In college I had this great idea. I wanted to build a tea house. I was going to call it Tea-Neek (Like unique… cute right?). I had three friends who all thought a tea house was something our college town could use. We talked about buying one of the historical building and renovating it. Unfortunately, I was the only serious person in the group and despite all my great ideas we never got farther than scratch paper. (Though my plan is still to retire with to a little tea shop.)

So why do I tell you this? The tea house was a great idea but because I had trouble expressing some of my concrete concepts to my friends and to the bank, it never got off the ground. Sometimes businesses have this same problem when they are in the market for a website. They have a beautiful image in their head but can’t express it in words. This can lead to frustration on the part of the designer and the client.

Examples are by far the best way to keep both parties on the same page. I’ve talked a little bit about it before. By examples I do not mean just copying someone else’s site and adding your own images/text. I mean finding other websites that have the same look, feel or general design. Examples of websites you like or think are professional can be a huge help for your designer, especially if you are having trouble verbalizing your ideas.

I’d like to use today’s post to show off some websites I think are beautiful for different reasons. Pick some of your favorites too and keep them in mind when you are ready to create your own site.

Chocolate Secrets: This site has wonderful rich colors, good enough to eat! This was a site that a client sent to me as one of her personal favorites.

Mercy: Wine bar with great atmosphere. This website is full of personality. The images, the flow, everything about this site is a unique form of branding.

Pictures for Sad Children: This offbeat webcomic has a simple design, but tons of character. All the buttons and banners are hand-drawn by the artist.

YouNoodle: Website in Beta for start-up companies. Not a lot to look out but the design and navigation is clean and simple.

Underwood Law Library: Law Library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Lovely home page. Right to the point!

Young Gallery: Great example of a minimalist website. Gallery for photographers in multiple languages with great images of the art. (Even with the intro which I am not a fan of.)

And finally Sabon NYC: High fashion beauty products. Everything about this site has a distinct flavor, you know that even the borders were hand-picked to enhance ambiance. It certainly makes you want to try their stuff.

What are some of your favorite sites, and why?

View full image here.

I know many, many people have felt like this, as both a customer and a service provider. And I think with websites in particular, there is a problem. What the client wants and what the client gets are not always the same thing. It feels like many websites are just lost in translations. The buyer is unhappy with the result which in turn, makes the seller unhappy. Unfortunately, the situation is often lose-lose.

I want to discuss some of the general issues with web design; the reasons a good website gets lost. Then I want to cover ways to simplify this process for both the buyer and seller and hopefully safe both sides hassle.

Issues:

• Terminology - Programmers and other “tech” people use a specific kind of language, just like lawyers, doctors and other professionals. The average person might not know what CSS or RSS is.

• Design - Many web designers are amazing artists. The consumer sees a design and knows if they like it or not, but that doesn’t mean they can always describe what they want.

• Function - Ever done your own business taxes? Sucks, doesn’t it? You never really know how much you need an expert until you’ve tried it yourself. Clients often don’t understand how much coding goes into a project. To them, it looks like clicking a button, when it really may take an hour to create one action.

• Time & Money - Both parties, the buyer and the seller, know their time is valuable. They both want the best deal for the money. However, these two sides may not sync up all the time. Who qualifies the worth of the service?

Solutions:

Terminology

• Buyer: Know, up front, the seller is not purposefully trying to confuse. He isn’t using tech jargon to make you feel inadequate. Don’t get defensive. Relax, ask questions. The seller should be happy to share what he knows. Use that to your advantage!

• Seller: Be patient. Pay attention to the buyer, if he looks confused; stop. Try to explain in simpler terms. Make sure to explain abbreviations. Also, once you’ve explained, go back over it. Ask questions to gauge the buyer’s level of understanding. (As an aside: most people have some tech knowledge. When trying to simplify don’t go too far in the other direction. Don’t ever treat your client like they are stupid.)

Design

• Buyer: Even if you are unsure about what you want, try to give as much information as possible. It can be very frustrating when you don’t offer any guidelines but find fault with all the draft examples. Think of websites you like, and try to figure out why. Give examples. Think about layout, colors and design elements. If you can’t think of anything, say what you DON’T want! Most design companies have a limit on the changes you can make, so be as clear as you can upfront.

• Seller: Ask lots of questions. I’ve learned the hard way that if the buyer doesn’t give you any leads, create some. Use your own samples with yes or no questions: “Do you like this?” “Do you like the color?” “Do you like the font?” “Do you like where the text is?” Trust me, the less unknowns you are dealing with, the less redesigns you’ll do. Never, ever accept: “Whatever you think will look best.”

Function

• Buyer: Examples, examples, examples. I can’t say this enough. If you aren’t a tech person, show-and-tell is the best way to get across your meaning. Keep in mind: if you can only find one or two examples of what you want, the programming is probably more extensive; be prepared to pay the difference. Remember technology is like a good magic trick: easier than it looks.

• Seller: Be very upfront about what you can and can’t do, along with the associated prices. A client may think your job is easy. Its okay to gently explain the amount of time and effort you put in. In fact, knowing how much work you do could make them more appreciative. Don’t be afraid to say no, either. In fact, find other companies or individuals you can refer to. Great mutual business relationships have been built on this.

Time & Money

• Buyer: Web design is a service. We’re in business to make money. So please don’t ask for free things. We have rent and families, too. Also, our time is valuable. If he takes time out of his schedule to meet with you, be considerate. DO NOT take his ideas and give them to someone who will do it cheaper. (I know these two points are common sense, but it happens… a lot.) If you have questions/changes/concerns, give them to the seller in a reasonable amount of time. Communication is key.

• Seller: Same principles, communication is key. I used to get emails that had questions or problems. I would deal with them immediately. But sometimes the results would take a while, maybe days. Then the customer would be frustrated with me, even though I went out of my way to solve the problem. So I learned to answer phone calls and emails immediately. I would tell them my plan of action and let them know it was being worked on, even though it might take time. The results were fabulous. I was now the hero! The lesson here is: its okay to tell your client how great you are and what awesome things you do for them, its not bragging, its selling. Explain why you make your prices what they are, make sure your client understands how you and your service are valuable. Suddenly they feel their time was well spent and the money is a bargain

Obviously, I have more experience as a seller than a buyer, and I’m still learning. But I think communication and using examples are key to a successful relationship. I’m sure some sales people have things they would add and I love the feedback!