Commissioners Checklist
A Practical Guide to working in the interactive media industry
This checklist is designed to help commissioners and interactive media producers build strong working relationships – saving everyone time and money!
WRITING THE BRIEF
When writing a brief it is essential that you have a very clear idea of what you want and what you expect it to achieve. This is worth spending time on as it will help you choose a supplier more effectively and most will expect to see the following information:
- Who you are and what you do
What you want the web presence to achieve.
Who is this site for? And how do you want them to use it.
What you want it to do and to look like?
What is the context – do you have other sites already? Will you be creating the content and images for this site? Do you have or do you need technical support or management?
It is also always useful to provide details about sites that are similar to what you want to achieve. This research may also help to find a company that you can work with as they are already producing what you want to create.
When preparing the brief make sure you include the team that will be involved in the website once it is up and running.
Once you are happy with the brief you will need to release it in line with your normal procurement/tendering procedures to a range of companies. Stating clearly what information you want them to provide as part of the pitch and by when.
FINDING A SUPPLIER
This may seem obvious but finding a supplier who can deliver what you want means you are more likely to get the job done! But to do this you have to be clear about what you need:
- Technical: know how you want the site hosted and if you plan to use your own server check that they have created a site in the same hardware and software environment before?
Content: Have they worked in your sector or with your type of organisation before? Although most good companies can learn fast about a new sector be prepared to resource this learning both through time and money.
If you are planning regional or international versions of the site you need to know if your suppliers have translation facilities available to them.
Design: Have they addressed the appropriate standards of accessibility before? Double check any issues of compliance or accessibility here so that they do not need to be added at a later date.
As with any selection process it is worthwhile preceding the interview with research into the short listed companies.
- Check the sites they have quoted as references and look at their own site.
- Speak to their references about project delivery – were the outcomes as expected? Was it on time/budget? Were the suppliers supportive to the client's staff?
- Investigate the business status of suppliers – check their most recent business plan and published accounts.
At some point during the interview, make sure you are clear about the staff available for this project. Check that the supplier has sufficient skilled staff available to deliver the whole contract within your timescale, even if someone leaves. Make sure you will be operating in the same way – the successful supplier will need a named contact at your company and a clear indication of who's who in the project team.
Once you have found your supplier you are ready to agree a contract.
COMPLETING AND MAINTAINING THE SITE
Here are some pointers to ensure the quality and longevity of your site:
- Before you launch the site ensure that it is published to a private web address for you to review and amend.
- Think ahead so that your project is built capable of change and it doesn't become out of date too soon.
- After a period of operation, make sure you review your site against your original aims and make sure it is still relevant to your audience.