Writing your own content
Submitted by oyohan on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 21:28.
I'm a newbie but have buried myself in this project for the last month. I've got a question hopefully somebody can answer. I intend to outsource the design of my site but am writing most of the content myself. I'm currently writing my content on google docs but was wondering is this the best method? Should i write in notepad?
Is it considered "coding" if I give the designer the content with my sitemap and ask him/her to put it in its proper places? Im just a little confused on how much I can reasonably expect the designer to do...
help!
Designing and coding process
Design involves determining the layout, images, colors, fonts and visual aspects of the page. This defines where your content (text, forms, newsfeeds, etc.) will go, but the designer would fill those areas with placeholder text.
The end result from the design stage is an image file ("comp") which a coder would render into a working (x)html page template. The template pages would then need to be populated with your actual content.
"I'm currently writing my
"I'm currently writing my content on google docs but was wondering is this the best method? Should i write in notepad?"
I don't see a problem with writing it in Google Docs.
"Is it considered "coding" if I give the designer the content with my sitemap and ask him/her to put it in its proper places? Im just a little confused on how much I can reasonably expect the designer to do..."
You should expect the designer/coder to do whatever you've asked him/her to do which could very easily include placing text in the appropriate places.
Depends on the designer ...
Not all designers code, not all designers code WELL.
Some designers-who-aren't-good-coders will, if given paragraphs of text, generate a page where the text is rendered as an image. Search engines can't index image text. Be very clear about what you want.
Even if the designer will also be coding your pages, they won't need your actual content until the design has been agreed upon and they're ready to proceed to the next step. The sitemap and the wireframes will be enough.
Check out Jeremy's most
Check out Jeremy's most recent BIP 2 webinar as he posts a project on 99designs.com - You will be able to see dozens of examples of how to word exactly what you want the designer to do and then let the contest begin. :)
Twitter.com/RyanHakes
You can view my current 99
You can view my current 99 Designs contest here:
http://99designs.com/contests/9392
Best,
Jeremy
Well Spent!
No wonder you like that site so much - those templates are awesome!
Question - The beginning of your ad says "no coding"
Say we go there and just want to get a landing paged designed - what is the difference (in non techie terms ;) ) between having a contest with design only and one with coding?
Twitter.com/RyanHakes