Managing expectations.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH IN WRITING
What is being built What is not What the client provides, and when The timeline, and what it depends on The cost, and what changes it Who owns what at the end
WHAT USUALLY DELAYS PROJECTS
Content, supplied late.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
Request it early, with a deadline, and state the consequence of delay.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT OWNERSHIP
That the domain and hosting are in the client's name from the start.
WHY
It is their business, and disputes over access are damaging for everyone.
WHAT TO AGREE ABOUT CHANGES
That changes outside the agreed scope are quoted separately.
WHAT TO DO THE FIRST TIME ONE ARISES
Name it, and quote it.
WHY
The first unbilled addition establishes that additions are free.
WHAT TO PROVIDE THROUGHOUT
Regular updates, even when there is nothing to report.
WHAT TO AGREE ABOUT AFTERWARDS
Who maintains it, and what that includes.
WHY
The default is that nobody does.
