Scope > functional spec > concept design > user testing > design > build > technical testing > soft launch > user testing > public launch > promote > user survey > New scope; start again.*

Stop wasting time and money!

I know there is a lot of conventional wisdom is the normal flow of projects, but I am beginning to doubt convention. I think the heart of the issue for me is the very beginning. What does conventional wisdom provide us with? A Scope. A Scope usually lists all the things that the project owner wants. Then we get a functional spec, which attempts to make sense of the Scope, and tells us how we are going to fulfil the scope, and so on down the line.

Don’t get me wrong, this type of flow has its place. Where the final product is set in time or stone and can’t be changed again without huge amounts of effort, then this is a great method that has ‘conventional wisdom’. My question is with web based projects where there need not be a final product that is set in stone. I think it requires the process to be turned on its head and perhaps, thrown out all together.

Well built websites are easy to change, add to and build on. They are not static buildings of bricks and mortar. Just like the content of a shop, we can bring in new advertising, new staff, and new products on a daily basis if we have the right plan. What worked and what didn’t work can be removed or changed easily when you have the right tools, right people and the right plan.

So how do you plan for change? Make ‘Change’ your best friend. Be prepared to work in collaboration with your designers, marketing people, technical people, project manager and decision makers with only clear results as the part of the puzzle that is set in stone. Don’t lock down a scope, instead, be open to new ideas that could reach the results you want sooner or better than you have now.

Most importantly, don’t stop. Keep going. When you realise one goal, set new ones. The evolution of a website is more like the building of a business, or the development of staff. It is a continuing, fluid growth process, that should be guided with care and a focus on the goal, not limited to one path that was decided months (or years) ago.

*Not all of these steps are taken by everyone as the convention, it is only an illustration.

If you want to find out more about evolving your website, contact Receptive Technologies on 1300 794 770.

Comming up in the next few weeks Brendan has two speaking engagements! Ok, so am no poet, and certainly not a shakespeare, but I will have a few good things to share.

The first event is at Central Coast Business Swap on the 31st August 2007. Go online to book; http://centralcoast.businessswap.com.au
The next is only the following week, with Manly Chamber, 4th July 2007. Call Jenni or Sharon 9977 0513 for more information or to make a reservation.

The presentation promotion is:

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Building your Online Buisness

Speaker: Brendan Byrne

Brendan will be sharing a wealth of information about how you can start from nothing to earn a surprisingly easy new income or an additional income to your current website.

You will learn;

• 3 of the basics for an online business,
• How to find products to sell in less than 10 minutes,
• Free ways to get heaps of buyers to your website.

This includes;

• Two ways of accepting money online - without merchant facilities,
• Creating a shopping cart and
• Building a website in under an hour!

Brendan has been building websites for five years. He has a gift of being able to explain sometimes complex 'IT speak' in a simple, easy to understand way.

During this seminar, Brendan will show you free ways to get heaps of buyers to your website and will be happy to answer your web-marketing questions.

He will give you easy to understand hints & tips on how to develop your current website to increase traffic and sales, and how you can start from nothing to build a successful website.

In addition, he will show you how, even if you are a service based business, you can still sell products from your website, without becoming an author!

Brendan will outline the basics for an online business, show you how to find products to sell in less than 10 minutes, and show you free ways to get heaps of buyers to your website!

Well this could be interesting. Skype.com have just added a service called Skype Prime.
This service is detailed on their site as:

"With Skype Prime ™ Beta you can share your skills by setting yourself up as a call provider offering services to other Skype users - and earn money in the process. You can use it to offer all sorts of advice, from teaching others about the rules of football to giving a one-to-one cookery class over a video call.

Alternatively, if there’s something you want to learn about or get advice on, look for users who have set up a service and call them to find out more. "
www.skype.com/products/skypeprime

Business Catalyst Advice Help and suggestions for using and growing your businesscatalyst.com hosted website. Call now

You can also read the Skype Prime Blog at  skypeprime.skype.com

Skype Prime was started in Mid-April, but was only intgrated into the Skype application early May 2007. At the moment there is no directory of services

So being a bit of a geek and full of my own importance, I thought "I know stuff!"  People could ask me about lots of web related things. So I signed up and should be able to charge for my knowledge now! so when I make my first sale to a random stranger I'll tell you more then. It can't be much different to the usual consultations...

And another idea, new Business Catalyst resellers and partners can ask me about how they can make the most from Business Catalyst!

If you want to talk to me about it, my skype ID is; Brendan_James_Byrne

My current skype status is;