web content and CMS
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- SigDesign
How many of you have had this problem...
You've designed a site, and incorporated it into a CMS for people, and nobody has the content together. So, it begs the question... how can the design be good when you don't know for what content you're designing?
In the past, whenever I was designing for clients, whether it was a print or web project, they had no problem telling me what they wanted, and giving me all the information to include.
But, I've been getting this problem a lot lately... perhaps it's just bad clients? Or maybe in the future, I should put together a thorough questionnaire, and not start designing anything until all content is ready.
It just seems like everyone wants a website, but not many people know what to do with it when they get it...
- brandelec0
yes, happens a lot
really just a lack of preparation and structure from the client. i usually try to get around this by putting in as much of dummy content as i see needed. seems to be easier to start shaving things off once the client is on the same page. still a pain in the ass, but it's their money, and if its extra work, its extra $
- mimeartist_com0
I often get problem... but usually it is where they say they are going to have loads of content, but then can't come up with anything, so they are big holes... however I alway program stuff now so that things adjust to content, so it is flexible for both too little and too much... takes a little longer, but worth it in the long run.
- mimeartist_com0
If they have a site that exists already, I often take all that and put it in, as they seem to be able to equate to content they 'hopefully' understand
- SigDesign0
mimeartist, I know what you mean... I have been trying to make things flexible, and, it's pretty funny... the more flexibility I gave people for headlines in news items, the longer the headlines became... until with the RSS, where I could use 4 items before, it has become 2...haha... it's really remarkable...
- rocknonstop0
They'll get over the greek text. If you need FPO image content, use puppies. Designs with puppies get client approval.
- nocomply0
I have this problem ALL the time. It is not unique.
I have determined that the root of the problem is easy to trace:
NO ONE WANTS TO DO ANY FUCKING WORK!
It's simple... As soon as the client realizes that they need to actually get of their ass and write some content, they shrink back in horror, run away from the project, and do not return for a period of 3-6 months.
One solution is to demand all content up front, but I have found that generally deters potential business.
So what I do is require a bare-bones sitemap of all pages to be included before I start, and make sure to receive a significant down-payment up front. At least that way I can get a gauge on how much content I will be filling in 6 months down the road.
But in all seriousness... I try to explain to my client when we first meet that a website requires work on their part as well as on mine, and that a delay on their part can and will delay the entire project.
- mimeartist_com0
yep make sure you get the 25% up front
- BattleAxe0
i created a content request document just a pdf , like you said a questionnaire with basic starter content like mission statement, about us kind of stuff. 60% of the time it works, every time.
- nocomply0
would you mind sharing that PDF battleaxe?
Might be something that can help us out.
- SigDesign0
Yeah, I'd like to see what other people are asking... there should be a format for all this developed somewhere. Thanks!
- Anders0
It's completely useless designing a site a client that doesn't know exactly how and what they are using the site for. I think webdesign has a lot to do with designing the content, rather than the technology used for it. 'We want it in flash', 'We want a site like this' etc.
Some of the best websites are super-simple, but the content is put in all the right boxes, which makes the message/content original and clear.
My approach to webdesign, when dealing with a client, is to demand that they think again about what they really want to tell and how that can be communicated in new and original ways.
Pen and paper. It saves so much time when it comes to the actual development.
- SigDesign0
For the past 7 months, I've been designing for a university, and from a user standpoint, I would just like ONE site for everything, and departments can have small sites within, but nothing too complicated.
It turned out being much more complicated, with most departments wanting something completely different, yet not knowing anything about technology. So, now I'm moving on to a job where I'll be working on only one site. In the future I'm definitely going to ask tons of questions up front before diving into the design...
- Anders0
In case the content cannot be made before the design of the site —which is really illogical, but not rare — at least the concept of the actual making of content should be as clear as possible.
It's funny(?) how we all talked about the possibilities of interactivity online, when everything was hyperlinks and not so flashy. Nowadays, there's still just a 'mailto:' on most sites, unless they've gone all web 2.0 and you can star or comment every useless pixel.
I think it's still too difficult for the average person to make interesting websites without being into a range of different technologies that has to be hardcoded or hacked to work in all browsers or be google-friendly.
IMO; The internet should be more quotable, easier to link directly to off-site content in a seamless way. There's too much 'going-out-the-door' with sites linking to each other.
Maybe the iframe or modal windows combined with the simplicity of sites like ffffound could help this?