4 answers
J
Student
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1
Question
Asked
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What does the general process look like for collaborating with a client on their website?
I'm hoping to freelance as a web designer after college. Should client(s) give me access to the backend of their website hosting platform in order to assist?
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4 answers
Nikolaos Zormpas
Global Manager – Digital Services Offerings / Technology, Software & Services Offerings Marketing
88
Answers
Athens, Greece
Updated
Nikolaos’s Answer
Hi J,
From personal experience, I would like to add that many hosting providers offer the option for website owners to invite others with restricted access rights. This means that a client can grant you access to their backend environment in a controlled manner, which ensures both parties feel more comfortable.
Hope that helps!
Regards,
Nikolas
From personal experience, I would like to add that many hosting providers offer the option for website owners to invite others with restricted access rights. This means that a client can grant you access to their backend environment in a controlled manner, which ensures both parties feel more comfortable.
Hope that helps!
Regards,
Nikolas
Paul-David Iddrisu
WEB DESIGN
8
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
Paul-David’s Answer
Collaborating with a client on their website typically involves several key steps to ensure the project meets their needs and expectations. Here’s a general process you can follow:
Initial Consultation:
Meet with the client to discuss their requirements, goals, and vision for the website. Understand their business, target audience, and any specific features or functionalities they want.
Proposal and Agreement:
Prepare a proposal outlining the scope of work, timeline, deliverables, and cost estimate. Once agreed upon, sign a contract or agreement detailing these terms to ensure clarity and mutual understanding.
Discovery and Research:
Conduct research into the client’s industry, competitors, and target audience. Gather content such as logos, branding guidelines, and any existing website assets.
Wireframing and Design:
Create wireframes or basic layouts to outline the website’s structure, navigation, and content hierarchy. Collaborate closely with the client to refine these wireframes based on their feedback before moving to the design phase.
Design Mockups:
Develop visual design mockups based on the wireframes, incorporating the client’s branding elements, color schemes, and imagery preferences. Present these mockups for client review and approval.
Development:
Once the design is approved, proceed with website development. Build the website using appropriate technologies (e.g., HTML/CSS, WordPress, etc.) while ensuring responsiveness, accessibility, and compatibility with different browsers and devices.
Content Integration:
Integrate content provided by the client, including text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements. Optimize content for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) if required.
Testing and Feedback:
Conduct thorough testing of the website’s functionality, usability, and performance. Involve the client in testing to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments or fixes.
Review and Revision:
Present the completed website to the client for final review and approval. Address any remaining issues or requested revisions promptly to ensure client satisfaction.
Launch and Training:
Once approved, prepare for the website launch. Assist the client with domain registration, hosting setup, and deployment. Provide training if needed on how to update content or manage the website.
Maintenance and Support:
Offer ongoing maintenance and support services post-launch. Discuss maintenance plans, updates, and potential future enhancements with the client to ensure the website remains secure, functional, and up-to-date.
Feedback and Evaluation:
After completion, solicit feedback from the client to assess their satisfaction with the project. Use this feedback to improve future collaborations and build long-term client relationships.
Initial Consultation:
Meet with the client to discuss their requirements, goals, and vision for the website. Understand their business, target audience, and any specific features or functionalities they want.
Proposal and Agreement:
Prepare a proposal outlining the scope of work, timeline, deliverables, and cost estimate. Once agreed upon, sign a contract or agreement detailing these terms to ensure clarity and mutual understanding.
Discovery and Research:
Conduct research into the client’s industry, competitors, and target audience. Gather content such as logos, branding guidelines, and any existing website assets.
Wireframing and Design:
Create wireframes or basic layouts to outline the website’s structure, navigation, and content hierarchy. Collaborate closely with the client to refine these wireframes based on their feedback before moving to the design phase.
Design Mockups:
Develop visual design mockups based on the wireframes, incorporating the client’s branding elements, color schemes, and imagery preferences. Present these mockups for client review and approval.
Development:
Once the design is approved, proceed with website development. Build the website using appropriate technologies (e.g., HTML/CSS, WordPress, etc.) while ensuring responsiveness, accessibility, and compatibility with different browsers and devices.
Content Integration:
Integrate content provided by the client, including text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements. Optimize content for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) if required.
Testing and Feedback:
Conduct thorough testing of the website’s functionality, usability, and performance. Involve the client in testing to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments or fixes.
Review and Revision:
Present the completed website to the client for final review and approval. Address any remaining issues or requested revisions promptly to ensure client satisfaction.
Launch and Training:
Once approved, prepare for the website launch. Assist the client with domain registration, hosting setup, and deployment. Provide training if needed on how to update content or manage the website.
Maintenance and Support:
Offer ongoing maintenance and support services post-launch. Discuss maintenance plans, updates, and potential future enhancements with the client to ensure the website remains secure, functional, and up-to-date.
Feedback and Evaluation:
After completion, solicit feedback from the client to assess their satisfaction with the project. Use this feedback to improve future collaborations and build long-term client relationships.
Alan Bessen
Teach a variety of Visual Arts
1
Answer
Updated
Alan’s Answer
Only if it’s relevant to the work you are doing. If the client wants something fresh they may not want you to see what was done in the past.
Catherine Luna
Graphic Designer
2
Answers
Fairfield, Connecticut
Updated
Catherine’s Answer
Like Nikolaos said - a lot of web platforms allow you to invite a guest user who would have editing permissions. This probably is the most ideal setup in my personal opinion.
That being said however, some clients have a pretty hard time navigating their own website back-ends when coming to a designer for help. It really depends on the person you're working with directly. In your first conversation with the client, I would recommend asking them a few questions to gauge their comfort level with their current web platform (Wordpress, Squarespace, Wix, etc). This should give you a pretty good idea as to whether or not they'd be proficient enough to invite another user.
If you're getting the feeling that might be a bit too complex for them to do on their own, there's no problem in just asking for them to share their credentials with you. And then once you've gained access you can always make a separate user for yourself if you prefer.
That being said however, some clients have a pretty hard time navigating their own website back-ends when coming to a designer for help. It really depends on the person you're working with directly. In your first conversation with the client, I would recommend asking them a few questions to gauge their comfort level with their current web platform (Wordpress, Squarespace, Wix, etc). This should give you a pretty good idea as to whether or not they'd be proficient enough to invite another user.
If you're getting the feeling that might be a bit too complex for them to do on their own, there's no problem in just asking for them to share their credentials with you. And then once you've gained access you can always make a separate user for yourself if you prefer.