Shannon Whitley

Do you really think you can be completely objective with the website you’re building.  You’ve been through countless iterations and worked into the wee hours of the morning on your “new baby?”  It always helps to have a second set of eyes, and even if you’re working with a team, it’s even better to have that second set of eyes come from the outside.

For your next project, I’d suggest hiring a website advisor.  This person should have a background in SEO, web design, usability, and just plain common sense.  Your website advisor should have an established reputation and be able to point to examples of his or her work.  They should also be willing to give you a preview of their expertise by reviewing one of your existing sites.

The website advisor’s job is to take a fresh look at what you’ve created.  This person should provide candid feedback and offer suggestions for improvements.  Bring in the website advisor toward the end of a project.  Yes, it could result in some rework, but better to do that than feel the wrath of your users later on.

Can I recommend a good website advisor?  Absolutely.  I’ve had personal experience working with Jim Spencer of JBS Partners.  He has a good eye for detail and was very helpful in making suggestions for My Tweeple.  Although, I must admit that I didn’t take all of his suggestions.  Any errors on the My Tweeple site are wholly my own.

Yes, it’s an additional expense for your projects.  You’ll need to weigh that expense against potential losses if your site is a failure.  If you lose your objectivity and thereby lose business, you’ll really wish you’d hired a website advisor.