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07.24.07
Building A Site - Like Building A House
 By Brett Derricott
At Agency Fusion we're fortunate to have some really great clients. For us, a great client is one who appreciates our experience and recognizes our expertise.
We've been doing web development for years and years now (some of us since 1994) so we've definitely been around the block a few times. We recognize, however, that some would-be clients haven't yet done enough web projects to be in a position to fully understand how web development works.
This is an attempt to draw a helpful analogy for the benefit of those who'd like to better understand how websites are (or should be) built.
Additionally, this is for the benefit of those of us who build websites so that perhaps we can better explain to our clients what it is that we do and why it pays to follow a thorough process!
Websites Are Like Houses
I think building websites and building houses share some common attributes. The analogy has been helpful on many occasions when attempting to explain to a client how important it is that we understand all of their requirements fully before we can estimate or build their website.
Custom vs. Manufactured Homes
Custom homes typically cost more than manufactured homes. It's the same with websites. A custom-designed, custom-built website will generally cost more than a website built from an off-the-shelf design template.
Why does custom cost more? Simply because it's exactly what you want or need, not a pre-packaged product for the masses. It requires unique effort (like creating custom plans or blueprints) that is not easily replicated for the next customer. It requires more time and input from an actual human who has sufficient experience to design your unique solution rather than a low-level person who just works on an assembly line building the same piece over and over again.
If you're a designer, this point is at the core of what you do.
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A Lot to Build On
You'll need to purchase a lot or a tract of ground before you can build a custom home. Likewise, on the Web you'll need a domain name (the address of the website) and a hosting server (the physical location where your website files will reside) in order to make your website available for the world to visit.
Unlike in real estate there aren't necessarily good or bad areas in which to purchase your "lot." You do want a good, memorable domain name and it is certainly worthwhile to find a hosting provider that is reliable.
Blueprints from the Architect
To build a great house you need to have great blueprints. An architect's job is to understand what it is you want in a house and to create plans for the builders to follow. This makes sure you get what you want and that you know how much it will cost when it's done.
An architect needs a lot of information from you before he or she can create accurate blueprints. It isn't enough to say, "I want a house with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms."
Likewise, getting an accurate assessment of the costs and timeline for building a website requires more than a brief description like, "I want a website that will allow me to sell my products."
Many people undervalue the step of documenting a website's requirements, though. Like a custom home, a website will be better constructed if a set of plans is followed.
An "information architect" is often used on larger website projects whereas the designer and/or developer will often serve as the architect on smaller projects. The important thing is that someone fill this role.
Continue reading this article.
About the Author:
Brett Derricott is the founder and CEO of Agency Fusion, a web development company with a sweet content management system.
Brett blogs about technology at Agency Byte.
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