Immerge Technologies Blog

Meeting with your PM - Part 1: Company Branding & Identity

Starting a new project or business relationship can sometimes come with a learning curve, particularly if you are unfamiliar with a particular industry. I will often have clients who have very little experience with online technologies, but know they want to be a part of this thing called Web. To help remedy this situation, I try to put the client at ease by educating them about the process. As such, I thought it might be helpful to write about it here, should you find yourself in the same boat.

After Signing

After signing your contract, you will meet the illustrious individual who will guide you through the process of your Web site’s creation, your project manager. They will be your main point of contact and will delegate your needs and contract requirements to the development team.

The first thing a project manager will do is meet with you to determine the specifics of your site needs and preferences. If possible, it is always best to meet in person, as this will give everyone a chance to become acquainted and discuss all of the details face-to-face. This not only leads to a better working relationship and project outcome, but also helps to reduce confusion and streamline the process along the way.

During the first meeting, you will review your contract, talk about needs for your site and go over any questions you may have about site functionality and the design process.

Identity and Branding

As we all know, first impressions are perhaps the most important part of any relationship and set the tone for future interactions. A bad first impression could lead to difficulties down the road or even the end of the connection, but a good first impression can lead to a very positive, continued relationship. Web sites are the same way.

For potential clients or customers, particularly those outside of your immediate locality, your Web site often represents the first image they will see of your company. As such, your Web site should put your best foot forward by presenting your professional brand and explaining your services in an approachable and well-organized manner.

Company Image

Before meeting with your PM, ask yourself the following questions. While it may seem that the answers to some of these should be obvious, it is important for the PM and the designer to hear how you view your business and the ways in which you would like others to perceive what you do.

• What does your company do? What services does it provide and to whom?
• What are your company’s mission and values? Why are these things important to your professional image?
• What is the current image of your company? Do you want to keep this image? If not, how would you like it to change?
• What is the main goal you want your new Web site to accomplish? Why do you want people to visit it and what features do you want them to find when they get there?
• What is unique about your company? Why should potential clients choose your company over the competition?

Spend some time considering these questions and be prepared to share your answers, as having a clearer understanding of your branding will significantly improve a designer’s ability to represent who you are and where you are going through the Web site design.

In my next post, I’ll discuss how you can prepare for the conversation with your PM and designer about your site design and layout preferences.

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