Sometimes we get a design that goes off without a hitch but often times something holds our project up. It can be on the client end, our end, or just a simple miscommunication. Neither party enjoys setbacks and of course the client and the designer want to have the website up and running as quickly as possible. Here are some great tips to get your site online and looking the way you want. 1. Have a clear idea of how you want your site to look OR Have 2-3 examples of sites that you like the look and feel of. Often times a project slows down when it comes to the design phase. Re-working a design adds extra time and even extra cost. If you have a good idea for the design and/or examples it helps speed up the design process and minimizes time spent on re-design. 2. Have your content ready. Too often a project gets put on hold waiting for a client to provide content. Have your content written or pictures taken before the project even starts. This will keep your project running on schedule. 3. Have a realistic budget. Websites are no longer priced per page. For more information on how much a website should cost, check out this article http://www.scottsawyerconsulting.com/blogs/20111003/how-estimate-what-website-should-cost-if-i-dont-know-anything-about-websites. 4. Make sure your timeline is realistic as well. Coming to your web designer and telling them you need your site next week is a bad idea. The timeline is going to depend on the complexity of the site. Web design is a lot more involved than many business owners realize. Simpler sites involve less time developing and more time spent designing. As the site becomes more complex the hours spent developing increase. 5. Be prepared to pay for the work. When you receive the budget make sure you are prepared to make the necessary payments on time. Delaying a payment also means delaying your website.