Objective: To take a concept and create a full-fledged Website that meets all the client's expectations and business objectives.

1. The importance of "keeping it real." Talk to all the involved people and departments before you set your schedules, goals, and budget.


2. Review the process. Signing off on schedules and documentation.


3. Avoid problems with planning and awareness. Pad that schedule. Then pad it again. No matter how well you plan, you still need to put room in the schedule to expect the unexpected.


4. Determine who's "on point." Too many cooks spoil the soup, and too many decision makers slow down the process. Assign one person - on both the client and developer side - through which all information is funneled.


5. Think modularly. Both the schedule and the project itself should be broken into easy-to-complete, bite-sized pieces. Go over costs, budget, necessary technology. Evaluate design sketches.


6. Design for the re-redesign. The nature of the Web dictates that if your site manages to stick it out, then you'll be in for a re-redesign, a re-re-redesign, and so on. As you tackle this project, try and keep your needs for the next go-round in mind.


7. Communicate. People who work in the Web industry tend to be smart, independent folk who enjoy doing everything themselves. It's important that these do-it-yourselfers become team players. Weekly meetings where team members report what they're up to can help keep the project on track. Otherwise, at the end of it all you may have several different sites on your hands.