For the longest time I have carried a notebook around to jot down ideas that come to me as I go about my day. My idea journal has played an important role in the choices I make for marketing my company, adding new services and changing my web site. Every few months I take time to review my idea log. Sometimes I laugh at myself and wonder, "what I was thinking," and other times I wonder, "why haven't I developed this idea further?" After much reflection on my own ideas and time spent managing many client projects I realized that "a good idea can lead to positive changes or chaos."

An idea by itself seems harmless; it can be a way of brainstorming, thinking through concepts or inspiring us to move forward. However, an idea becomes a monster when you allow it to expand without boundaries. If you do not write down your ideas and begin to control them - one idea becomes two, then three and so on while your website or project has stalled. Too many ideas without deadlines and budgets can lead a 3 month project into a yearlong endeavor. Too many times I see my clients let their ideas delay the launch of their web projects.

My expert advice:

• Keep an idea journal. Write down your ideas and the benefits you see in them. Let them simmer for a few days before acting on them.


• Recognize that change is good. Understand that a website, like all marketing is meant to change. Once you realize this fact you can plan ideas around marketing strategies instead of trying to rush a multitude of changes into a website launch or re-launch all at once.


• Use your experts. Let your web design or marketing team play devil's advocate; ask them if they see cons to your pros. Take the advice seriously and plan ideas into phases.

These three important things to keep in mind can save your web site launch or re-launch and save your bottom line. Undeveloped ideas cost you time and money as web design and development costs are based on the scope of a client's project. When you change ideas, you change scope, therefore changing the budget. Clearly defining your ideas will help you plan your expenditures and create strong communications with your web design firm.

If you're planning any changes to your web site or web marketing in 2008 this tip may be a great beginning to a truly successful project.

Labels: web design, web marketing, website growth