Dec 26 2008
Practical Tips for Hiring a Web 2.0 Designer
Web 2.0 is so hot right now, you have no reason not to take advantage of it. Already, it is a recognized
technology in many fields and is in fact actively being used and pursued by many established corporations. So if you want to use Web 2.0 technologies in your site, it’s probably time to consider a professional designer to help you. But how to pick the best? Here are steps that you should take when hiring a Web 2.0 designer:
Have a basic understanding of what Web 2.0 is.
If you have no idea what Web 2.0 is and what it can do, you are likely to have unrealistic expectations about this technology. As a result, you could end up asking too little of your designer or too much. You could either pay too much for a service or give your designer the impression that he or she is dealing with an overbearing yet ignorant client.
Go online or ask around to gain a better understanding of how Web 2.0 works. You’ll be doing yourself a favor in the process.
Determine what you truly need in your site.
Web 2.0 is actually a list of technologies. It is not a package deal in that everything you need and don’t need are all loaded onto your site. If you want to use an RSS feed, for example, or are planning on having podcasts of your article on your site, you probably will not need a wiki if you’re not planning on doing collaboration work.
Consider your goals for your site and try to see how some Web 2.0 technologies will be useful. Although this stuff can be quite exciting when you encounter them, not all of them will add value to your website, so be careful with your choices. Once you’ve decided on what you want for your site, make a list to use as reference later when you talk to the designer.
Look for a Web 2.0 designer with experience.
True, hiring a Web 2.0 designer with good experience will cost more but wouldn’t you rather have a website that is professionally designed? Ask people who have worked with a Web 2.0 designer before or browse ads posted by the designers themselves. You can ask them for proof of their work and inquire about references. This is also a good idea if you want to find out how much the designers will charge.
Remember that you will be paying them for the quality of their services. If you’re unsatisfied with what you’ve seen or cannot be assured of good results, you should be able to move to the next candidate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even simple ones. You have to clarify what you want and if there’s something you don’t understand, you should inform the designer right away. Refer to your list and make sure you get into a detailed discussion about how you want your website to look and function.
Leave room for improvement.
When you ask a Web 2.0 designer to create your site for you, make sure you discuss the possibility of changes or improvements in your website. Maybe you want a simpler site now but what about months from now? Your site and its audience would have grown significantly by then.
If your website is not designed to adapt to new additions in the future, you might have to hire your Web 2.0 designer again just to have it fixed. That could mean more cost for you, something that you can avoid if you make the necessary allowances now.
Here is where this lesson ends for today. We really hope you enjoyed this lesson too.
You will receive the next lesson in 7 days. Next week’s lesson will have the following title:
“Easier, More Convenient Web 2.0 Applications with Lightweight Programming”
Copyright(C) 2008 by John Delavera & Reimund Lube
