When potential clients come to Blue Fountain Media either for a new website or a website redesign, the first questions we ask are:

• What is the purpose of your site?
• What are the goals for your site?

The most common answers to the first question are:

• “Because we feel we should have a web presence.”
• “Because our competitors are taking away business with their websites.”
• “Because everybody else seems to have one.”

The most common answer to the second question is:

• “I really hadn’t thought about that.”

The same executives who could tell you precise goals for all other branding, marketing and advertising campaigns, have little or no idea of how to exploit their websites to enhance their brands and their business.

A critical part of our design and development process is to get the client to focus on the goals for the website. It is not our job to tell the client what the goals of the site should be. It is our job to work with the client to identify how their website can help their business and which website features provide the best paths toward achieving those goals.

How do we do this?

• We immerse ourselves in our client’s business
• We use this information to set forth clear goals
• We create a “Spec Sheet,” setting out the key features required to accomplish those goals
• We build the website based on those specifications
• We maintain, update and enhance the website based on how well the site is actually serving those goals

We Immerse Ourselves in Our Clients’ Businesses

We work with our clients to learn everything we can about their businesses.

• What is their business model?
• What are their profit centers?
• What are their processes?
• What is their corporate culture?
• What does their “brand” represent?
• Who is their competition?

Once we have a clear answer to these questions, we can get to the heart of the online project: How do we build a website that best serves the business interests of the company?

We Help our Clients Set Goals

When you go about building a website, it is essential to work backwards. Decide the goals and outcomes you want, and then create the specifications, navigation and functionality that will get you there. Common goals include:

• Direct sales: Clients looking to sell their products online (e-commerce)
• Lead generation: Often for service-oriented businesses
  • Doctors
  • Lawyers
  • Accountants
  • Restaurants
• Branding
  • Getting your company’s name out into the internet universe
  • Reputation enhancement
  • Humanizing the company
  • Charity/Pro Bono work
• Customer Service
  • Creating online channels to communicate with current and potential customers
  • Creating forums where customers can make comments, suggestions or even complaints
    • Don’t be afraid of criticism… address it
• Advertising Sales
  • Creating a site that generates sufficient traffic to support an advertising-based business model
    • Compelling content
    • “Sticky” features
      • Polls
      • Games
      • Community
  • Hand holding
    • Clients invest a lot of money into their website projects. We believe they are entitled to updates and reassurances throughout the process. In the many cases where we are able to deliver ahead of schedule, these updates are warmly received.
  • Monitor analytics, to see how the site is being used, what the traffic patterns are and which features aren’t getting the desired results
  • We can quickly add features, change navigation and alter marketing programs to deliver improved results
  • With ongoing maintenance (a post-launch service offered by Blue Fountain Media), we can constantly monitor and test different marketing platforms, to deliver the best possible traffic to the site.

We Create a Detailed “Spec Sheet”

We translate goals into milestones by creating a detailed “Spec Sheet” that lays out all of the elements of the project. A detailed spec sheet helps to eliminate confusion, spells out exactly the services to be provided and each promised deliverable. It also provides clear timetables for completion of each element as well as specific pricing (whether project-based or hourly).

A great spec sheet is a blueprint that can be relied upon by both sides. If a client expects certain work to be done or certain functionality to be included, then such work and features must be spelled out clearly in the spec sheet.

On the other hand, a poorly executed spec sheet is a recipe for disaster. When a website design company presents you with a spec sheet for your signature, please review it carefully. If there is any question about what is being offered, make sure that question is answered to your satisfaction before your sign!

We Communicate With the Client Every Step of the Development Period

Once the project is approved and the spec sheet is signed, we go into full development mode. Beware of website design companies that push you aside once the “real work” has begun. Even though the building process is squarely on the shoulders of the development team, that doesn’t mean the client isn’t entitled to be informed of every milestone reached along the way.

In Conclusion

Blue Fountain Media works with clients to identify their goals, build sites that help our client attain those goals, and then maintain and market the site to ensure continued growth. If you would like to discuss your website plans and goal, please give us a call at 212.260.1978.

Tags: Blue Fountain Media, customer service, gabriel shaoolian, web branding, web marketing