Collaborating with website developers is a bit like trying to learn a dance routine—if one of you is out of step, it can all go sideways very quickly. The key to getting it right? Communication, patience, and maybe a good sense of humour! Working with a website developer is an essential part of building a site that’s not just functional, but also stands out in the crowded digital space.
While developers may seem like wizards who speak an entirely different language (code, anyone?), building a great website is really a team effort. Lucky for you, Xanda’s team of expert website developers is here to make the process as smooth as possible. Ready to learn the steps? Let’s get dancing!
Top Tips for Working With Website Developers
1. Clarify Your Vision from the Start
Picture this: You sit down with your website developer, sip your coffee, and say, “I want my website to look good.” Now, as much as we all want things to look good (who doesn’t?), website developers are not mind readers. What does good mean to you? Sleek and minimalistic? Full of bells and whistles? The entire colour spectrum in one scrolling page? If you don’t know, your developer certainly won’t either. That’s why it’s essential to start off with a clear, detailed brief.
You’ll want to include things like functional needs (do you want an eCommerce store, a blog, or maybe both?), design preferences (think about the look and feel), and technical requirements (SEO, CMS, integrations—don’t worry, your developer will explain). The more specific you are, the fewer surprises down the line—like discovering you and your developer had very different interpretations of “modern” design.
Xanda Insight: At Xanda, we’ve perfected the art of turning a client’s vision into a reality. Our team has a knack for reading between the lines (and translating the vaguest of briefs) to deliver digital solutions that knock your socks off. Just check out our portfolio to see how we’ve turned everything from scribbled ideas to detailed requests into online masterpieces.
2. Understand the Development Process
Now that you’ve shared your dream website vision (bonus points if it doesn’t include “I want it to pop!”), it’s time to understand how your developer is going to build it. Website development is like baking a cake: there’s a recipe to follow, and you can’t skip to the icing without putting in the groundwork first.
Here’s a quick rundown of the key stages:
Planning: This is where you and your developer map out the project. Expect a lot of talk about user journeys, wireframes, and other things that sound far more complicated than they actually are.
Design: You’ll start to see some visuals here—yay! Make sure to give feedback, but avoid being that client who says, “Make it pop” with no further explanation.
Development: The coding happens here. This is the part where it feels like your developer is working in a secret underground lab, but don’t worry—they’re just building your dream site one line of code at a time.
Testing: Time to iron out any bugs. Think of this as quality control before your site goes live.
Launch: Pop the champagne! Your website is finally live. Just don’t forget that there’s still maintenance and tweaks to come.
Client Involvement: While it’s tempting to leave it all in your developer’s capable hands, staying involved is key. Check-in at major milestones like wireframes and mock-ups. If something looks off, say it then—not after your site is built and your developer has to tear it all apart. Trust us, no one likes re-doing work, especially when it involves a mountain of code.
3. Communication is Key
Here’s a universal truth: communication can make or break any relationship, especially the one you have with your website developer. Think of it like this—if you stop talking to your developer halfway through the project, they won’t magically know you’ve decided to scrap the eCommerce feature and focus on a blog instead. Nope, not how it works. You need to establish clear communication channels from the get-go.
Now, when it comes to giving feedback, remember this: “Make it pop” is not feedback. It’s a cry for help. Instead, try being specific—if you want your logo bigger or the font more readable, say that. Website designers and developers appreciate direct, actionable comments. Bonus points if you can throw in a compliment now and then, even if it’s just, “Hey, I love how you’ve made the contact form look so… form-y.”
4. Set Realistic Timelines
We get it—you’re excited to launch your shiny new website, but let’s take a moment to breathe and talk timelines. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your website. Each phase—design, development, testing—takes time. The more features you want, the longer it’ll take. That’s just physics (probably).
The key is to set realistic timelines with your web development team. If you demand a fully functioning eCommerce site with custom animations by next week, don’t be surprised if your developer sends you a gif of someone laughing hysterically. Understand that quality work takes time, and if you stick to a reasonable schedule, you’ll get a polished result that’s worth the wait.
Oh, and one more thing: try to avoid those last-minute changes. You know, the ones that seem minor to you but actually involve rewriting half the code. That kind of thing doesn’t just delay your project—it can also add unexpected costs. And no one likes surprise bills.
5. Plan for Ongoing Maintenance
Let’s clear up a common misconception: a website is never truly finished. Much like that one DIY project you swore you’d complete last summer, there’s always something that needs fixing, tweaking, or updating. A website needs regular love and attention to stay in tip-top shape, whether it’s boosting performance, tightening up security, or staying friendly with Google (because SEO isn’t a one-and-done situation). It’s a bit like owning a car—you wouldn’t skip the MOT and hope for the best, right? Well, the same applies to your website.
And don’t forget about those delightful bug fixes! Something’s bound to go a bit wobbly after launch. Maybe it’s a button that decides it doesn’t want to work, or a form that stops playing nice. Whatever it is, you’ll want a developer on hand to swoop in and save the day—preferably before your customers start sending you screenshots of the “404 Page Not Found” error.
6. Consider SEO
Building a website without considering SEO is like opening a shop in the middle of nowhere and wondering why no one’s stopping by. SEO (search engine optimisation, for those of you blissfully unaware of this acronym) is what makes your site findable. And no, it’s not just about sprinkling in a few keywords and calling it a day. SEO needs to be baked into the very structure of your site—clean code, mobile optimisation, fast load times… the whole shebang.
Mobile optimisation? Absolutely essential. Fast load times? Crucial. No one has the patience to wait more than 3 seconds for a page to load anymore—if your website drags, your visitors will too (right out the virtual door). And if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, Google will penalise you with a lower search ranking.
7. Budget Realistically
Ah, the budget conversation. Everyone’s favourite. When it comes to websites, you need to be realistic about what you’re getting for your money. That shiny, feature-rich, all-singing, all-dancing website? It’s not going to build itself for £500 and a high five. Think of it like buying a car—sure, you could opt for the economy version, but don’t expect a luxury experience.
Set a budget that covers everything from the build to the post-launch essentials like SEO, hosting, and security. And if you’re on a tighter budget, prioritise the must-have features first. You can always add the fancy extras later when you’ve got a bit more cash to splash.
Teaming Up With Xanda is the Smart Move for Your Website
So, there you have it—working with a website developer doesn’t have to feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. Remember, building a website is a partnership. Your developer is your co-pilot, not a mind reader, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or giving your old site a facelift, Xanda’s team of website developers is ready to turn your ideas into reality. We’ve been in the game for years, creating bespoke, high-performing websites that not only look good but actually work.
So why not give us a shout? Contact Xanda, and let’s build something brilliant together. Because at the end of the day, when your website succeeds, so do you. And who doesn’t love a good success story?