I, Resolve

We were recently asked to do a web evaluation for a small construction company. Among our top recommendations:

• Change your graphic text to HTML and add geographic modifiers if you want any chance of getting found in the Search Engines
• Clarify what you do
• Add calls-to-action
• Add biographical information
• Describe the projects you show so we understand what you did

When the client shared our review with his web designer the response was terrific. “I am rebuilding your site so it IS NO FLASH at our cost. An HTML site.” No question about it, that’s an exceptional, generous offer.

But then he went on to wiggle out of taking responsibility for the site:

• Your site was never intended to be a Response site, it was simply to be a portfolio
• Having whom ever review what we’ve done … without any briefing is exactly like having Joe or Erin review any of your houses with the customer. Without them knowing what the homeowner asked for or seeing the plans.
• We have reasons to do what we do based on the input we get from the client. I looked at his site [Resolve Digital] & examples and I can guarantee you I can find some thing that I would not have done. Different styles, different takes… There are so many ways to skin a cat.

Right, but we’re not professional cat skinners. As web designers, a big part of our job is to inform our clients so they can make educated decisions about what’s best for their business. After all, they’re coming to us because we’re the experts! We don’t always agree with their decisions, but at least we get them thinking about the purpose and goals of their site (and how people are going to find it, how they’re going to keep it up-to-date, etc).

Anyone visiting a website reviews what the web designer has done without any briefing. That is exactly what happens in the mind of every visitor. They make a series of small judgments and either leave the site or continue on to accomplish their goal.

Visitors never know what the website owner asked for or get to see the plans. Nobody cares. We only know what we can see and do on the site. And if we can’t see or do what we want, we click to another site. Cat Skinned. End of Story.