How to start creating a website? Website development is a multi-stage process and requires proper planning, from design to promotion. Especially when creating complex projects, you first need to draw up a technical description.
An inexperienced customer often draws up a technical assignment, not wanting to pay for such “easy” work.
For small websites, this is acceptable; you can read the requirements on the Internet, about the methods of formulating them, and draw up your own version of the document. For large projects, we recommend engaging an experienced specialist who will foresee all the nuances of the work.
What documents are needed to start developing a website?
- A brief (instruction) contains the characteristics of the future website, a generalized, short description. The document may contain a list of modules and functions, a price list of work stages. It is attached to the contract as an appendix.
- PRD (Product Requirement Document, description of the business model) describes the business tasks and visions of the project. PRD lists the product tasks, risks, advantages of the model, and the work strategy.
- The technical task or description (TOR – Terms of Reference) contains more precise and detailed requirements, description of processes, functional capabilities of visitors, users, and administrators. The preparation of this document cannot be ignored, since future sprints for programmers are compiled on the basis of TOR.
- The technical task can be accompanied by a User flow diagram. User flow visualizes the user's relationship with the site, presenting diagrams of all possible actions.
- SOW (Statement of Work), in fact the same TOR, with a clear listing of stages, cost of services and deadlines. Since we include stages and deadlines in the contract, we do not draw up this document.
In Armenia, a brief and TOR are mainly used. These documents allow you to have a full understanding of the requirements for visual and functional parts.
Where to order a website?
Where to order a website if we are talking about complex work? Do you want to get long-term solutions? You don’t need to save money by contacting freelancers or web studios without experience. The price list of a team consisting of professionals may be high, but working with such a team, you reduce risks and loss of time.
When choosing a web studio, you need to take into account experience, study the portfolio of completed works, collect opinions of previous customers. The next step is to communicate with candidates, personally understand how much the project manager understands the features of your business model, whether you are “on the same wavelength”. Only after these actions can you compare price offers, giving preference to tips from your business experience.
- Find 10-15 potential candidates from search engines;
- If possible, check the details of the legal entity in more detail;
- Study the portfolio of the web studio;
- The phrase “we do not have the right to show work” is a red light;
- Check the quality of the work performed;
- The widespread absence of a developer link on sites should be alarming;
- If you are dealing with local companies, visit the candidates' offices;
- The phrase “we only work remotely” should be a warning sign;
- Get feedback from previous customers;
- Ask for comments on pricing;
- Carefully read the contract and appendices.
How to work with a web studio?
After choosing a web studio and signing a contract, it is necessary to actively cooperate with the development team.
- Include your ideas about the functionality of the site in the technical task, ask questions, learn about the working methods, follow the advice.
- Provide addresses of identical sites, list the positive aspects. Show examples of the necessary functions on different sites.
- Participate in the design process. Be careful not to get caught in an endless whirlpool of changes. Hear the arguments of specialists.
- After agreeing on the design, ask for layouts of the adapted mobile version. Look at the layouts directly on the smartphone, evaluating the convenience.
- After the web programming stage, do a test, do not be lazy and familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the CMS.
- Respect the specialists and evaluate their work. Mutually positive attitude provides a tangible practical result.
The article was written in 2015 and updated in September 2024.
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