Insight

1.Begin with finding the right digital agency that you feel you can work with, that understands your business and your audiences

2. Start with a solid foundation: Complete a requirements document which is actually signed-off internally before starting the project

3. Engage with the right stakeholders within your organization and invite them to participate in the project either on project team or steering committee

4. Document your objectives and business requirements and get signatures from all senior management before your begin

5. Understand your technical requirements to see if existing technology is sustainable or if new solutions are needed for now and the future

6. Understand your audiences, both current and prospective ones.  Build your site around their expectations and journeys to maximise your exposure and encourage interaction with your business and brand 

7. Understand the legal requirements for compliance with the EU Disabilities Act and usability for the disabled to access your site with no limitations

8. Be realistic for timings.  A dedicated Project Manager is needed to manage all aspects of the site delivery

9. If your project goes outside of the scope originally agreed on at the requirements gathering stage, be prepared to invest additional money to gain additional functionality.  Project's change and you need to be flexible as a Project Owner

10. Test your site at various stages.  Check usability and creative at the initial design stage and during the final stage before it goes live to catch any issues that may arise.
 

 
By Dwain Thomas