You need a change, you need control of your website. Maybe you have depended on a webmaster or an internal employee with some web skills to make updates to your website, but it no longer is the right method. You want things to happen quicker, you want to enhance your content and functionality and you’ve heard it can be done without knowing all that HTML stuff. You want a content management system and you’ve heard right, it can be easy.

Five uses a content management system called the Site Management Console (SMC), developed by our parent company, Intrcomm.

In simple terms it allows your organization to fully control your website, without web skills … add pages, edit text, photos, create online forms and more. On the complex side of things it can handle just about anything you throw at it from e-commerce to user accounts to database integration.

We usually integrate our SMC tool when we are doing a new web design or a website redesign, but sometimes we will just integrate an existing website design into the SMC. Below is an example of a basic conversion to our content management tool we just did this week.

Content Management System Integration Example
National Wall, a concrete wall systems company, had contracted another firm to build their first website just last year, but they soon needed control to update the site with more information. In reviewing their website, we could see they had more areas for improvement, but getting them control was first and foremost.

National Wall’s SMC enabled website has only been up for two days, but in that time they have already:

• Edited content on their existing pages
• Added a Contact Us form
• Added the KonCote product page
• Added PDF documents for download
• Updated their News & Events page
• Uploaded new logos and project photos

Below is a screenshot of the SMC console for editing basic page content. As you may notice, it’s similar to creating or editing a Word document.

During the SMC conversion process we also corrected some of the site’s structure and usability issues making it a little more attractive to the search engines as well as users. There is still work to be done down the road on the interface design and SEO, but it’s much better off today then last week. If you have the need for control of your website, drop us a comment, a contact form or call us.

I thought I would share with you a simple overview of some of the tools I use when presenting a web design proposal to a client. While each situation can involve much more complex communication, examples and conversation … these basics are pillars of my presentation. Also consider in 90% of cases I am presenting in person and when at all possible in our office. In the case of national clients, I will jet to see them depending on the budget and scope. Personal interaction is still king for me.

The goal is to build the clearest picture possible of what I have recommended for their website based on their needs and communication. A discovery meeting or information exchange has taken place prior to this presentation meeting. I’m presenting a fixed cost web proposal … I better have done my homework!

Written Proposal
You can easily get by on just this, but in any case you must have this. Do people crazy people, do work via verbal anymore? Yikes. Over the years my web design proposals have increased in pages and details as I have learned a lot from each time I present (Still do!). Most website proposals now are 11 pages and follow the following outline:

1. Cover page - a bit of design, contact info and personalized to the client (make an impression)
2. Intro letter - a general welcome and introduction with 3 to 5 major overview points
3. Components - overview of our SMC content management tool and stat tools (non man hour items)
4. Scope Hours - breakdown of time and inclusions for services like design, programming, seo, content, etc.
5. Scope Solution - outline of website functionalities and SMC plug-ins, what can the site do! (front & back)
6. Page Structure - outline of recommended page structure, nav type/locations and page names
7. Managed Services & Timeline - hosting specs, support, back-up and predicted project completion timeline
8. Solution Pricing - outline of each service type in line items; design hours, programming hours, seo hours, etc.
9. Terms & Conditions - payment schedule, training inclusions, limitations of scope/project, client requirements
10. Relationship - Project process and expectaitons, managed service inclusions, support process
11. References - We usually highlight 3 to 5 projects we have completed and a few notes on their inclusions

It’s pretty detailed and clients always appreciate that. Walking them through it all builds clarity on both sides which creates happiness.

Presentation Screen
Anything 26″ and bigger works for me. We use a 32 inch LCD. Crowding around a laptop is not a great way to showcase/demo the great things you have done for past projects. Give your work a bigger stage and let them see the details clearly. This large screen allows me to easily demo our content management tool (SMC), show our design capabilities and demo similar or exact functionalities to what we are recommending and discussing. Showing examples on top of your documentation or within builds a complete and accurate picture.

Whiteboard
Don’t you just love the smell of markers in the morning? Sorry … Anyway, sketching out possible layouts and user paths is most common for me. You can see your clients “get it” whith this tool and sometimes they even grab the marker and show you a thing or two. I often wish I had a collapsible whiteboard in my pocket for when I get hit up in random Q & A situations. Whiteboards rock.

Laptop
While I never try to use this as my presentation screen, there are handy documents, graphs, reports and other examples within a click or two on my laptop. Especially with SEO, I like to be able to show them ranking reports, factors and other data to support what I am recommending.

Thanks to the hundreds of clients I have presented to over the years. You all have taught me something and the biggest thing is that I really enjoy teaching you what I know. Does anyone have any tools or ideas to add?

Five landed some great new web design projects in March and we are currently designing and programming our little hearts out. I will be sharing more on each project as it launches but here are a few little layout snippets from a couple of them to keep you satisfied.

Many of the small business owners and managers I talk with in the past few months are looking to apply more focus to their website and how they can better serve customers online. Most have had a website for at least a few years, some have had success with it as a lead generation tool and others admit they just created something to get it “out there” and have given it little attention. The theme with almost all of them is that with the economy getting tighter, they want to spend their money on efficiency and client retention tools, that means investing in their website. For many of them, web development to add further features to their website is the answer.

Efficiency is a good call and is something we all strive for. Take a look at your business process and start to brainstorm on what activities you could move to your website to ease the workload on your staff or yourself. Some of these website features might include:

• Service or support requests and follow-up notes (we offer web support online)
• Past quotes: easily store, search, review and compare quotes (both client and admin)
• Process tracking: what step is the order or service at, where is a shipment?

Keeping your current and valuable customers happy is a top priority. Everyone knows the cost to acquire a client is much higher then the cost to keep one. Almost any business can find ways to make interacting with clients easier and more beneficial to the client. A few online communication and website functionalities to help keep your clients are:

• Use email newsletters to stay in front of them or send special offers
• Allow online ordering, e-commerce or service request features
• Create the ability for clients to submit suggestions or take surveys (be smart: reward your survey takers!)

These were just a few ideas to get you thinking on what functionalities and capabilities you can develop for your website to increase efficiency and customer retention. All of these functions above can be created to operate in a username and password environment. Your customers can log-in to special sections giving you the ability to personalize their experience and them confidence in your dedication to great service.