When you hire an agency or individual to build your website, by the time it’s done, you either love them or not.
Building the thing that represents someone’s dream can be a very vulnerable partnership. In order to do it well, we’ve got to spend time understanding you and your business.
And just like looking for love, the designers and developers run the gamut. They’ll help you win or leave you broken hearted.
If you want to know how to love your web designer, keep reading for your guide to a successful website project.
Having a website is essential for all businesses in today’s connected world. A well-designed website enhances your online presence, attracts more customers, increases your sales, and makes your job easier.
Establishing a good working relationship with your website designer and developers is the first step to ensuring the success of the project.
| People who don’t love their web designer at the end of a website project: | People who love their web designer at the end of a web project: |
|---|---|
| Usually want a lot of work for a very small price. | Understand their budget determines the type of website built. |
| Expect mind readers rather than communication. | Provide the information and assets needed, by the agreed deadline. |
| Don’t provide the tools or information needed to do an exceptional job. | Are appreciative of and understand when the designer does more than the contract stipulates. |
Every successful relationship is bound by standards of behavior, and a successful website project is no different. It’s important to clearly outline the expected standards so both people can understand and agree to them before moving forward. That’s where the contract comes into play as part of our Guide to a Successful Website Project. We’re not lawyers here at CyberCletch and we’re not providing legal advice, but these key points have helped us provide exactly what out clients expect (and then some). Hiring legal help, may not be as expensive as you think. I know a few businesses have used this firm via an annual membership.
Here are 9 Key Points to Include in a Contract as a Guide to a Successful Website Project
1) Ownership of Materials
Ownership of materials should be outlined in your contract. Include who is responsible for providing images, content, and obtaining licenses to use third-party assets. Ownership of materials is an important point to clarify within your contract with your web designer.
If you plan to provide the images and content, they should be high quality and suitable for use on your website. The designer may be able to provide guidance on what type of images and content will work best for your website. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that the images and content are free from copyright infringement and that you have the necessary licenses to use them.
If the designer is responsible for sourcing the images and content, it is important to specify this in the contract. The designer should also be responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses for the use of third-party assets. This Guide to a Successful Website Project will help to avoid any legal issues down the line and ensure that your website is in compliance with all applicable laws.
2) Privacy and Confidentiality
Another important aspect in your contract with your web designer is the extent of privacy and confidentiality. Your business information is sensitive and it is important to ensure it’s protected.
Include a clause in your contract that specifies the web designer will not share your private business information with any third parties. This clause should specify the designer will take appropriate measures to protect the confidentiality of your business information, such as using secure communication channels and storing sensitive information securely.
3) Force Majeure
Force majeure is a clause included in contracts to address events beyond control of the parties involved, that can prevent the performance of obligations.
As a Guide to a Successful Website Project, force majeure refers to what will happen in the event of a natural disaster, illness, or other unforeseeable event that may affect the timeline for the project.
For example, the clause may state that if a force majeure event occurs, the timeline of the project may be postponed until the event has passed and it is feasible to resume work.
4) Termination and/or Mediation
It’s important to establish what will happen if either party wants to end the contract prematurely. Will there be a penalty for early termination, or will the parties go through mediation to resolve any disputes?
For example, the clause may state that either party may terminate the contract with written notice if the other party breaches any of the terms of the contract. The clause may also specify how any payment obligations will be addressed in the event of termination.
Mediation is another option that can be included in a contract to address disputes between the parties. The mediation clause typically specifies any disputes arising from the contract will be resolved through mediation before proceeding to arbitration or litigation. Mediation is faster and less costly than resolving disputes through the courts.
Having a clear termination and/or mediation clause in your contract with your web designer will ensure both parties have a clear understanding of the process for ending the contract early, and provide alternative options for resolving any disputes that may arise.
5) Expectations for Feedback / Revisions / Approval
Expectations for feedback, revisions, and approval are important checkpoints during the process of working with a web designer. It helps to have a clear understanding of how many designs and revisions are included in the contract and how the approval process works.
Guide to a Successful Website Project Tip
Include a clause in your web design contract that specifies the following:
Number of designs: The contract should specify how many designs the web designer will provide for your review and approval.
Number of revisions: The contract should specify how many revisions are included in the project before there will be additional cost.
Approval process: The contract should specify the process for obtaining approval of the designs and revisions. For example, the contract may state that the designer will provide designs for your review and you will provide feedback within a certain number of days.
Having a well-defined understanding of the expectations for feedback, revisions, and approval promotes collaboration as both parties work towards achieving the highest quality result.
6) Timeline Guides a Successful Website Project
A project timeline specifies the expected duration of the project from start to finish, including the time required for design, development, testing, and deployment.
Guide to a Successful Website Project Tip
Having a clear project timeline in your contract with your web designer is important for several reasons:
Planning: The project timeline helps you to plan your resources, including time and budget, and to manage your expectations about when the website will be completed.
Communication: The project timeline provides a clear understanding of the timeline for both parties, which helps to promote open communication and to avoid misunderstandings.
Accountability: The project timeline holds the web designer accountable for delivering the website on time and helps to ensure that the project stays on track. It also keeps you on track with your feedback responses, too.
7) Website Project Payment
Understanding the cost of the project and when payments are due help you to budget appropriately for the project.
Guide to a Successful Website Project Tip
When including payment terms in your contract with your web designer, you need to consider the following factors:
Cost: The contract should specify the total cost of the project, including any additional costs for revisions or design changes. It is important to ensure the cost is agreed upon by both parties and it covers the scope of work specified in the contract.
Payment Schedule: The contract should specify when payments are due, including any upfront deposit and the timing of subsequent payments.
Payment Methods: The contract should specify the preferred payment method, such as a bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal.
Clear and agreed upon payment terms are crucial in avoiding misunderstandings and maintaining the progress of the project. Establishing a detailed payment plan beforehand helps to ensure the timely completion of the project within budget.
8) Scope of Work for the Website Project
Scope of work defines tasks the web designer will be responsible for and deliverables you can expect from the website project. There needs to be full page-by-page clarity to avoid any surprises of “out of scope” work that may require additional payment. This is especially important for larger, more complex projects.
Guide to a Successful Website Project Tip
When defining the scope of work in your contract with your web designer, take the following elements into account:
Tasks: The contract should specify tasks the web designer will be responsible for, such as designing the website, creating graphics, or writing content.
Deliverables: The contract should include the deliverables expected from the project, such as a fully functional website, mock-ups, and design elements. Deliverables are agreed upon by both parties to ensure they align with your goals and expectations for the project.
Out of Scope: The contract should specify what is considered “out of scope”, meaning tasks or deliverables that are not included in the project and may require additional payment. For example, developing additional features or creating custom graphics may be considered out of scope.
9) Parties Involved / Signatures / Date of Validity
Finally, it is important to establish who the parties involved are, include signatures, and specify the date of validity of the contract. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and make the contract legally binding.
How to Love Your Web Designer: A Guide to a Successful Website Project Conclusion
Establishing a good working relationship with your web designer is essential for a successful website project. By managing expectations during the web design project by using a clear and concise contract, you can ensure that the project stays on track, and that both parties will be satisfied with the outcome.
We hope you found How to Love Your Web Designer: A Guide to a Successful Website Project a help to make your next web design project run smoothly, on budget, and end up with the website you wanted.
This is not meant as legal advice, just an overview of what you should be looking for in a contract. To be fully protected, consult with a lawyer.
Get the website of your dreams and secure a positive working relationship with your designer. Take control of your website needs today with CyberCletch!
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