Content Collaboration for Webmasters

Some say that too many cooks in the kitchen can spoil the soup, but Chris Spada of SixRevisions.com says the more the merrier; collaboration can work wonders for re-working a website or launching a new site design. When it comes to building a stellar site, combining the creativity from graphic designers with the technical knowledge of web developers is a winning combination. When executed well, collaborative projects can turn out to be a great success. Planning, utilizing organizing and time-saving tools and keeping lines of communication open between team players are all key points to keep in mind while working on any collaboration.

Collaborating with the Cloud

Since most collaborations occur remotely and no one has time to meet and discuss every detail, tools for collaboration, like cloud storage solutions are especially helpful for team members and project managers. GraphicDesign.com suggests that graphic design artists who collaborate with other designers, or other team players, can use cloud storage to share files in a secure way through an online network. This can assure collaborators that they can access, make notes on, change and upload files, from anywhere, at anytime and, in most cases, from multiple devices. If your company is on a tight budget and you’re not sure which cloud storage option will work best for your team, signing up for a trial run, like the 14-day free trial that is offered on a zip cloud review site, is one option. If your team is satisfied with its free mobile app and 24/7 support, then you might want to explore a long-term arrangement.

Project Planning

Spada notes that what separates the successes from the failures, in collaborations, is planning. Having an established game plan for a website building collaboration is important. Set up a timeline and write thorough explanations of what tasks need to be accomplished, at each step of the website’s creation. To simplify this process, there are software planning programs, like Project Plan, that can help you to share project plans, layout samples and keep track of who has contributed to which part of the website’s development along the way.

Layout

When creating a layout and mock up website for a client, it’s important to remember that after it is launched, the client may want elements to be added, rearranged and cut out, so leave room for revision. Spada says, try to imagine what the site will look like over the course of a year, after it is launched. Try to create a site that can add pages, content and media easily, without seeming cluttered. If the client wants to add a gallery page, will you have room on the navigation bar? Will you need to reduce the type size if more content is added to a page? Will the page seem empty when information becomes outdated? Consider some of these questions when creating the master layout for your site, so you will have a layout that is well-balanced.

The most important thing to remember for any collaborative effort, is to remember to offer feedback that is useful, respectful and constructive. Offering positive feedback can let your team members know what is working, instead of dwelling on what is not.

Alex Carter
A graphic design artist and programmer, Alex shares his tips and ideas with other design geeks through his various blogs.