Building Web Sites All-in-One For Dummies® (7 page)

•
Word processing:
Whether you're using Microsoft Office, iWork (Mac only), or another word-processing program, the ability to prepare documents efficiently ensures that you can prepare contracts and proposals and keep track of the business side of things.

•
E-mail/IM (instant messaging):
Communicating with clients is important for your success. With e-mail and instant messenger, staying in contact with clients has never been easier.

•
Browsers:
Having some familiarity with and testing your site on the popular Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox) ensures that the site will work no matter how visitors are viewing it.

•
Windows/Macintosh platforms:
Developing skills on both Macintosh and Windows computers broadens your range and eases testing of your Web pages on both platforms. Professional Web designers work to make their sites function under a wide range of conditions. Book III has more details about things you need to look for and how to deal with platform issues.

Incorporating multimedia in your project

If you plan to work with Flash, audio, or video, you need some multimedia skills. You have a choice of many types of multimedia, and what you use depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Book V has information about technologies and techniques for using multimedia elements in your project.

Handling a solo project

If you decide to take on a project by yourself, here's a brief list that can help keep you on the right track:

•
Prioritize your tasks and develop a workflow.
Some parts of the project are more enjoyable than others, but you still have to complete them all. After you do a few projects, you start to develop a workflow that enables you to work effectively through all the parts of the project, even the ones that aren't as enjoyable. Prioritizing your tasks and breaking up creative and analytical tasks (so you don't burn out on one aspect of the project) can help you meet your deadlines.

•
Establish a workflow with your client.
Do this
at the beginning
of the project. Working with one contact person can help reduce misunderstandings.

•
Notify your client of personnel changes.
If you need to bring in some help, make sure you let the client know.

•
Treat your home office like a “real” office.
If you're freelancing from your home, make sure you have a good workspace with all the equipment you need. Treat it like a regular job. Make regular hours for yourself. It's also a good idea to save some days strictly for production and others for meeting days.

•
Network and market yourself.
Build time into your schedule to look for your next project. When you're writing proposals and discussing projects with clients, don't forget to build “lost” days into the timeline.
Lost
days are those spent going to meetings or other events. If you know that you'll need 40 hours to complete a job, don't tell the client that you can do it in five business days. You won't have it done. That 40 hours is how long you'll spend on the project
specifically;
however, you'll have other tasks that take up your time. A “40-hour-job” can be more like a month-long project.

Hiring Members of the Team

You might hire help for your projects for many different reasons. Some projects might have components that you don't have time to complete yourself. The client might need things that are beyond the scope of your capabilities. Most folks are good at some aspects of the work but not so good at others. Maybe you're excellent at developing code, but colors and design issues mystify you. Individuals who are great at everything aren't the norm. Even if you're one of those who can do it all, working with a team is often more cost and time effective.

An effective way of working is to establish relationships with individuals or companies that provide the services you need. After you find people you can work with, you can quickly build project teams that are tailored to the needs of your client. Your “regulars” can develop a smooth workflow. You will also expand the size and scope of projects you take on.

Note:
Job titles in the Web-design industry vary greatly and even overlap. For instance, a Web/new media designer and project manager might both be dubbed Producer. When interviewing people, ask them what their actual experience is and don't rely solely on their job title. Ask them whether they've worked on teams and whether they like a team environment. Assembling people who are team players helps ensure that the team will collaborate.

Project manager

A
project manager
for a Web project — like the project manager for any project — keeps everyone on the same path and makes sure issues are dealt with as quickly and smoothly as possible. The project manager should be organized and detail-oriented enough to responsibly do the following: Make sure members of the team are hitting deadlines, keep track of hours spent on the project, and inform team members of situations that might affect them.

A Web project manager needs to know about the workflow and time traps that can accompany the type of project you're planning. Experience working with creative individuals is also important because a project manager must understand each individual's needs concerning workflow and how materials are to be delivered (both to and from team members). The project manager also has to estimate the time needed to complete different types of projects. Familiarity with industry standards and terms can help the project manager when dealing with professional designers. In some environments, the Web project manager is sometimes referred to as a
producer.

Web designer/new media designer

A true Web designer knows how to hand-code HTML and CSS and might know some other scripting technologies, such as JavaScript. Web designers are responsible for the visual design of the interface, creation of graphics, and
optimization
(resizing and compressing them for Web use) of photos. (Book III, Chapter 7 has more information about optimizing graphics.)

Watch out for Web designers that “don't do” code. Web designers who downplay the importance of strong HTML and CSS skills aren't really Web designers. They're graphic designers who make graphics that coders can use to create Web pages. It will save you time, money, and aggravation if you shop around for someone who can take care of the whole job, as opposed to someone who needs other members of the team to complete the tasks of creating the interfaces.

Web developer/programmer

Web developers and programmers design and create the back-end systems that make your site do more than just deliver static information. The term
back-end systems
refers to databases and programming that are stored on the server and are used by the Web site. If you need or want your Web site to interact with your users, you need databases and the supporting programming to be in place.

Like with Web designers, the importance of a good developer is often misunderstood. The availability of point-and-click development tools gives some people the impression that it's simple and easy to create databases and Web pages that will work with them. These easy-to-use tools are generally fairly limited in what they can do, though. If the site will have a lot of people interacting with it or if people will be performing complicated functions on the site, hire developers to build your system for you. If you want to add shopping functionality, you need developers who understand how to make a safe, secure, and easy-to-use site, or users won't buy the advertised products.

Point-and-click
tools should not be confused with the open source content management systems (CMSes) that have evolved in recent years. Some of the most popular open source solutions include Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, and XOOPS. The full functionality available through these systems varies and is beyond the scope of this book. However, they are often a good option to consider. Additional information about each is available on its respective Web site.

CMSes all come with robust features and can be used to get a dynamic site up and running very rapidly. Still, we recommend working with a developer who is familiar with working with these systems and the development environment (CSS, PHP, and MySQL, all of which are platform independent). To get the best experience from an open source CMS, your developer needs to understand the strengths and weaknesses of these systems and be able to manage the customization and technical support involved.

Content developer/writer

A good content developer or Web writer understands that writing for the Web is different than writing for other media because visitors interact with Web sites differently than they do with traditional, printed materials.

When looking for Web writers, you want to hire someone who can deliver the following:

•
Easy-to-understand information:
Look for a writer who can deliver concise text that has a good tone for the Web. Most successful Web sites have a more conversational tone.

•
A good call to action:
A good Web writer can get a site's users to act. Every site has a goal, but without a good call to action, users might not perform the tasks you want them to while on the site. A good call to action is irresistible. A savvy Web writer knows how to craft the content so it drives people to the pages and actions that you want them to see and do.

•
Organization:
Content developers must understand how to create a flow of information and leverage the nature of the Web to provide users and site owners with the best results.

•
Search engine optimization (SEO):
Content developers must know how to create text and meta tags that enable users to find the site through search engines. More information about meta tags is in Book III, Chapter 2. Book VIII, Chapter 1 covers SEO.

Webmaster/host

Hosting is a service usually provided by a third party. Web hosts own and care for Web servers, which are computers with server software installed and that are connected to the Internet. For a fee, the owner of the server — the
host
— allows individuals to copy their Web site files to the Web server so that they're accessible to everyone with an Internet connection.

In addition to owning servers and renting space, Web hosts take care of the servers. They might also provide additional software that tracks the number of visitors your site has. Many Web hosts also offer
URL
purchasing services. A URL is a Web site address — for example,
www.yourname.com
. Most Web hosts sell a complete package, including space for your site, e-mail,
traffic reports
(number of visitors to your site), and URL purchasing.

If your site will include multimedia or dynamic content, consult with your developers and designers before you find and commit to a host. The server software must be compatible with the technologies the team will use to build your site. Many developers and designers will assist their clients with hosting choices or actually offer the services directly or through partnerships.

Other professional help

You should consult with other professionals as you start to work on Web site projects. Designing Web sites is just like any other business, and it's important to get some help so that everything runs smoothly. We suggest that you contact the following types of professionals:

•
Lawyer:
If you plan to work for clients, you need a lawyer. Make sure you hire someone who specializes in technology and creative industries. A knowledgeable lawyer can prepare contracts that spell out copyrights, address deliverables, and specify timelines, making sure everyone gets a fair deal. You need an intellectual property specialist.

• A good contract makes sure that everyone understands the scope of the project, the responsibilities of the parties, and when the project will be delivered. It also spells out how the fees for services work (an hourly rate or a flat fee), which everyone needs to understand and agree upon. Also make sure your contract specifies whether the client incurs the cost if they request or require you to purchase stock photography, extra software, or fonts.

•
Accountant:
Like with any business, you need an accountant. Seek the advice of an accountant before you start to accept fees or hire others to work for you. She can advise you how to set up your business so that everything runs smoothly.

Managing the team

After you assess the needs of a project and call in the necessary team members, have a kick-off meeting. Chapter 1 of this minibook covers kick-off meetings and how to run them successfully. In short, everyone needs to get together and discuss the project, timelines, expectations, and next steps. These two steps are particularly important in keeping the project moving smoothly:

•
Establish the workflow during the planning phase.
This is especially important if you're working with more than one service provider. Everyone needs to know how to communicate with one another. Will you be using Instant Messenger to stay in touch? Make sure everyone has contact information for each other. Find out what the daily schedules will be to facilitate communications.