HoneyBadger’s web developers are fortunate to be responsible for hundreds of website builds and rebuilds. 

Launching a new website or enhancing an existing site can - and should - go like clockwork. However, the reality is that it can go terribly wrong unless everyone understands thorough briefing and project plans. 

Catastrophically, even. 

We follow a well-oiled procedure that mitigates catastrophes and makes the building journey as smooth and efficient as possible. This approach did not happen overnight. It came with understanding our mistakes in those early days and working to find improvements. So, what have we learnt over time, and what mechanisms have we implemented to deliver clockwork precision? Here we cover key take-home points, such as:

• Integrating best point-of-sale systems 
• Avoiding website gimmicks 
• Working through eCommerce shipping details 
• Ensuring the site is mobile responsive 
• Maintaining clear and open communication pathways between all team members 
• Knowing when to start from scratch rather than try to fix 
• How our team works 

Discover more details below, or better yet, contact us and see how we can help with your website development!

Let’s say you’re moving your eCommerce store to Shopify, but you currently run an independent point-of-sale. If you keep all your inventory with the incumbent point-of-sale system, you will compromise your back-end operations. Essential features such as credit card readers might not be compatible, and assuming otherwise could be costly. 

Start how you want to finish and partner with a point-of-sale finance service that will work for your website. Don’t try to retrofit the old with the new.  Yes, this requires an initial outlay, including the time to manage a transition. However, the returns will be worth it. You will not only maximise the benefits provided by the platform, but this will no doubt open the door to a whole new world of inventory management opportunities. 

Besides, surely it’s time for a stocktake and clean up, right?!

It’s tempting, we know. We come across plenty daily, and you can feel like a kid in a sweet shop. However, don’t fall for every gimmick. More often than not, they can slow down and compromise your site performance. 

As our team leader says, it’s like asking a Formula One car to tow a caravan and still expecting it to come first in a race. Not going to happen. Sure, our team can probably code it in - but is it really worth it? Wouldn’t you prefer to be travelling down the highway in a flashy car rather than a campervan?

It seems innocuous, but underestimating the complexity of your eCommerce shipping software integration can be crippling. This has to be one of the most complex steps in any build, and if the planning isn’t done beforehand, things can go badly for the user. 

If you’re selling worldwide, it’s one thing to price dispatch from A to C. But what if you’re drop shipping and B can send to C instead? How does this affect the price? Does someone purchasing 10 miles down the road pay the same as someone purchasing from 100 miles away? Are import taxes involved? Will delivery be free after the buyer spends a certain amount? 

The best eCommerce domestic and international shipping solutions come from resolving questions such as these. 

The variables can be head-spinning, and it’s crucial you, the client, map out every possible scenario before construction commences.

If you want to know how to launch a website successfully, ensure you have a mobile-friendly website. It’s easy to fall into the trap of reviewing your site on PC - it’s your work, after all. But in most B2C business model cases, customers visit you from mobile. So you need to review first and foremost on mobile and then on PC. In doing so, your site will be an optimal customer experience on any device.

Here’s the clincher. As is the case with everything in life - truly everything! - it all comes down to communication. When everyone’s on the same page, things come more easily. Projects run smoothly, and websites are no exception! 

Establishing a joint task team with at least the client, account manager, and Dev representative maintains communication and understanding, helps avoid assumptions and oversights, and keeps this train tracking on rails and running on time.

Don’t pour good money after bad, and don’t try to fix a broken bone with sticky tape. If audit and performance reports indicate your site requires substantial work to even make small progress, start again. It sounds aggressive and dramatic. However, performing technical First Aid may stop your site from flat-lining, but it won’t help it do much more. It will probably take as much time and budget as a build-from-scratch. The answer is clear.

So, how do our designers and developers approach a build?

1

Step one 

We ask for a formal brief and when that is not available, we conduct a call and develop a reverse brief. The devil is not in the detail here - as far as we are concerned, the more fastidious and forensic the brief, the better.

2

Step two 

We establish a call between a Dev representative, the Account Manager and the client. This is a chance to review the brief, troubleshoot misunderstandings and ensure everyone is clear. As mentioned earlier, it’s the very first of a series of ongoing collaborative meetings. 

Importantly, this is not a one-way street. The client can ask as many questions as possible and contribute new, post-brief ideas and thoughts.

3

Step three 

HoneyBadger initiates a technical audit to understand what will and will not work during the integration/update stage. We present our findings to the client and devise a plan - how to solve the problems, where we might pivot to avoid them in the first place, etc.

4

Stage four 

Everyone is clear on what needs to be done to make this a success. Now HoneyBadger works on a plan and an estimated timeline. We table this with the client, seek final approval, and off we go. Those ongoing meetings remain, but otherwise, it’s heads-down for us as we get to work building an alpha site!

We hope this has given you some food for thought about how to launch a website. If this all seems overwhelming and you don’t know where to start, contact our website development team. We can catch up for a no-cost, no-obligation call to see if we’re the right fit for one another.