Financial Times

Of clients and web developers
By Nilooka Dissanayake
Sri Lanka has a multitude of ‘web developers.’ Before we decided to explore possibilities of a website for the Athwela Business Journal, we were approached by 11 parties, who quoted between Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 350,000 to make up a web for us. And that made me curious to see how there could be such a wide range of pricing. Obviously, the man who quoted Rs. 3,500 must have had a very different idea from the company that quoted Rs. 350,000. That was how, from being a mere Internet user for email, educational and fun activities, I ventured into exploring possibilities for businesses on the Internet. That is how I began climbing the eLadder.

I am still climbing. From where www.smallbusiness.lk is today, it is a long way before we reach the stages discussed in last week’s article. However, what matters is that I get results that I wanted out of the web. And that is because it is useful to my readers/visitors. And more and more visitors are coming into the site every day.

How do most of your clients approach you? I have been putting this question to many web developers, big and small. Often, with the smaller, one-person web developing operation, it is the developer who approaches the client. Often, the client is not at all convinced of the need for a web for his business.

On the other hand, there are established developers who will have clients approach them in response to an online advertisement or with a reference from a previous client, or some known party.

According to Suren Kannangara of Affno, some clients approach the whole idea of a new website very much in the traditional way companies ask advertising agencies for a pitch. “You get a call with a request to come and make a presentation; and to have a prototype web ready for the demonstration. Sometimes you get just a few days notice.”

According to Suren, this is not how he sees the beginning of an ideal relationship. Any web developer worth his salt, he feels, will want to get a feel for the client, his business, his needs and his expectations from the proposed website. “It is like asking an interior decorator to do up your house for you, without telling her what your tastes are,” he says. “We prefer to know about the client before we make our proposal. We insist on meeting the top people and those who should have a say, and stand to gain from the web.”

And if the client still wishes to go the readymade route? “We decline the proposal.” “Sometimes we are in a position to know more about how the client can benefit from the web than the client himself,” says my web developer, Niranjan Meegammana of eFusion. He gets completely and passionately involved with web projects that interest him. Such passion certainly leads to a lot of benefits for the client; while at the same time leading to major arguments and clashes, if the client happens to be like me and know their two cents worth. However, such enthusiasm will never go waste.

And you should be wary of people who will promise to put together your web using standard templates and give no thought to the specifics of your business. Your web developer should not merely be your tailor and deliver exactly what you order, even if you know clearly what you wanted. He should also be your designer and your image consultant. He should be in a position to tell you what is right and wrong for you; your business; and how these match with your business strategies, over all.
When choosing a web developer, take someone with brains. A company or even an individual that shows the desire to learn about your business, to meet the people. Someone who is willing to spend time (which is money to them) on your company to deliver a good product for you. As a client, it is best to look on your web developer in a long term perspective. Webs are not just there to put up and forget.

They are like separate businesses, like buildings. They need constant maintenance, monitoring, management attention if they are to perform well and training to keep things up to date and smoothly functioning.
Dear readers, please keep your questions flowing in. Sri Lanka will remain at the bottom rungs of the eLadder unless we all pitch in and get going. You can contact us on ft@sundaytimes.wnl.lk.

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