What Makes a Good Web Design Client?

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

So you’re in need of a custom blog design or small business web solution…

You know you need a web/blog designer, and you begin your hunt. You search for sites with design and functions that appeal to you. You track down the designers. You then contact the designers to find out if they can meet your needs and your budget. Your search is focused on finding the best designer you can.

That’s great. You should put in the time necessary to find the best designer for you. (Of course, if you are the right kind of client, we hope that we are your choice!)

But have you considered that even the best web designer is limited by you, the client?

It’s true. No designer can meet unspoken expectations. The best designs are a result of good teamwork between the client and the designer- the client verbalizes what they are looking for, and the designer offers advice regarding the best way to achieve those results and makes the client’s design dreams become a reality.

“So how do I make sure that I am a good web design client?

Before I share with you traits found in my best clients, take a look at this funny, yet sadly true-to-life, video.

Can you believe those people? I am sorry to say that I’ve had my share of these nightmare clients, and I often stop by Clients from Hell to laugh at/sympathize with the latest horror story.

Unlike the people in the video and the site referenced above, a good client normally gets the results they want.

Here’s why:

they are prepared and know-
- the goals they want their site to accomplish
- their target market
- the pages they need
- the functions they need their site to perform
- the look and feel they want their site to present
they have realistic deadlines – they aren’t asking for 6 weeks’ worth of work to be completed in 1 week
they respond quickly to messages
they promptly provide any information, content, or images the designer requests
they are honest about their expectations and their budgets
they offer solid, constructive criticism instead of a vague, “I don’t like that!”, Make it pop!”, and the like.
they don’t micromanage – it is counter-productive for a client to constantly request changes, point out glitches, and otherwise harass the designer while the work is in progress. Please be patient enough to wait for your designer to tell you your project is ready for review. That is the time to go over it with a fine-tooth comb, not before.

To sum it all up…

being an informed, gracious, polite, and helpful client means you will find that your project goes much more smoothly and will more often than not meet or exceed your expectations.