Guest post by Dave Yankowiak

As a web developer, I’m often asked how much it costs to build a website. If you want a simple and generic website that doesn’t do much, it can be relatively cheap. If you want something custom with beautiful design and interactive features that will really appeal to your site’s visitors, it gets a bit more expensive. Here are a few tips to set expectations up front and get exactly the website you want.

Share Examples of Sites You Like. One of the best ways for a developer to get a feel for your tastes is to show him or her a few sample websites. Discuss what you like/dislike about each example, evaluating elements such as fonts, colors, layout, graphics, functionality, sections, navigation, and content.

Show Your Existing Stuff. If you’ve done any sort of marketing for your brand in the past, show samples of those campaigns. This can include logos, brochures, business cards, catalogs, giveaways, newsletters, old websites, and advertising. Even if some of these things contain branding you no longer want to use, it helps the Web designer get a feel for where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going with respect to your brand’s evolution.

Have Some Ideas. Bring your brainstorms, daydreams, things you’ve seen, and things you haven’t seen. If there’s a feature you’ve never seen on a competitor’s website that you think might work on yours, discuss it with your design firm. In the age of Web 2.0 the sky really is the limit. However be open to feedback. Designers spend a lot of time on the web and can offer guidance on things that may or may not work.

Think About the User. Why would people visit your website? Why would they come back again and again? Can your website essentially become a virtual customer service employee for your company? Focus on the user. A lot of brands try to create a website with cool features and things that are there to make the company look good, but they forget the site is there for the user. Cater to them. If your end-user is having a great experience, you’re going to be happy with the investment you’ve made in your new website.

Determine the Essential Pieces.  You may not be able to afford everything you want in the first iteration of your new website. That’s fine and if you plan accordingly, adding features at a later time should be no problem. Dreaming big is good, but focus on the clearest path to launching a site that looks professional, has good content, and is shaped around the user’s experience. The bells and whistles can wait if they need to.

The more you can plan up front, the smoother the website development process will be. These tips will help both you and your designer visualize the website that you really want and put you on the path to a successful site launch.

Dave Yankowiak is a web-minded individual and owner of Lift Development LLC. He lives in Grand Rapids, MN and blogs about his “work anywhere” lifestyle on http://www.anywhereman.com.