3 Keys to Effective Web Project Management

1) Start with measurable value not technology trends

Too often, we see projects - or clients - who want to begin the conversation about the project at the toolbox. Facebook applications, wireless integration and photoblogs are all good things but lists of 'required' tools detached from a clear understanding of how they will contribute value to the organization can lead to trouble.

Where possible, focus on clear, measurable objectives which provide tangible value:

+ create new channel for pre-qualifying 250 new sales leads/month

+ provide customers with new product information e-mail newsletter reducing direct mail budget by $75,000

+ create enhanced donation options increasing annual contributions by 30%

Trust me, the WebDriven team *loves* playing around with the latest tools and technologies. We like to experiment and we have projects in the lab as I type this to assess how best to leverage these technologies with our clients.

But at the end of the day, a web project should be an investment in creating something that is not only innovative, but is a meaningful asset for the organization as well.

2) Make it Your Plan to Plan

Yeah, we know the "fail to plan or plan to fail" line is a tad cliche, but good planning is absolutely essential to a successful web project. And we confess it's hardly as exciting as looking at nifty design concepts (oooh!) or cool Flash applications (aaaah!).

Still, taking the time to fully understand the project from all angles while establishing good communications between client and vendor helps avoid many of the pitfalls. Help your project shine by ensuring your vendor has a well-defined process for each aspect of the project and here are a few questions to help you assess their approach during the RFP process:

+ Can you provide an overview of your process? What are the key components?

+ What do you see as our (Client) role in the project? What are some guidelines for us to keep in mind?

+ How long do you think the planning aspect of the process will take, based on prior experience?

+ Do you employ any intake tools such as creative briefs or questionnaires? Why or why not?

3) Talk early and often

While this seems obvious, it doesn't happen nearly enough. Regular communication throughout all phases of the project helps the final product stay on target and on budget -- with the side benefit of developing a sense of trust and rapport.

If possible, vary the type of communication. Email is indispensible in many ways but falls short sometimes in accurately conveying sentiment or visual details. Web-enabled conference calls (like WebEx, etc.) are better and face-to-face meetings several times throughout the project help minimize miscommunication and -- hopefully, help build collegiality and a foundation for partnership.

So, make your next project shine. We know that not every project - or client or vendor - fits neatly into an 'ideal' process. Still by following these steps we think you'll stand a better chance for success by not hobbling your project with poor goal-setting, planning or communication.