At INK we develop web projects that range from basic to elaborate. Our clients trust us to digital experiences from landing pages to interactive reports to websites. But even the simplest of website development projects can get tricky, so we like to think of digital experience projects as dynamic collaborations. Our team works together with our clients throughout the various stages of the project to ensure we can deliver on time, on budget and within our high standard of quality. Here are a few of the best practices that help us bring websites and digital properties to life.
1. Teamwork Makes the Website Dream Work
If you’ve ever worked on even a small update to a website, you know it’s no small feat to keep design, copy, and development in sync. Each of these focus areas has their own priorities and technical demands that can become at odds, even when everyone is working towards the same goal. Progress can be slow and fitful without collaboration. We believe the real magic happens when everyone prioritizes flexibility and is willing to adapt their individual vision so that we can stay on the same page as a team—and we make sure of that from the start
Here’s how we do it:
- Early-Stage Syncing: Our team makes sure that the foundational deliverables, like content outlines and wireframes, are strategically sound through broad team review and discussion. We ensure that we plan from the start for the experience to house content and visuals that will come together to enhance key messages and calls to action – as well as meet the needs for development to result in a user friendly, well-functioning experience.
- Continuous Alignment: Throughout the process, we maintain a constant back-and-forth, especially between design and development. This means we’re not just pushing files down the line; we’re actively solving challenges and filling in gaps before they become problems. This helps us move fast and avoid traditional development bottlenecks.
- Efficient Communication: Digital projects can be a maze of moving parts, and keeping everything aligned means staying in close touch with our clients, too. We set up regular check-ins to keep everyone in the loop and to tackle any last-minute changes or questions head-on.
2. Good Website Dev Balances Ease and Performance
Our approach to website development is straightforward: create a site that not only looks and functions beautifully but also empowers the client to manage it with ease. That’s why we prioritize a few key principles in every build.
- Ease of Management: No one wants to feel dependent on their developer to make every update. That’s why we put significant effort into building intuitive content management systems (CMS) that give our clients control. We select a CMS that will fit with how each client plans to interact with their site long-term.
- Performance as a Priority: Speed, SEO, mobile-friendliness—these aren’t just nice-to-haves. A fast, well-optimized site can make or break user experience and search visibility. We optimize everything from images and scripts to server architecture to keep the site lean and fast, without sacrificing the aesthetics. GTmetrix and Google Lighthouse are our go-to tools for monitoring and refining performance as we build.
3. Use the Right Tools for the Job
The digital world is loaded with tools, but not all are created equal. We’ve homed in on a few we can trust to keep our projects moving smoothly and our clients happy.
- PayloadCMS: When digital experiences need a bit more flexibility, for things like interactive and custom components that need to be updated over time, PayloadCMS allows us to build highly customizable sites while keeping content management straightforward. It’s headless, meaning we can separate the content from the design, making the site super flexible and future-proof.
- Next.js: Helps us work seamlessly and speed up our workflow with a unified set up between back-end and front-end development.
- Amazon S3: When handling large volumes of media or assets, Amazon S3 is our solution for reliable, scalable storage. It ensures sites remain fast and stable as they grow.
- Resend: For projects requiring email services, we trust Resend for its seamless integration and efficiency, especially for transactional emails.
- Figma: Our collaborative tool of choice for wireframe development and review cycles.
These tools allow us to create sites that are agile and scalable, meeting both the immediate needs and future growth potential of our clients.
4. Surprises Aren’t Fun
Let’s be real: web projects can take unexpected twists, especially when new ideas or features are added to the mix. These digital experiences are often the cornerstone of a brand, and they hold a lot of weight and opinions across an organization. Our role is always to help bring focus, prioritize, and keep the project on track. To manage this we’re transparent from the start about the project scope, timing, and budget.
Here’s how we try our best to minimize those late-project timeline surprises:
- Set Clear Expectations: We establish regular checkpoints and weekly updates to discuss progress and any necessary pivots. This keeps us in sync with our clients’ priorities and ensures we’re all focused on delivering the best possible outcome within the planned timeframe.
- Get Ahead of Scope Creep: When clients have last-minute requests, we evaluate them carefully. If a request aligns with the current plan, we’re all in. But if it would impact timelines or fall outside the project’s scope, we suggest pushing it to a future phase. This balance allows us to be flexible without compromising the project’s integrity or deadlines.
Building for Today, Ready for Tomorrow
Our philosophy is simple: create websites that are easy to use today and adaptable for tomorrow. By grounding our projects in collaboration, prioritizing user experience, and using reliable tools, we empower our clients to confidently maintain and enhance their digital presence. It’s about delivering more than a functional site—we deliver a digital experience that’s built to last. Ready to elevate your online presence? Let’s make it happen.
