323: Website Planning for Small Businesses: Get a Clear Roadmap for What You Want, Manage Expectations and Avoid the SEO Geek-Speak with Veteran Web Professional Ben Seigel

What this episode covers

Ben Seigel is the Principal of Versa Studio, which is a web design team that specializes in diving deep into your business where you can engage deeply in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tl2Xj8fWEo In our discussion today, Ben explains what people need to know going in when hiring a web design team, how to manage expectations, as well as his thought process when managing complex web projects. He and his team can provide you anything from a multi-page website to a custom solution such as a podcast site. Quotes:                                                                                                                                    “Many design shops have great portfolios, and visuals are very important. But a portfolio doesn't really show what problems a project solved or how the process went.” – Ben Seigel “Without a solid plan, without a solid process or steps you're going to follow, you're just kind of flying by the seat of your pants.” – Ben Seigel “If you want to get a good result that aligns with your business needs, rather than just any result, you really need to dig in, find answers to the hard questions, and collaborate.” – Ben Seigel Takeaways: 01:06 Website planning requires deep collaboration, not just a cookie-cutter approach that slaps features together. 13:06 A thorough needs assessment and competitive analysis can reveal unexpected insights about market positioning and client expectations. 14:10 Understanding your business goals is more important than blindly following trendy marketing tactics like social media campaigns. 20:20 Technical skills alone aren't enough; translating complex requirements into clear client communication is crucial for successful web projects. 26:52 Clients often underestimate the time and complexity involved in creating a custom website, similar to renovating a kitchen. Resources Versa Studio (Website) Website Planning for Small Businesses (Discount Code "robertplank")