How to Hire an Internet & Web Professional
Introduction
Hello!
Our first article in this series addressed some of the reasons why a business would or should consider embracing Internet and Web technologies. This week it seemed appropriate that we should look at some of the things one might consider when hiring an Internet and Web professional.
Today, anyone who wants to provide information, sell products or services, or simply promote a business or other organization knows that a well-formed Internet and Web strategy is vital to achieving those goals. Unlike other forms of marketing or customer service outlets, a business with a well-formed Web presence has global reach and can be accessed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. However, unless we have the necessary design, programming, and Internet marketing skills to pull it off, the logical step to take is to hire someone who does have these skills.
If we consider for a moment how important a well-formed Internet and Web strategy is to our ultimate success in business, then, it makes sense that we give the process of selecting an Internet and Web professional an equal level of importance.
Initial Planning
A friend of mine quotes a musical by saying "It's not how you start, but how you finish." While I absolutely agree with this sentiment, I also believe that if you invest some time in planning a project at the beginning, how you finish will be so much better!
With the knowledge that planning will affect the outcome, let's consider the following questions:
- What do I want to say to existing and prospective customers or clients?
- How much information about my business, products, services do I want to put on my site?
- How much in the way of automated customer service do I want to provide through my site?
- If my site will require regular updates, do I want to be able to perform those updates myself, or will I need on-going support?
- Do I want to (or need to) commit to a method of selling products or services?
- Will I need a database to store and retrieve data?
- Do I care about being found through the search engines?
- How soon do I need the project completed?
- Is my Internet business plan suitable for my relative who took a class in HTML?
- What is my budget?
I am sure there are more questions, but my experience is that these will certainly help you get off to a great start.
The Search for Professionals
So how do we create a short list of professionals if we are unsure as to what makes a professional Internet and Web consultant?
Do a quick a search on your favorite search engine using the term "Web Developer" or "Web Designer." You will quickly see that the number of people calling themselves Internet and Web professionals far too large to create a short list.
When I'm looking for services, but I don't know what characteristics to look for, I am reminded of the old saying, "I don't know art, but I know what I like." Finding an Internet and Web professional is a lot like that. We may not know all the characteristics of a professional in this field, but we know the kind of professional we like to deal with. Generally speaking, this is someone who has a good understanding of business, the challenges associated with being in business, and is prepared to invest time in discovering exactly what our goals are and the ways in which these may be met.
A great method of creating our short list of this kind of candidate is through referrals. Often these happen over a cup of coffee with someone saying, "Who do you know....." Although you may not be getting the very best Internet and Web professional on the planet, you can usually trust that you'll get a solid performance.
Other methods of establishing a list of potential service providers include your local Chamber of Commerce, and other groups. Often a business person is involved with several groups which will yield many potential candidates for you.
Once you've developed your list, there are a few things to consider. The first one, and I know this may seem obvious but it bears mentioning, is to check their Web sites. Try to get a feel for the attitudes and philosophy of the business. Often you'll be able to get a feel for how the proprietors and staff will treat you and your project.
Next, consider these points:
Positives
- Overall, the site makes sense. There are some let's say "interesting" approaches to data flow out there.
- The navigation system is logical and makes it easy to know where you are within the site in relation to each section.
- There are no broken links. That is to say, every page you expect to see actually exists, and you do not get a “Page Not Found” error.
- The person used a consistent design approach.
- The contact information and site map pages are easily found.
- The information provided is adequate. Does the company tell you enough about itself and its proprietors/staff?
- The site's elements are symmetrically aligned to fit your browser, and it does not seem that certain elements don't line up and cause you to scroll horizontally in order to view the site's content.
- Text easy to read.
- The pages load fast and you are not forced to look at a "loading" graphic before viewing the site's content.
- Links open into the same page. If they do not, the link provides a tool tip to warn you that a new browser window will open.
- The site discusses a technical background, or attitude towards technology.
- The site makes use of the right colors.
- Page titles are appropriate and informative.
Negatives
- The site forces you to use a particular brand of browser, or download additional software just to view the site.
- You are required to "Click here to enter"
- The site requires you to look at a "loading" graphic before you can view the content
As you can see, there are really only a few negatives, but familiarization with both positives and negatives will put you in a knowledgeable position when choosing your Internet and Web professional.
You can narrow the field even further by exploring whether the candidates you are considering have helped other businesses in your industry. If so, were they able to present the business in a professional and meaningful way? If the answer to these questions is yes, they are probably strong candidates.
Lastly, when considering companies and individuals who include Web design as a part of their business, but perform mostly graphic design work in print media be sure to investigate the strength of their skills in the following areas:
- Programming and coding for the Internet
- Graphic creation for the Internet
- Cross-browser compatibility
- Web site accessibility
- Database modeling, and
- Internet marketing and promotion
A healthy approach to outsourcing for the skills required to deliver a satisfactory project is a good sign that this company or individual may be a strong candidate.
Sole Proprietors vs. the Big Internet Firm
There is a lot to be said for using a large firm which "does it all" for you. There are usually a lot of people who have to work together in order to meet the customer's needs, and some people feel secure in that.
Sole proprietors are freelancers who can take on all the design and development responsibilities, and work very closely with others to complete the project. This kind of colaboration usually means consistency throughout the project, a single point of contact during the production and deployment phases, and greater dedication to completing projects to the satisfaction of clients.
A sole proprietor, or small office, may also provide better value money, because there are usually no hidden fees and overhead is low.
Pricing
Do the candidates you are considering charge by the hour, or by the project? Generally speaking, a firm which is prepared to offer "project pricing" is confident in its ability to determine a project's scope. When Sonoma Tek makes a bid, for example, we make it clear to our clients that the project price will only change if the project itself is changed BY THEM. We avoid as much as possible the occasions of increasing a fee because of unforeseen occurrences during the project.
An hourly price may be necessary, however, if you've got a small project which involves some very occasional maintenance of your site.
References
Assuming you have pared your list down to a small corpse of strong candidates to work on your Internet and Web project. It's now time to call them, ask questions, and ask for references. While speaking with your candidate, was he or she a good listener? Was he polite over the phone? Was she helpful? Did he welcome your questions, or make you feel like you were imposing?
I think you know what to do if any of your answers were in the negative.
When a professional is asked questions, that professional will always respond respectfully and with the knowledge that you are spending your valuable time to inquire about his or her business.
Lastly, when you ask for references, actually call them.
To Wrap it Up
You will find it is worth the effort to follow these steps. When you consider the financial investment you will be making, along with the importance of the role that the Internet will play in your business, a little planning and research on your part will mean that your Web project will stand a greater chance of success.
If you have any comments or questions about this article, or our newsletter in general, email us, or call (503)430-7175
Sincerely,
Warren A. Smalley
Founder