If you are a website programmer then you will probably realise how important it is to ensure that the project has been discussed and agreed prior to programming. Changes that are made after the programming has started can often cause delays and may mean the client has to pay additional costs.
If you are a programmer but someone else is designing the website, then it is often a good idea to sit in on the meetings so you can advise if something they want is going to work and if it is going to be expensive. If you are managing the whole project then make sure that you have the following to try and make the process as smooth as possible:
- Ideas – put together some ideas between you and the client of what they want on the website. Look at other sites and their existing site (if they have one) and make a list of functionality that should be included and an idea of the pages they want
- Wireframe – Sketch out the home page and possibly a product page to agree on layout and the exact pages / boxes ect you want on the main pages of the site
- Visuals – create a static visual of the home page and maybe one or two other main pages so the client has a chance to see what it will look like once complete. Explain to them changes that may be easy to make once the site is in production such as background colour and ones that will incur extra costs.