If so then let me see those fingers!

I’ve teamed up with Brett Harned and Dave DeRuchie from Happy Cog, and Rob Borley from Headscape to put together a panel submission for next year’s event and we need your votes to help us get there!

The panel team has been put together by Brett and is entitled “Project Management for Humans (No Robots Allowed)”

Whether it’s on the front lines or behind the scenes, Project Management is critical to every discipline in web development projects. Keeping your internal project team and your clients happy while making sure that the project runs smoothly are not easy tasks, but you don’t have to be a robot to run a project! Simple humans can make sure a project is delivered on time and on budget. This session will cover the basics on how to manage your project like a pro and keep your clients happy. A group of seasoned project managers will share their experiences (and horror stories) on projects they’ve worked on, and point to specific, useful methodologies that have helped them to gracefully manage large and small projects alike.

So, web project managers unite, head on over to the panel picker, register an account and click the little thumbs up icon on our submission page.

Koochie Koochie Koochie Koochie KOO!!

Big thanks in advance, leave a comment to say you’ve voted and I’ll add you to my Xmas card list for sure!

Volume is a 100 man (and ladies) digital agency located in Wokingham, Berkshire (UK), they’re growing fast and looking to hire more people to join the team so I thought I’d let you know in case you fancy a change, or know of anyone looking for a new challenge.

The positions they’re looking to fill are:

• Technology Analyst
• Head of User Experience (UX)
• Social Marketing and Strategy Planner
• Events Executive

Technology Analyst

This is my current title and you’d be joining the Technology team, working alongside myself and one other Technology Analyst.

Do you want your head to be cut out and placed on this picture? Join Volume today and I’ll open Photoshop.

A Technology Analyst’s role is to analyse client requirements, create functional specifications and manage multiple web projects in accordance with Volume’s technology standards and processes. Amongst other things, in this role you’ll be:

• Gathering client requirements
• Project planning
• Writing functional specifications
• Working closely with the account management and development teams
• Leading User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Providing ongoing project management

If this sounds interesting to you then mail me or contact Volume for more details.

Head of User Experience (UX)

Volume’s Head of User Experience is a new role defined from the need to deliver more creative and user friendly web applications. This role is to head the UX team which is part of the Technology department.

A sign some clients see when thinking wireframes are designs

Candidates should have a proven track record of hands-on working within a digital agency and possess skills and experience in UI, UX and accessibility disciplines.

A firm understanding of industry-standard web development applications as well as a great sense of creativity would be ideal.

Responsibilities will include managing the UX developers, leading user research, creating user interface concepts, prototypes and wireframe.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the concept and UX of a variety of digital projects for Volume’s key clients. Candidates will ideally be degree educated with a high level of usability knowledge, including information architecture (IA), interaction design and user research.

They should be highly experienced in web technologies and practices. Successful candidates will be instrumental in driving improvements to our service to ensure Volume web applications continue to compete at the highest level.

Calling all sitemap and wireframe addicts! Mail me or contact Volume for more details.

Social Marketing and Strategy Planner

Are you a Twexpert? (I actually thought I’d just made up that awful word, but of course Google says no with its 18,700 results) – Ok, on with the job description.

The Social Marketing and Strategy Planner will support the Head of Social Marketing & Strategy with all ongoing social marketing activity across client projects and develop social marketing strategies and campaigns for clients.

Ultimately they will maintain consistent and high levels of interaction across the social media sphere for Volume clients, in line with campaign objectives and contribute to:

• Social Marketing Planning
• Social Marketing Strategy
• Social Marketing Insight and Analysis
• Social Media Research and Development
• Social Marketing Campaign Execution

Read the full job description and contact details »

Events Executive

The Events Executive works with the Events team to ensure that clients’ events run smoothly and that all other aspects of the project are delivered on time.

Work will be assigned by the Senior Account Manager- Events; the Events Executive’s remit is to ensure that these tasks are completed on time and to a high standard whilst adhering to strict budgets.

The Events Executive is proactive in finding tasks that need completion and should be able to communicate their progress clearly. Events Executive should be looking to learn more about the events procedures and also their clients, in order to increase the effectiveness of their work and contribute to the team.

Duties will include, but are not limited to, producing a variety of reports, data management, onsite work at events, confirming attendance at events, liaising and dealing with queries from participants prior to and following events, venue searching, booking catering, managing all event stock and using clients’ online systems.

Read the full job description and contact details »

It’s a “best of” compilation of articles about professional freelancing that have been published on Smashing Magazine and Noupe in 2009 and 2010.

Not only does this eBook cover quite literally everything you’d ever need to know about working as a freelance web designer in articles from authors like Paul Boag, Cameron Chapman and Alyssa Gregory.

I’m also proud to say it also includes articles written by myself and Rob Smith (who I recently interviewed on the subject of web project management)

Crusty Jugglers…

Check out the book contents, then head on over to Smashing Magazine to download a sample and order your own copy!

*Note: Bold author name denotes a “whoop!“

• Essential Habits of an Effective Professional Freelancer (Rob Smith)
• Common Questions of Web Designers (Andy Rutledge)
• The Designer Who Delivers (Aurimas Adomavicius)
• Critical Mistakes Freelancers Make (Robert Bowen)
• The Importance of Customer Service (Robert Bowen)
• Creatively Handling the Admin Side of Freelancing (Robert Bowen)
• Pitching Like a Pro (Cameron Chapman)
• The Finances of Freelancing (Luke Reimer)
• How to Identify and Deal With Different Types of Clients (Robert Bowen)
• How to Improve Designer-Client Relationships (Aaron Griffith)
• How to Communicate with Developers Effectively (Ryan Scherf)
• How to Educate Your Clients on Web Development (Aurimas Adomavicius)
• How to Explain to Clients They’re Wrong (Sam Barnes)
• How to Respond Effectively to Design Criticism (Andrew Follett)
• How to Persuade Your Users, Boss or Clients (Paul Boag)
• How to Create the Perfect Client Questionnaire (Cameron Chapman)
• Getting Clients: Approaching the Company (Peter Smart)
• Converting Prospects into Clients (Alyssa Gregory)
• Marketing Rules and Principles for Freelancers (Jeff Gardner)
• How Many Ideas Do You Show Your Clients? (Graham Smith)
• Freelance Contracts: Do’s And Don’ts (Robert Bowen)
• What’s in a Price: Guidelines for Pricing Web Designs (Thursday Bram)
• Quality-Price Ratio in Web Design (Jeff Gardner)

Visit Smashing Magazine and buy the eBook »

Beniot Alvarez, Divisional Managing Director of Volume.co.uk, has very kindly created a free Google Android application that will let you stay up to date with the latest posts on my blog.

Obviously they went for a grey colour star rating – 5 stars! ;-)

All you need to do is search on the Android Market for “Sam Barnes” or “Web Project Manager” and hey presto, you should be able see it, download and install.

A huge thanks to Benoit for creating and distributing this, proof that once a developer, always a developer ;-).

Follow Volume on Twitter »

Here’s a few screenshots of the app in action.

The home screen view

The article list view

The article view

… and trust me, while you’re reading this I’m working on a more traditional web project management article that will undoubtedly include some sweet Star Wars references.

Williams F1 website praised in Times Online

Last week Rawnet’s Williams F1 website was voted 2nd out of the Five Best Formula One Websites by the Times Online.

I don’t like F1 but I love sexy F1 websites

Massive congratulations to all those who worked on the site. I have to say having sneaky peeks in the office right now of the 2010 Williams re-design, I reckon it’ll be 1st place next time round! Read the Times Online article »

Work with me and lose at FIFA 10

Due to a consistent growth in business Rawnet are looking to fill several new positions, so let me ask you:

• Are you a Web Project Manager or RoR developer?
• Want to work in stunning converted gothic mansion?
• Want to sit on an Aeron chair while sipping Costa coffee?
• Want to lose at FIFA 10 so much you go home crying?

The Rawnet office: Where Xbox champions are made

Image source: Dorin Vancea

If the answers to any of these are yes, then head on over to the Rawnet website to read about the Web Project Manager role and apply, or the Rawnet tech site for the Ruby on Rails position.

New Rawnet site imminent

The brand new Rawnet website is now in its final stages of development and will be launched very soon and all I can tell you right now is that it’s looking sexual!

Follow Rawnet on Twitter if you want to know the minute it’s live.

Pokeeee! LOLZ

But if you want see some of the latest sites we’re designing then check out the Rawnet Facebook Page. Go on, don’t be boring!

Web projects completed

Here’s a little taster of the projects I’ve delivered in the last few months. If you want to see other projects I’ve launched then check out my Projects page (after this post of course)

Go Ape U.S.

I don’t like heights either hmmm

With Rawnet designing and delivering the original Go Ape UK website several years ago, I took over the account at the end of last year and one of the first jobs was to deliver the U.S. version. Visit the Go Ape U.S. website »

Go Ape Intranet

OMG – LOLZ – 404Z

One of the biggest web application projects I’ve managed. The goal was to develop an Intranet that would replace the e-mail and MS Excel processes being used by the company nationwide.

All departments now use the Intranet on a daily basis, from filling in daily reports at Go Ape sites around the UK, ordering new stock with warehouse inventory management, to creating and maintaining the company’s document repository – a massive project but one I’m pleased to say the client loves and I’m proud of for a whole load of reasons, including the 404 page which of course no one ever sees ;-)

Take a peek at the PCs in huts if you ever visit Go Ape and see if you can see them using their Intranet – I did that *sniggers* with the help of the Rawnet team naturally!

Folens

The Twitter bird looks positively disturbed

The goal of this project was to re-design and provide all front-end development for this leading educational books supplier in the U.K. I’m happy to say most of the design and code we delivered has been used! If you see any problems or dodgy design, it wasn’t us!
Visit the Folens website »

Portico

They have badges like that at McDonalds too

No web design this time round, just tasked to manage delivery of the front-end templates and back-end CMS code development. Visit the Portico website »

That’s all folks, stay frosty.

Related reading:

• Other Web Projects delivered by me »
• Old News: Websites, articles, jobs and feeds »

I don’t know about you, but I’m always fascinated what other Web Project Mangers’ are up to when they’re not putting the world to rights on Twitter or in blog comments.

Important things I have learnt

1. McDonalds coffee is now drinkable
2. I am the last PC user in the world
3. Jack Bauer could probably bruise Chuck Norris
4. Tropical punch should be a controlled substance
5. A Bruce Lee/Stormtrooper wallpaper makes me happy

iBruce Wallpaper – Gold Dust

Image source: iDesign for iPhone

Ok, onto the more relevant content…

Smashing Magazine article published

Due to the popularity of my Estimating Time for Web Projects series I decided to re-write the two articles into one and submit to Smashing Magazine for publication. To my humble surprise and child-like joy, it was accepted and published last month by Vitaly Friedman, Chief Editor (a genuinely nice and down to earth guy).

The article received really positive feedback and with front-page love on Digg and Delicious meant my server ground to a halt once again – joy.

Effective Strategy To Estimate Time For Your Design Projects »

New sites launched

Project managing the new sites below are a big reason my posts have been almost non-existent, with another two launching soon, as you can imagine, I’ve been pretty beat in the evenings (please submit sympathy via comments), so much so, Rawnet are looking to hire a new Web Project Manager, get in touch if you’re interested.

View Rawnet’s Web Project Manager vacancy »

HHIC

Central Heating.co.uk – Rated 80/100 by NMA

Recently rated 80/100 by New Media Age (NMA to you and me) in their Site Inspection section, this was my first public sector outing as a Web Project Manager. It was one of those projects that just went well from the beginning, was a pleasure to work on, the results blew the client away and made everyone at Rawnet proud little soldiers.

View the HHIC website »

Neocol

Neocol.com – A web project with all the trimmings

This project had it all; design, front-end, back-end, animated elevator presentation, SEO, copywriting and print marketing material design! This one took real tenacity to manage and a long time to get live, but finally managed it this week and the client is over the moon as it really does blow competitor sites out of the water.

View the Neocol website »

Tax Automation

Tax Automation.co.uk – Nostalgia inducing goodness

This was a really fun web project to manage because the client wanted to target a very specific target audience of “40 – 50 year old male Finance Directors in large corporate companies, with the site having an air of sophistication and a twist of wit” – not your everyday brief!

This brief was answered by making sure the designs were clean and crisp, yet relatively simple to build XHTML and CSS templates from in order to keep the solution as cost effective as possible, and for the target audience, it was decided to focus on using imagery that would spark some nostalgia, reminding them what equipment they used to use in the 1970′s – I absolutely loved searching for retro office equipment on iStock, good times!

View the Tax Automation website »

BaxterStorey

BaxterStorey.com – Birth of the Flowerpot Functionality

Rawnet were commissioned to provide web development for BaxterStorey’s new website. The branding and design had been finalised before we came on board which meant working with not only the client but also another agency, which, as those who have had to be the lynchpin between multiple agencies will know, brings about a whole new set of challenges.

As with most projects I had to write the functional specification for this one, and will always remember, from this day forward, having to define the “flowerpot functionality”.

On time and on budget makes Jack a happy boy.

View the BaxterStorey website »

Delicious feed updated

Ok, so hardly exciting, but over the last month I had built up a ridiculous amount of bookmarks, RSS feeds and Twitter favourites that I’d deemed worth a read when I got some time. Well I found that time recently and read everyone, adding the best of the bunch to my Delicious feed. Some of my personal favourites include:

• Brad Egeland: Characteristics of a Project Manager
• Rob Borley: Under Sell, Over Deliver
• Drew McClellan: Cost Effective Development Techniques
• Karl Staib: Stay Happy During Stressful Projects

The Vendor Client relationship – In Real World Situations

If you like these articles, you may want to subscribe to my Delicious RSS feed as I will be keeping this up to date from now on in a true GTD style – Operation BookmarkZero begins!

View my Delicious links »

ScrnShots: Web design inspiration

ScrnShots: Start building your inspiration library

For those diehard fans out there, you will have noticed a new call to action in the sidebar, underneath my shallow and desperate plea for Twitter followers – ScrnShots. This is where I upload all of the websites and website design elements I happen to chance upon, and make me go “phwooar nice!”, as I cybersurf the beautiful waves of the digital super information highway.

I recommend everyone involved in the industry, not just designers, should keep some kind of inspiration record that they can draw upon when embarking on new and fantastic projects. From a web project management perspective, you can use it to brief designers, developers and even present examples to clients to communicate solution ideas.

*Note: I don’t believe I have diehard fans, just fans of Die Hard. Yippee-ki-yay!

View my ScrnShots collection »

More articles coming soon…

I have a bit of time off work at the moment so intend to get disciplined and write a few original articles – I’m hoping this public statement will force me into delivering the goods, if I fail, I will make up a very good excuse thus shifting all responsibility to something out of my control.

What Web Project Management topics would you like to see covered next?

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