<\/span>7 Tips for Communicating What You Want to Developers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>1) Know What You Want<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
$\"Communicating$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Before you even think about approaching a developer to help you with your project, it\u2019s vital you have a clear idea of what you want. We\u2019re not just talking about the big picture here. You need to have\u00a0the finer details and small print that describe and define your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be prepared to clearly document your objectives and create detailed instructions and guidelines anyone can follow to get the job done. Imagine that you were suddenly removed from the job, could your team finish the project?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the project, this documentation might include a style guide, mock-ups, and\/or flowcharts. If you don\u2019t know exactly what you want, there\u2019s little chance even the best developer will deliver something you\u2019re happy with. Time spent up front hammering out the details is never time wasted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The less you assume and the more you document, the smoother the project runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>2) Do Your Research<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So you need some customized programming for your existing website. What program language will your developer need to be proficient in? If you want to hire a developer to add a members-only section to your WordPress website, what plugin should they use? These are the types of questions you\u2019ll want to ask yourself\u00a0before you approach a developer about your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t need to have all<\/em> the answers; after all, you\u2019re hiring a developer for their expertise. However, doing a bit of research on what you hope to achieve and how the project can be completed\u00a0makes\u00a0it easier to find someone with the right skills and to ensure the work is completed in the way that you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just remember not to go too far the other way and try to bluff your way through conversations. Be comfortable with exposing your ignorance. You\u2019re the expert at\u00a0what you do, and the developer is the expert at\u00a0what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>3) Choose Your Tools and Methodologies<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n $\"Communicating$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Managing a project through email may have been a viable option in the past, but times have changed. Using your inbox as a check-off list isn\u2019t the most productive way to get things done. There are now countless powerful, free tools like Slack and Trello that make managing a project and communicating with your team much more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you get started, spend a bit of time deciding how your team will communicate and what, if any, methodology you\u2019ll be following, from David Allen\u2019s Getting Things Done<\/em> (GTD) or a structured approach to project management like PRINCE2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t forget to define a communication schedule to let your developer know what to expect. Include the turnaround time you expect for communications and what format you\u2019d like reports to be in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4) Don\u2019t Be Afraid to Ask Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re not sure why your developer has done something in a certain way, ask. Again, there\u2019s no need to try to hide your lack of knowledge, so don\u2019t be afraid to respectfully question their decisions \u2013 within reason of course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your developer can\u2019t give an adequate answer for something\u00a0they\u2019re proposing or something they\u2019ve done, they might not be the right person for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>5) Stick to Your Guns<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Often the reason you\u2019re hiring a developer is because they can do something you can\u2019t or have a higher level of expertise in the field they\u2019re working in. However, this doesn\u2019t mean you should let them talk you into changing your mind or adjusting your project to suit their needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good developer should be trusted to use their expertise to get the job done in the way they think best, but remember, it\u2019s your project and your vision they\u2019re working to realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>6) Give Useful Feedback<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned, your project plan should include ongoing communication with frequent updates from your developer. This ensures your project stays on track and that you don\u2019t find yourself with something totally different than what you initially expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make the most of regular updates, be sure to provide useful feedback to your developer. If you don\u2019t like something, let them know why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more frustrating than being told something is wrong and not knowing why. And demoralizing your developer is not the way to get what you want. Make sure your feedback is meaningful and actionable at all times\u2014even when you\u2019re happy with the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7) Don\u2019t Burn Your Bridges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As you never know when you might need to work together again, it\u2019s vital that you keep on good terms with your developer as the project is wrapping up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost all software will need updating and improving over time, so make sure you keep to your end of the deal after the project is signed off \u2013 whether that\u2019s settling the invoice on time, leaving feedback on a freelancer website, or writing a testimonial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While you may be lucky enough to find a developer<\/a> who understands your vision from the outset, most of the time that\u2019s not the case. We hope these seven tips will help you communicate more efficiently with your developer. Clearly defining your vision, explaining your requirements up front, and providing your developer with helpful feedback are all key to ensuring the project meets your expectations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What concerns do you have about working with a developer? Have you run into problems in the past? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you liked this article, be sure to follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and LinkedIn<\/a>! And don\u2019t forget to subscribe in the box<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nowadays you can create almost any type of website using off-the-shelf software and tools, such as WordPress and its library of themes and plugins, sometimes a project demands customization or even a purpose built solution. More often than not, the best way to complete such a project is to work with a developer. Hiring or [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2122,"featured_media":15107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_strive_editorial_status":"not-started","_strive_copy_of":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"content-sidebar","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_strive_checklists":"\"\"","_strive_active_checklist":"62291e2bb2422","_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69,134],"tags":[297,300,25],"class_list":{"0":"post-12310","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-advice","8":"category-how-to-2","9":"tag-developer","10":"tag-website-resources","11":"tag-wordpress","12":"entry"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t