We get a lot of questions about how content administration works. While all of our content admins are built custom based on what our clients need, all of them are simple, and easy to use. If you can buy a product on Amazon, you can administer an Entermotion website.
Take a look at this quick video to see just how easy it is to add a category and an article to one of our in production websites.
Proficiency at design is often overlooked as a requirement for a development partner. Regardless of the purpose, or the technology that drives it, the way your website makes your users feel will predict your success.
No detail is above scrutiny within the proper scope and budget.
People are pretty immune to a sales pitch these days. Users know cool when they see it. Count on you’re audience being finicky, and discerning. If you’re not in the demographic you’re trying to appeal to, make sure you choose a developer who knows how to get into the hearts of that group.
Think of a website as an atmosphere. How does it make you feel? How does a commercial make you look at a product differently? How does a great movie affect you?
In order to accurately convey the way you want your website to look and feel to your developer, consider finding online references. Try to look for common themes in websites that appeal to you. Identify links both inside and outside of your specific business genre.
Don’t expect your developer to copy, or to emulate. If they do their job well, they will combine your references with their own instincts for how your site should look. The design they will create might remind you of several things, but will be a new creation all its own.
On revisions
Avoid making specific recommendations to your developer for changes. If they’re good, they likely have a reason why things are the way they are. That one thing you want to change will have a drastic effect on all of the rest of the items on the page. You know what you like, and you can determine what you like. If you have selected your developer well, they know what your audience likes, which may be a different thing. If you’re sure that your instincts are right, try communicating with your developer based upon concepts, feelings, and tone. Challenge your developer to meet your criteria of how the website should “feel.”
Avoid over-arcing or specific statements like:
Try instead:
You will have a happier, more creative team and a better end product if you allow your developers to problem solve.
Things to say to a developer
* I want my website to feel: (modern, sophisticated, friendly, etc.)
* How would you describe the correct atmosphere for this site?
* Do any other sites or projects come to mind that are similar to the way you imagine this site?
Quotes
>”Less is more.”
-Mies van der Rohe,
>”Form follows function.”
-Louis Henri Sullivan,
There is an old adage that says, “You can have it good, quick, or cheap -choose two.” It’s a good line, and it sums up something you’ll be wrestling with when starting to build a website.
Our advice is to never compromise on quality, find a way to adjust other aspects of your project.
Scope is either the cause of, or the result of your budget and timeline. As you pull, or push on one piece of your project, expect another part to move accordingly.
If you don’t have a specific scope, timeline, or budget, -start with scope. Budget, and timeline will follow close behind.
For more reading:
A few emails we received recently deserve a bit of special attention. From an email request for a quote
“Important Factors to consider when estimating: * Easy to please, open minded client. (me) * Relaxed deadline. (no rush) * Willing to pay up front. (if desired)”
From an apologetic hosting company
“On behalf of everyone at Media3, please accept our apologies for the unusual network performance experienced on 3/19/2007. A hardware failure on our upstream provider’s (Verizon) network is in the process of being diagnosed and repaired and they have notified us of a possible additional 2 hour maintenance window beginning at 11pm tonight which could cause some network instability in the Boston area during this time. We understand how frustrating downtime can be, and regret the disruption of your service. We value your business and look forward to serving your webhosting needs for many years to come.”
A short note from a job applicant after a meeting
“I wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to meet with me on Friday. I appreciate the advice you were able to give and hope to be able to work with you in the future.”
Sometimes we’re flat starved for words like these… Thanks so much for all of you who are considerate. We’re making a pledge to return the favor as best we can to the people we work with/for.