will be average at best and at worst disappointing, just like the scribbled drawing. At this point, you’ve lost them, most probably, for good.
3. A solid structure
To be honest, it’s actually pretty straightforward to build the front end of a website; writing HTML, CSS, and Javascript. The real trick is how the back-end is built and linked to the front-end user interface. For this to be done properly, it takes time.
Building custom fields, robust style sheets and laying everything out in a logical and easy-to-use way can’t be rushed. Trust us, when you’re trying to update the site and it’s as simple as a Facebook post, you’ll thank yourself for investing in an agency that takes the necessary time to deliver a well-structured back-end experience.
4. Clean code
Writing clean and logical code is essential for two reasons.
The first is that it can really enhance your SEO (search engine optimisation) scores. Google likes clean code. Clean code means a faster website and it also enables you to build on top of it more efficiently as the needs of the business evolve.
The second reason is that if anyone needs to work on the website in the future, having a logical structure, in well-laid out files with annotated code, is extremely helpful when the site needs to be maintained, updated or new elements added.
5. Training
When you’ve invested time and money in a new website it makes sense to use it to its fullest extent. To do this, it is useful to have some training and guidance.
We spend a couple of hours at least with our clients when we hand over their new website. We run through the whole website with all those who are involved with the website so that everyone feels confident about using it.
We build websites that are intuitive to use, so the training is not so much about how to use it, but instead where all the elements of content can be found and how they interact on different pages.
In addition, we also create a comprehensive CMS (content management system) user guide. This ensures that, even after the training, if you have any queries or can’t remember how to do something, you can go straight to the relevant page and find the instructions you need. This CMS guide takes time to put together but saves YOU so much time when making updates.
6. Testing
This one is simple. If you don’t invest time in running all the necessary tests and checks, you’ll have a rolling programme of bugs and issues continually showing up.
We’ll be honest, even after we’ve completed our testing schedule, for a few weeks after ‘go live’ there will be a few minor bugs and issues that can present themselves. This is why we include a 90-day warranty to clear up these minor bits. They are, however, all minor because we don’t compromise on this element. We always include time for completing our 32-point deployment checklist to make sure the site is as close to perfect as it can be.
If you don’t invest in testing, you’ll end up replacing the wheels while the train is moving.
Time well spent
If you are comparing a number of website quotes and the costs haven’t been itemised, ask for a breakdown. Check through the 6 points in this article and notice how much time has been allocated to each stage. If any of the stages is missing or looks suspiciously low on time resources, ask why.
It’s an old adage, but ‘you get what you pay for’. Time and money spent upfront are worth its weight in gold further down the line. Your website will last years longer than one that has been pulled together with one eye on the clock. And, you will be rewarded with a website that is a delight for your customers, can adapt as you need it to, and generates the business you are looking for.
Come and talk to us for an itemised quotation on a great new website – like the ten-minute Spiderman!
