Many of our clients, especially our law firm clients, form Website Committees to assist their marketing department or firm administrator with important website decisions. But what is really required of a Website Committee Member? What does it take to do that job well? Here’s our list of qualifications, preparation, and requirements:
Qualifications:
- Enthusiastic: Committee members should be excited about the new website and be the cheerleaders for the project around the office.
- Open-minded: Decision-by-committee always means some degree of compromise. State your opinions but be willing to modify them based on the research presented and group consensus.
- Good listener: Clockwork or your agency will explain why some design ideas or functionality may or may not be advisable. Ask questions and take notes.
- Reliable: Smooth website projects depend on adherence to schedules. Make sure you respond to questions or action items on or before the due dates established.
- Web knowledge: A basic understanding of modern website terminology is helpful, but not required. If you use the web on a daily basis, that should suffice.
Preparation:
- Be familiar with your current website: What about it do you feel needs to change? Why? What, if anything, do you think should remain the same?
- Spend some time looking at competitor websites: How do they outperform yours (if they do)?
- Make a list: What websites outside of your industry do you really like? They can appeal to you for their design, messaging, functionality, etc.
Time Requirements:
- Selection meetings: You may be asked to review proposals and interview agencies prior to the official project start (varies by firm).
- Agency meetings: Attendance at 2-4 website meetings with your website agency, each lasting 1-2 hours or so, is usually necessary.
- Survey/Interview time: Your agency may ask you for 20-30 minutes to answer a questionnaire and/or be interviewed about the firm.
- Feedback time: About 1-3 hours to review designs and provide feedback (via email).
- Writing time: Sometimes, committee members are asked to help with writing or editing content for the website. This varies by firm.
- Beta review: Occasionally, committee members are asked to review and proofread the beta site (or a section of the beta site, depending on the site size) before go-live.
In total, website committee members typically invest, on average, about 8-20 hours of time across the span of the entire project. If writing or editing time is also required, that can increase significantly.
About The Author
