Finding a webdesign partner is like finding a spouse

Several times a week I take calls from different companies asking if E-Cubed, (www.e-cubed.com), can take over a company’s website design and maintenance as well as oversee other online initiatives such as SEO, SEM and social marketing programs.

E-Cubed is in fairly high demand with project lead times of 4 – 8 weeks but we do take the time to talk with these frantic clients and assure them that we can provide whatever assistance necessary or at the very least provide references and referrals to other qualified firms that are targeted to their.
All relationships, personal or professional, require good communication to be successful. Expectations by both parties are seldom discussed and when a misalignment occurs the relationship can sour faster than my milk’s “best before” date.

Many companies and people for that matter make bad choices in their relationships because their attention is drawn to shiny baubles, lower costs, perceived value or nice hair.
Here are a few tips to help you see if your web designer and you are headed for wedded bliss or if your choices will simply result in a marriage destined for failure.
(if you are single and looking I’ve provided ideas for selecting your mate as well.)

1) Identify what kind of relationship you are looking for.  Some clients are looking for a Long-Term Relationship and some vendors simply want another notch on their portfolio belt and so they deliver a quickie solution to gain some street cred.

These quickie projects remind me of the definition of a Panda (Eats shoots and leaves). If that metaphor was vague think Mr. Right vs. Mr. Right Now.

2) Decide what mandatory requirements your vendor must have to be considered for the project or the longer-term relationship. What criteria would immediately eliminate them from the running or make any increased risk worth considering?

Is he a Doctor, Dentist or Lawyer? Is his criminal record acceptable? What about her ‘art-film’ in University that nobody would ever see that is now a You Tube favourite?

3) Discuss your expectations clearly before any work commences and ask the vendor to detail how they are going to deliver on your requirements.  What does the vendor need from you to be able to meet those goals and success markers and what risks to that success have they identified?

Do you both want 5 kids, 2 dogs and a summer cottage or does a loft in the city appeal to you more? Mini-van or Monster Truck? Paper or plastic?

4) Do you both share similar values? If you are more of a technology moderate and the vendor is a bleeding edge trailblazer there may be pressure to adopt certain online behaviors, technologies or design standards that you are not prepared for or that will contrast with your brand platform.

Think whips, chains and shackles compared to candle lit dinners, walks along the beach and cozy fireplaces.

You, the Client, need to be clear about what you want and need. You need to know why you need it and what is going to spell happiness for you. You need to take responsibility for your project, understand the aspects that are key to differentiating the vendors’ solutions and put yourself in a position of authority.

If you don’t feel that you can do this effectively then hire a consultant. While the consultant may add $5,000 – $10,000 to the cost of your project the extra investment will probably save you double that in lost revenue, missed deadlines and untold headaches.

Will Rogers once said, “It’s not what you pay a man, but what he costs you that counts.”

Don’t let an inexpensive vendor extract a high cost and don’t let an expensive vendor deliver less than they should. Find a qualified vendor who under-promises and over-delivers and it will be a match made in Heaven.