Knowing how to manage customer expectations when developing a new website is crucial to ensuring customer satisfaction and the success of the project. In this article we share some steps to take into account in this multidisciplinary work process:
- Understand customers needs and goals
First of all, it’s important to define the objectives, target audience and understand the clients needs and vision for the new website. To this end, it’s important to have a briefing that is as complete as possible, with all the necessary requirements in detail.
- Define project scope and limitations
Next, it’s crucial to make a list of all the features that are planned for the new website, establish the deadlines for the development until Go Live, and also the budget to be considered. These points are interconnected, given that the available budget will have a direct impact on the features that can be included, and if it’s more urgent, it will require a greater effort from the team in the short period.
- Establish a Project Plan
Throughout development, from usability to design, from technical development to testing, it’s important that all stakeholders have a schedule with the different delivery milestones during all phases of the project.
- Communicate regularly
Communication is essential to unblock possible disagreements! Making regular updates with the client, keeping them informed of the project’s progress and possible changes to what was initially defined, is essential to guarantee an efficient communication and consequently the desired success of the project.
- Manage changes during the project
Initially, we must take into account that changes may occur throughout the work process with a possible impact on both deadlines and the defined budget. It’s important that everything is detailed, so that the repercussions of moving forward with certain changes are very clear. This allows changes to be accepted when the consequences are understood.
- Tests
With the new website developed, the testing phase is on. They must be rigorous to ensure that everything works as expected, on all devices and in all browsers. Once again, close coordination with the client is necessary to allow time for this phase of the project, as well as to correct any bugs that may appear.
- Training and support
To empower the client with autonomy to edit the website's content, it’s important that there is training in this regard, without invalidating constant support and partnership after the launch of the new website.
- Evaluation
Confirming the success of the project also involves identifying points of improvement for future new websites. It’s always important to receive feedback from the client about the experience and, internally, reflect on the participation of the entire team.
These steps are very important to ensure a clear understanding of the development process by the client, always taking into account the ambitions for the new website and possible limitations (for example, with the available budget to invest in the project), so that in the end a relationship of trust is built between both parties. parts and a successful project.
