How to describe what you want
It's not necessary for you to describe the programming to be done, or how the project requirements will be served. The development team will resolve the steps to be taken. But you do need to describe what you want from your point of view. Describe your vision, and the outcome you expect in detail.
Here are some steps to help you request an estimate
1. Create a title for your project
2. Be as specific as you can when describing the service you need. Use examples where appropriate and provide a detailed description of the work you need done.
If you want a copy project, include the steps you want your visitor/prospect to follow and the out come you want so we can make sure, you get the copy you expect.
If the project involves navigation on the web site, also define how you want the visitor to be able to move from link to link, or page to page.
3. Specify a realistic budget range that you can afford to invest in for the project in order to provide insight on the level of work to be done.
4. Indicate a realistic timeframe in which you need the project completed.
5. Allow sufficient time for the project to be evaluated and for a solution to be formed, so that a realistic proposal can be submitted to you. Estimates submitted too quickly usually didn't include a thorough investigation of what needs to be done, and too often, do not return the desired outcome.
6. Once you receive the proposal, ask questions to insure you understand what will be done.
7. Make modifications to the scope of the project before you approve the project and finalize the investment.
8. Be prepared to approve the proposal timely so your needs are taken seriously. Service providers consider requests that are not ordered as a frivolous waste of time and often will stop providing estimates to people who don't follow through.
9. Be prepared for additional costs and/or time delays for change orders you request after the project is underway.
10. Keep in mind that an estimate is usually a guesstimate as to the number of hours needed to complete the project > more hours (and funding) may be needed due to unknown factors. A quote is usually a fixed investment based on your exact specifications. The proposal you receive should state whether your price is an estimate or a fixed quote.
Tip: When analyzing your proposal, consider that a general description may not result in specifics you want if those specifics were not itemized in writing. The proposal presented to you should include each and every point that you described.
Think of your request-for-work as a checklist. You need the checklist when the project is complete so you can verify that everything you had on your list was completed satisfactorily as you defined, and as the service provider promised. Ambiguities cause problems. Be specific.
>>> Once you are confident that you know what you want an estimate on, open a ticket and submit your specifications. Most requests for estimates are returned within 24-48 hours.
DM Creative Services will review your request and help you re-word or define it to include the features you intended as long as these features can be logically deduced from the information you submit. |
