Helpful Material

Finding the Right New Media Developer

Any client that is planning to outsource portions of their website or other interactive communication tools are looking for a vendor that is a good fit, and is qualified to serve them well. Here are some of the characteristics to look for in a suitable vendor:

• Experienced - years of experience creating interactive user interfaces and computer based communication tools
• Reliable - dependable in adapting and maintaining a site in the rapidly changing internet landscape
• Versatile - Can quickly adapt to new technologies, methods, standards, browsers, and capabilities. Can do many peripheral things - full service. Can adapt and modify ideas so they are custom-tailored to a client's needs.
• Communication-Centric - Knows how to measure each idea and strategy for a site against its goals, asking, "Is this helping communicate or achieve what we want to?" Ideas don't get implemented just because they're cool or someone's pet idea.
• Usability-Centric - Creates web sites with the user experience in mind; always asking "Is this best for the user? Is this clear? Does this work? Does this make sense?"
• Innovative - Thinks of creative ideas, solutions, and treatments that uniquely address a client's goals. Good at brainstorming with clients. Pushes to take good ideas an extra step so that they are excellent.
• Professional - Plans & manages projects, communicates with the client with professionalism. Maintains a highly skilled team.
• Capable - In-house expertise to provide all the internet/web services a client needs or will likely need in the future. Maintains a high degree of expertise, stays ahead of the curve; knows when new techniques and technologies are ready for prime time.
• Collaborative - works closely with clients to achieve the best possible results in an ongoing relationship; to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of a site; and to divide responsibilities and roles in a way that is sensitive to time and budgets.
• Responsive - Quick turnaround on client requests. Meets deadlines. Communicates clearly about progress and status. Addresses urgent needs very quickly.
• Friendly - Easy to work with. Mature. Personable. Not defensive, demanding, or stubborn. Sense of humor.
• Compatible - has specific experience which relates to the audience, goals and needs of a client; is connected to local resources and talent; knows industry standards and employs best-of-breed tools that are compatible with leading platforms and solutions.
• Humble - self-aware; vendor knows they are not perfect or all-knowing; admits mistakes and takes corrective action; is not afraid to say "we don't know but we'll find out".

Please feel free to ask us at Vivid Media about these characteristics. As we learn from mistakes and share the same "eternal learning curve" as the rest of the wired world, we aspire to these qualities so that we can provide the best service possible to our clients.