So, you want to work together. Awesome!
Before we get started there are some conditions I require before working on a new project. After more than a decade of working on development projects I know these conditions are essential for your project to be a success. I’d really like to work with you so hopefully you tick all the boxes!
1. Clearly defined goals
Before the project can start we need to know the destination. To work with me you must know exactly what your goals are. I can help you map out the route to get there but I’ve got to know where you are going.
2. Passion
Building online businesses is hard work; there is no silver bullet, no magic elixer. I will invest heavily in you and your project – I spend anywhere between 80-500+ hours on each website I build. For me, it’s a labour of love. Seriously. What I ask in return is your commitment to the project. 100% commitment. This project will be time-consuming, exhilarating, frustrating but mostly lots of fun. I’m going to give this project everything I have and I need you to do the same.
3. You have budget
That awkward money question: “How much does a website cost?” That’s bit like asking, “How much does a house cost?” The answer is always: “It depends on the size, materials and finishes.” What I can say is that you’re going to need £5,000+ for a bespoke website and £1,000+ for one built using an off-the-shelf theme. Yes, you can build a website yourself using an online website builder but you get what you pay for. What you get from me is my years of technical experience, my commitment to you, your project and your business and my ability to maximise your return on investment. You just can’t get that from a website builder. It’s a false economy, pure and simple.
4. You have an audience
Do you have an audience already? Great stuff if you do because you have less of a job ahead of you.
If not, you need to be prepared to build one. I’ll be there to help and guide you along the way but it’ll take time and commitment from you. At the end of the day, this is your business, your audience and you must be the one to engage with them and grow your business. Most importantly, you need to have done some preliminary research into your prospective target market. Do they even exist? Would they actually be interested in your product/service? Who are they? How are you going to target them? These can be brutal questions but I’d hate to see you waste your time and money on something which actually has no market.
To get you mulling over some ideas here are some options for building an audience: blogging, podcasting, interviews, white papers, presentations, speaking and education.
5. You have a team
Being stressed, exhausted and time-constrained does not a successful project make. Trust me, I’ve been there. If you’re going to do this you need a team. That could be permanent staff, a virtual assistant, freelance copywriters and marketers, or any other combination of people. But you’re going to need people.
At the very least you need to have a clearly-defined plan – with timelines and budgets – mapping out which roles/positions you are going to onboard and when. Please, make sure you have this in place before the project starts. I can help you chat it through if you’re finding this overwhelming.
6. You have time
Sometimes clients want to pay a developer to “just make me a website”. It’s like the website is an afterthought, something they feel they have to do; they aren’t truly committed and have neither the time nor the inclination to devote to the project. If that’s your outlook or predicament then I’m afraid I’m not the right person for you. Hopefully you’re the other 90% of folks. To you I say this:
Are you ready? Excited? You should be. It’s going to be awesome!
Next step: Fill in the project application form.