Top Ten Things to Make Your IT Experience Better

Today, we share our top 10 suggestions for making your IT, and more specifically Web Design and Development, experience easier for all parties involved.

1. Communicate - Communicate with your IT people. When they ask for something, don't hesitate in giving it to them. There is a reason behind asking, and it will only speed things up if you follow up. Don't be afraid to tell someone when you like something or don't like it. It will save time, and money.
2. Trust - When a client is told something, there is a reason for it. Trust that your IT Rep is telling you something that is more or less "life or death" of the project. They won't tell you something you don't need to know.
3. Be active in the development and design - Don't hesitate to be active, or even overly-active, in the design and development. As creative members, we are always looking for another set of eyes to suggest something. We are perfectionists, but not perfect. Let us know your thoughts.
4. Respect - Respect what your IT Rep is telling you. Again, they aren't going to lie to you, and as a "Subject Matter Specialist", they probably have more insight into the situation, standards, and methods than you may think of.
5. Don't Assume - Don't think that because we are creative, we know exactly what you are thinking. We all know what assuming does, so let's just stay away from it. Be open and honest about what you're thinking, instead of speaking in an encrypted manner.
6. Listen to Recommendations - This goes along with the respect. There are going to be things that you may want that may not be following the standards set forth by the governing body of the internet. Or, they just may be bad ideas, such as putting background music on a website that has nothing to do with music.
7. Be Open to Suggestions - This goes along with #6 and #4. We're going to make suggestions, not orders, of something that may be better based on the situation. Odds are, there is a reason.
8. Be Prepared - For anything, including setbacks, cost increases, and site defects. It is a work of art, and needs to be perfected.
9. Support rather than blame - Your IT Rep needs support, too. And it's easier for him/her to get his/her job done if you help, rather than point fingers. It's hard enough to be able to know exactly what the client wants without being directly in their head. If we're wrong, just tell us.
10. Do your homework - Know what you want, content you want, features you want, everything, before we start. It's easier if you're homework is done before class rather than during. It will speed the project up exponentially.