So your organization has agreed on a budget for your new Web presence, compiled and prioritized a wish list of functionality, selected a Web committee, appointed a key decision maker and project lead and of course, decided to outsource the project. These are all necessary first steps before selecting your Web Partner - that experienced, trusted organization that will understand your business goals and implement your project on time and within budget.

Now all you have to do is find the right Web Partner, and since they’re a dime a dozen it can be a laborious process. Here are 5 things to think about when selecting a Web partner to successfully implement your new Web presence.

1. Business Goals.

First and foremost, your organization’s business goals are most important. A common mistake is to let the technology drive your business objectives, an approach which will always lead to a dead end. Does the Web partner have an effective balance between business and technology? Ensure you communicate short-term and long-term business and Web objectives to your Web partner so they can prioritize functionality into different phases. Let’s face it - you can’t do everything at the same time.

2. Branding and Marketing.

There are two basic components to a Web site:

• the creative or branding
• the technology

You’ll need to decide if you want your Web partner to conduct your creative and branding or if that will be lead by a separate vendor. Regardless, the branding is likely the most challenging aspect of the project to get through since it is so subjective. Once the branding is complete and the Web site is live, consider whether your Web partner has the expertise to market your Web site. Ask them about micro sites, landing pages, email pages, search engine friendliness and Web analytics. These are all aspects they should have experience with.

3. Pricing and Timelines.

Your Web partner should be able to clearly communicate pricing and timelines for each phase of your project regardless of size. You should be presented with detailed specifications and documentation before any design or development begins. Additionally your partner should have a dedicated and experienced project manager with stated, guaranteed response times and a contract or professional services agreement that protects your interests.

4. Experience.

Ask questions about who the key players will be on your project, how long they have been on the team and what their experience is. Ask for client references and a portfolio of work. The Web partner should have a certified project manager leading the team and a defined project management process that they will willingly share. Additionally, ask how long the business has been around and how they are funded.

5. Request for Quotation (RFQ).

Create an official RFQ and issue it to a short-list of prospects. How do you create the short list? Conduct a geographical search within your business area to see if there are any local firms that might match your needs. Research the Web within your industry sector or geographical area and create a list of Web sites that resemble the functionality you are trying to accomplish. Contact those businesses and ask who worked on their Web site. Likewise, contact colleagues you trust to see if they have recommendations.

Launching a Web site is a significant task and there are some very qualified Web partners that can make it seem easy. Another important area to ask questions about is Web Hosting, which I will write about in my next blog post.

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