This is the moment you have been waiting for.

It’s an exciting event, but it can also be nerve-wracking for everyone involved in the build. Website development can take weeks, if not months of hard work. What if the client doesn’t like the final product?

What can you do to fix the problem? What could your team have done to avoid negative feedback?

Clear communication is key to a successful web design reveal. Account teams and web designers in Miami can struggle to figure out exactly what needs to be communicated and when.

Our team has years of experience in this area so we can help guide you through the process.

Before you Unveil Your Client’s Website

It is important to meet with your client at every stage of the web design process before the big day. All approvals will be easier if you communicate with your client throughout the build.

To make sure the unveiling goes smoothly, follow these tips:

• Make sure you schedule a screen share or meeting. Don’t just send a link to your client. They shouldn’t be allowed to navigate a website in its early stages of development. You can decide what your client should be focusing on and when. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed by irrelevant feedback about aspects of the site that are still in development.

• Tell your client the reason behind your design. Make sure they understand the relationship between the design elements and their original design goals. This will show your client that you listen to them and can find the best solutions. This allows you to pinpoint key elements that should be the focus of the build.

• Establish expectations for client feedback. Clients may want to give feedback in one meeting. Make sure clients understand that this isn’t a one-off meeting. This is a time to concentrate on key elements early to avoid unwanted features being added to the final product. Your client should be informed that they will have all the links following the meeting so that they can give more detailed feedback.

• Establish goals for the meeting before you start. This is in line with our previous point about setting expectations around feedback. Your client must know what your goals for this meeting are. This meeting is not to discuss the design direction but rather to confirm that you have agreed on the initial design direction. Later, the time will be right for a complete site reveal.

• Make sure you communicate with your client the next steps. To ensure that the site is up to standard, it may be necessary to schedule similar follow-up meetings. Give your client a clear timeline for when elements will be reviewed and at what times.

Although it may seem tedious, this is the best way for the client to be satisfied with the website design. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary to ensure that the project runs smoothly.

The Web Design Reveal is…

It’s time for the big reveal. Once the website looks good, you can show it off. Review the existing website before you begin to plan the site reveal.

This side-by-side, or before-and-after review of the previous site will give you a great visual comparison. This review allows you to show what didn’t work on the previous site and makes them more eager to see what you have done to make it better.

Guide Clients Through Their Website

Make sure you highlight the key elements from the initial project requirements. Make sure they are aware of the key features so that they can be confident in their satisfaction.

Take a look at the website and highlight any other elements you have added that align with the project goals. This will show your client that you listened and found ways to meet their needs.

Keep Control of the Conversation

This meeting is meant to gauge the client’s satisfaction with the final results. However, it is not the right time to get into the details. If you feel that your conversation is getting too granular, let them know that they can talk about finer points and other improvements later.

After showing your client their website…

After the unveiling is complete, you have walked your client through the new website. Now comes the real work: interpret the feedback.

You can gauge the client’s reaction to your reveal and highlight areas that need improvement. Keep the feedback brief and to the point during the meeting. Next, discuss the steps you will take to get notes, edit, or address any problems.

Discuss with your client what you want them to do. Schedule follow-up meetings to discuss improvements.

These follow-up meetings should be treated in the same way as those held in the early design phase. Focus on particular elements and do not capture all feedback.

Do not be surprised if you have to go back to the drawing board to address any last-minute requests or overlooked items. Sometimes, what the client originally thought they wanted turns out to be less than what they want. Keep calm and don’t get upset. Instead, find ways to communicate with and collaborate better to achieve their unique vision.