Educating Your Clients About Web Development

Web Design | on Jul. 10, 2011 | by 0 Comments

If you are working as a web designer, you have the tough job of combining technology, graphic design, and business development along with making the experience for the user pleasant. This is a lot of work with different needs.

When you are dealing with clients, communication about what your goals are in each area can become frustrating. There are a few different ways to effectively share this information with your clients. This article will help you develop your customer communication skills and hopefully lower your stress levels when dealing with clients.

The main job of a web designer is to help our clients solve any business problem that they are having. The solution that you provide for a business will need to include an application platform, page and data design. This page design will need to make the site easy to use by customers of all walks of life. The site also must be extremely approachable. The challenge is to do this project within the specified time frame and meet the requirements set by the company.

Remember What You are an Expert In

When it comes to designing web pages, you may know everything there is to know. From the trends of users, issues with websites, and certain patterns that are being used in the field. However, as much as you know about websites and their trends, you may not know everything about your client’s business, but chances are, your client does.

Think about designing a site for a company that sells furniture. While you may sit at a nice desk and loaf on soft couch, you probably do not know much more than the average American. However, your client is the expert and can tell you all you need to know. This is why it is important to listen to your client when it comes to what they want. Remember, you are only an expert in your own field.

Negotiations

You are meeting with your client and listening to them go on about how they want their logo flashing, lighting up, and of course, it must have sparkles. While they may have a very good reason for this, you are thinking in your head, someone shoot me now. What you need to do to combat this design flaw that your customer is adamant about is to be ready. Make sure you have lists of facts based on industry research at your fingertips. You must be able to show your client directly why their idea may not work. Try to use a link on the web that is relative to their particular business.

Give and Take

It is important to remember that you are negotiating with the client. Sometimes, things are not going to go exactly as you want them to. You have to be willing to bend a little to give the client what they want. This does not mean that you have to design a site that you know will not work, but you have to be able to give the client what they want within reason. Going into the meeting with a plethora of information at your fingertips will help you explain to your client the reasons behind what you are doing and why. Facts and figures will likely help you explain to the client why the huge logo they are requesting may not be the best idea.

When it comes down to it, you are indeed at the mercy of your client. After all, they are the ones that are paying your bills. If you take the time to research their product and meet their needs the best that you can, you will keep them happy. Just remember, effective communication is the key to get your clients to understand your job and let you do it the way it should be done.

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