Getting what you need.
BEFORE APPROACHING ANYONE
Know what the site is for and what you want visitors to do Have your content, or know who is writing it Know your budget, including ongoing costs
WHAT TO ASK
What is included, specifically Who writes the content Who provides images How many revision rounds
What happens after launch: who maintains it
Who owns the site and the domain What ongoing costs there are
THE TWO THAT CAUSE DISPUTES
Content. Most projects stall because content was not ready and nobody agreed who was producing it.
Ownership. Your domain should be registered in your name, and you should hold the hosting account or have full access to it.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
Your content, or the budget for someone to write it Images, or the budget for photography Timely feedback, which is the other common cause of delay
AFTER LAUNCH
Establish who updates the site, who applies updates, and what that costs.
THE WARNING SIGN
Anyone unwilling to explain what you will own.
