9 July 2009
Yes it can work, but as you said yourself, it will strongly depend on the Communication Skills of the Company. To test these, call the company and first try to get somebody who is in charge and who is willing to answer your question in detail, maybe even gove you some advice. Prepare your questions before you do so. One good sign, is if you get a resum

9 July 2009
Hi Jane,

I agree too, communication is paramount, but so is research. I don't necessarily think that you should look to receive a resume from the company you are speaking with, I would suggest that you contact people in their portfolio, however some companies may not list unhappy clients; do a search for any complaints against the company you are looking to work with and ask the company about them, if they tell you the discrepancy was settled, ask if you can have the contact information for the person who filed the complaint so that you can verify the information, (that can be problematic due to privacy laws, but if they are reputable, they can contact the client and ask for permission to have you contact them).

If you live in a metropolitan area, a local company that can do a great job may be possible, while if you live in a more rural area, you may be very limited in your resources.

Above all, don't be in a hurry, typically if companies offer a fast turn around with little documentation or explanation of services, you may not have a good experience. The truth of the matter is, that all websites take some time and when done correctly, a two-day turn around is a little too quick to produce something of value.

I hope this helps; your question is an old one, and I wish there was an easy answer.

Good luck
Mark Cloyd,
Mark Cloyd Designs

10 July 2009
Hi Jane,
We now live in a world full communication devices.....email, Im, Video calls, the list goes on and on......face to face communication is good but is only one part of the overall mix.

You need to do business withsome that you trust. You dont have to be face to face to get that trust.

My suggestions:

Deal with someone that you develop some rapport with.

Deal with some one that will give you honest answers (even if you dont like the answer they are giving you) It generally means that they are trying to guide/help you move in the right direction.

Speak to some of their clients and listen carefully to what they say.

Most important....go with your gut feelings ...they are usually right

Good Luck

Richard Norris
CEO
SiteZero Internet

10 July 2009
Hi,

To develop a website purely by email or phone requires a special level of commitment from the web designer AND the client. Phone calls and emails during this process are not short - they are necessarily comprehensive but should be concise - and for the design process to continue at a pace both parties need to prioritise replying to one another above all else, otherwise things can get frustrating.

Bullet point check lists are useful at this stage, with requests from the client being processed in chronological order and fed back to the client on completion. This way the client has an idea of where they are in the development timeline, and can feel involved in getting the design to meet their requirements.

When a client starts this process, the question 'how quickly can this be done' usually comes up. As long as quality is not compromised, development proceeds in line with this 'ping-pong' of email exchanges, and this helps to ensure a good relationship between designer and client.

So....your first telephone conversation, your first email replies, your first communication with the design company is a VERY important indicator of how they'll behave during the project. If these initial contacts are met by a frustrating silence, tread with caution.

Hope that helps,
Chris Stapleton

Senior Designer,
Photon Web Design

13 July 2009
Communication is key to everything, as well as good research. The company you choose should be good at both. If they communicate with you effectively at the start, they will do the right research, then they should get your website right first time - based on your brief, but also ensuring it is suitable for the people who visit it.

15 July 2009
Hi Jane,

For those of us who have been in a "new economy mindset" for a while now, virtual collaboration on projects is a no-brainer. However, for someone who has never collaborated online with a company on something as complex as a website, it CAN be scary.

What's important is that you understand the process that a company should take you through, and verify that it's actually happening, as even a company (and sometimes especially a company) you meet face to face can just skip all of the important steps. So what are the important steps?

1. You need to work with someone who first analyzes your goals. What should the website achieve? Should it focus on ease of use for an existing client base, like allowing people to check status on project updates? (Say you're a construction company who wants to give their clients an easy way to access video footage, photos, and workflow updates on a renovation project) - or should it focus on high conversions of visitors to sales (like an ecommerce site)? You need to speak with someone who knows that figuring out what is important to YOU from a business perspective is paramount - not just knowing what pages need to be there.

2. You need to work with someone who can communicate visually with you. This means you need to tell your web designer what you want, and he needs to find something that communicates that visually, to ensure you are on the same page, BEFORE starting the actual design iteration process (this will save you time and money).

3. You need to work with someone who has the technical experience to give you clear expectations on cost, time frame, and possibilities. If a company has a track record of providing excellent solutions to a diverse client base, chances are they can do the same for you, regardless of where they're located.

The bottom line is, don't just feel comfortable with the fact that you SEE someone face to face, because if you do have problems, it will be unpleasant no matter WHERE they are. Pick a company with a proven track record and a reputation to maintain - get organized - and you'll do fine. Here are a few tips for online collaboration:

1. Use Google Docs to create an initial specification document: It doesn't have to be perfect, but you should create a rough outline of your plan or needs, and invite prospective companies to add comments and content, to help you along. Maybe creating multiple documents that are all copies of the same original, and seeing where each company takes it, would be most helpful.

2. Create a Virtual Meeting so that you can show someone what's on your screen, and they can show you what's on there's - this is just like being in the room with someone (you can even see their face with a skype video call). Citrix's GoTo Meeting is a great product for this.

Good luck!

Calvin Froedge, Success Architect
www.creativelogicmedia.com

25 July 2009
I agree with the other posters that the most important aspect in web design is communication. I have done many sites with people out of state, and they have been very happy with the results. Most of your communication would be over the phone or email no matter what, so the location of your web designer shouldn't matter too much. One added piece of advice is to email digital pictures to your out of state web designer, even if you don't intend to use the pictures on the site. This will give your designer a greater understanding of your product, store, or idea. Good luck! :)

27 July 2009
Hi Jane

this will work very fine and as said before we have so many communication systems to cut distance out. and nothing is going to get compromise in your site.

All the best
Vinoth Kumar

27 July 2009
This is 2009 and Geography is History!

Actually we lose some jobs because we won't attend meetings unless the project is of sufficient size to justify it. We get clients to whom we have quoted

29 July 2009
Communication is key in all business dealings, and geography has absolutely nothing to do with it. There will be local firms whose availability and reliability pale in comparison to firms you might find on the other side of the world.

I've actually had several new clients come to us after being disappointed with their local options. The point is, location is meaningless in today's marketplace.

We've been in business since 2004, and have had hundreds of clients over the years. Of those, only five have been local. And ALL have been happy with the experience.

I think the most important issue you need to consider is the content and consistency of that communication. Do they ask the right questions? Do they understand your culture and your market? Do they respond promptly and write in professional, unbroken English?

We work almost exclusively via email and written communication. Phone calls are very rare, and are always followed up with an email. Having everything in writing protects both you and the designer, should any miscommunication or 'forgetfulness' arise.

29 July 2009
Hi Jane... it looks like you've really asked a great question here, and with some excellent answers by my colleagues!

I won't reiterate the great information already available here... what I do want to mention is that I think it is essential for my clients to be able to access their developing website through the development stages... with a clear flow of communication concerning it's development.

You might ask - how can this be done? Well, it's actually quite simple... I utilize my clients existing server or my own server to host the developing website... an example would be: say your company/organizations name is "mywebsite" well, on your server in a sub-domain/folder I place your developing website and update as the development progresses - ie: http://testsite.mywebsite.com and keep this testsite from the search engine bots until it is ready for launch.

Most websites are developed on local servers (ie: a computer/laptop) and then uploaded to your server... I would suggest asking your web designer/developer of choice if this workflow collaboration is available during the development process - that way you can have access and input to the end-user experience and both front-end and back-end features of your developing website!

I hope that helps!

30 July 2009
I have worked with clients all over the country and in New Zealand and some I have never met.

Communication starts at the very first phonecall with the client. If you as a client feel that you can talk to this person and get your points across then you are half way there.

Having said that I also have a lot of local business where I do get to meet the client and have a face to face briefing.

Good luck.

9 August 2009
As a design company owner I will not work on a project unless I have met the client. Yes, I know that this may limit the areas that we do business, but I firmly believe the client/agency relationship must start with a meeting.

2 October 2009
I agree meeting with the client is much better, its good to sit down and sketch what the client might like, where to place content, get to know the client on a personal level, get a feel for what they like and dislike.

If you have good communication skills i am sure you can win clients by just chatting over the phone!

12 January 2010
This is a tough one and even though it can work you need to understand if you are just buying the design or a business solution.

In my experience of running a web design company having face-to-face meetings can help a lot. After all people buy from people and its much about your personality and that of your company than it is about the solution - especially if brand is an important aspect.

If its quality of service you are after consider all avenues. For instance my company does not buy from anyone who does not publish their postal address so ensure that you have all their details before you buy from a long distance supplier.

The other thing to consider is the support and problems that may occur. Will a long distance relationship help.

Finally, a good design company will also provide a solution brief and always ensure you have a contract between you and the provider. And of course ask the ultimate question of what they would recommend to make the solution even more effective and successful.