At his WordCamp San Diego 2012 presentation, Strategies for a Successful Web Project, web developer Wes Chyrchel shared his tips for managing client expectations and web projects.

I liked his common sense approach:

• Have a process to your work
• You’re not a bank, payment is due on receipt

and appreciated his insights on time management and projects.

Read my key takeaways and check out some of the backchannel conversation from Twitter during his talk.

Key Takeaways

• Be sure to have a process, doesn’t matter if it’s agile, waterfall, or something else
• If you’ve having issues with every client, then the issue may be you
• Always be learning, give back to the community
• Work as a team with your client. Keep everyone accountable. You have responsibilities, and your client has responsibilities.
• Process Overview
  • Meet, Estimate, Contract
  • Kickoff, Mindmap, Schedule
  • Wireframes, Site Architecture
  • Design Mockups, Key Pages
  • Development, Content
  • Reviews, Fixes, Launch
• Define requirements, listen to your clients
• Make sure your contract has everything in it
• Create a schedule for both you and your client, detailing responsibilities
  
• Take the guessing out of your design, use metrics to back up your decisions
• Leverage previous A/B testing results
• At launch, create a formal review, reference original goals
• Set time for training
• Invoice the client
• Meet face-to-face with client one week after launch, ask if they have logged in, ask about any issues

Backchannel Conversation

I like @weschyrchel's model: 50% at project start, 25% after 30 days of work, 25% at end of project. Due upon receipt. #wcsd

— Deborah Edwards-Onoro (@redcrew) March 24, 2012

In the #wcsd "Successful WordPress Project" session, massive applause for Freshbooks invoices due upon receipt, he says "I'm not a bank."

— Press Wizards WP Dev (@PressWizards) March 24, 2012

Use metrics to design your sites. If you build something for client & it doesn't convert, you haven't done your job. #wcsd

— Deborah Edwards-Onoro (@redcrew) March 24, 2012

#wcsd "Successful WordPress Project" session: use wireframes to eliminate color objections, focus on placement.

— Press Wizards WP Dev (@PressWizards) March 24, 2012

Good point go live on a Tuesday, users are more apt to take time to take a look at the site, nobody has time on a Monday! @weschyrchel #wcsd

— Teri Massick (@TeriMassick) March 24, 2012