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Launching a World Wide Web Site
by Bill Sweetman, June 1996
How do you choose a Web Developer?
Here is a ruthless tip sheet to help you separate
the winners from the wannabes.
- Does their business card have an E-mail
address on it? An URL? - If they do
not use the medium, how good can they be at
creating for it?
- What is their corporate Web site like?
- Their own site should represent their
shining hour. Does it load quickly? Does it
work with the graphics turned off? Can you
find your way around easily? Are there any
typos? Don't even consider hiring a company
that does not have its own site.
- What are the URLs (Web site addresses) of
some of the sites they have created? What are
they like? - What kind of impression
do they give you of the type of business they
represent? Would you return to these sites?
- How long have they been doing this? - The
Web as most people know it has now been
around a few years. An
"experienced" developer is expected
to have had at least a year of Web site
building experience.
- What conferences and trade shows do they
attend? - Are they committed to this
medium, or is it just a hobby? A professional
firm should at least know where Spring
Internet World is held (San Jose) even if
they do not attend!
- How do they stay on top of new
developments? - What magazines do they
read regularly? Which newsgroups do they
frequent?
- What industry associations do they belong
to? - In Canada, the professionals
belong to IMAT
(Interactive Multimedia Arts &
Technologies Association) and/or IDA
(Internet Developers Association).
- What other types of communication projects
do they work on regularly? - The Web
is an amalgamation of many media. Does the
firm have a background in print or, even
better, multimedia design?
- Do they truly understand communication,
marketing, advertising and video? - Ask
to see their complete portfolio. What kind of
work have they done in the past? If it's not
related to communications, you are wasting
your time.
- Are they experienced in interactive
communication? - This can be difficult
to gauge. Try asking them what they consider
makes a good Web site.
- Do they fully grasp the limitations of
current Internet technology? - Try
looking at their sites using a 14.4 modem and
a 16-colour monitor. A good Web Developer
knows how to design for the lowest common
denominator.
- Do they have experience with sophisticated
programming languages? - They should
know UNIX, CGI, and Java, or at least have
access to freelancers that do.
- Do they do custom software development?
- How were the interactive features on the
previous sites they built created. Did they
write the programs themselves, or did they
use someone else's code?
- What tools do they use to streamline the
development process? - How do they
handle image and file labeling and
management? What systems do they have in
place to make the development process more
efficient?
- Do they understand your organization's
objectives and goals? - They will
demonstrate this by asking you lots of
questions.
- Do they offer marketing and public
relations consulting and support? - Promoting
a Web site online takes more than just
submitting it to a couple of search engines.
An experienced Web Developer will know the
secrets of getting your site noticed.
- Do they understand your business and/or
industry? - Look for a Developer that
speaks the same "language" as you
do, or is at least willing to learn.
A Shameless Plug
So where do you find these companies? It's not as
if they are listed in the phone book. And you do not
want to spend hours and hours searching the Internet
for them. Well, I have some good news for you.
The most extensive directory of Canadian
Multimedia Developers who create Web sites, CD-ROMs,
and other interactive content can be found at:
MultiMediator
http://www.multimediator.com/
It's sorted by province, and there are plenty to
choose from, ranging from small one-person
operations, right on up to large agencies. And yes,
it is my Web site.
Bill Sweetman is MultiMediator's Founder.
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