A web development process can be messy, long, and frustrating for all involved. But you can streamline it, keep the customer happy, keep your developer busy and keep your profit margin healthy.
We all start off on web builds thinking we will learn from our mistakes last time and make sure this time the build will be quicker, smoother, and with less back and forth.
But it doesn’t always happen. Let’s have a look at 5 ways you can streamline your web development process to:
- Increase profit margins
- Keep your developer busy
- Spend minimal time snagging
- Move on to the next project faster
- Keep your customer happy so that you…
- Get follow on business or recommendations
Five Ways To Streamline Your Web Build Process
- Get the copy upfront
- Agree timescales on both sides
- Agree the design first
- Use a project management tool
- Snag in real time
Get The Copy Upfront
Unless you are working with a content marketing agency, getting the copy off the client can be the absolute bane of your existence.
Get the copy upfront from the client or recommend they work with a copywriter.
If you don’t have an in-house copywriter, it can be useful if you have a few you know and trust so you can refer directly.
Agree Timescales On Both Sides
A client usually wants to know when their web build will be finished, so will ask for a timeframe. This is standard.
But make sure you get the same commitment from them too. They need to be able to put time aside to snag the site and sign off.
Not having time to snag can lead to huge delays in going live (and getting paid).
Get your client to commit to a timeframe for getting content and photos sent over, plus a day for snagging.
Agree the design first
Whether you are using a page builder (no shame, IMO) or a custom design with everything hard coded, you should get the client to sign off the design before you start the build.
This will save loads of time when it comes to snagging.
Be sure to ask them what they don’t like about the designs you offer, as well as what they like. It will tease more information out of them.
Use a Project Management Tool
A web build management tool like Slick Duck will help you streamline the web build process by:
- Keeping comms centralised
- Knowing where each page is up to at a glance
- Allowing as many stakeholders as needed to have oversight of the project
- Letting you set timelines
- Preventing scope creep or making sure you get paid for it (by documenting the ‘can you just’ requests from clients)
Snag In Real Time
Set a date and a time when you can sit with the client and go through the snags in real time.
It will prevent endless emails of changes back and forth. Plus you can make all the changes in one go, getting sign off within the hour!
If a face to face isn’t possible, you can always do it over a video call.
Want To Learn More?
The team at Slick Duck are web designers and agency owners in their day job so we know what it takes to streamline a web build process.
Why not have a chat with us and see if we can help you?