Allocating Resources for a Web Redesign

May 18, 2009 | by Carrie Hane Dennison | Posted in Project Management, Web Content, Web Development, Web Strategy

We can learn a lot from the web’s predecessors: print publications. It seems that a lot more thought goes into something that is printed and permanent than many websites. Of course, that’s part of the beauty of the web – it can change infinitely. But the basic concept shouldn’t change. Amazon hasn’t changed a whole lot since went online 13 years ago. Sure it’s added and changed features and content and services, but the design and architecture has basically stayed the same. A lot of thought went into the development of the site and business model and so it works.

So why are we still seeing sites that don’t work and don’t provide an easy way for users to be productive? Lack of resources. Too many organizations simply do not put the needed resources (time, money, staff) into building and maintaining their websites. Time after time, web development projects are delayed because staff don’t have the time to devote to the website – it’s just an addition to an already full plate. But if you really want your website to be a marketing tool, a valuable information source, a community for your members - whatever it is you’ve decided it should be - give the right people the time, budget and authority to do it right.

And it don’t stop after the publication of the new site. And I do use the term publication rather than launch - something else we can take from the print world. After all, we aren’t putting something in orbit, we’re delivering information for people to consume. Does a magazine stop after one issue? No. It comes up with new things people want to read about. Your website should too. Keep the content current, add new features as you and your audience are ready. But don’t just let your investment gather dust while everyone returns to their regularly scheduled jobs.