Does Your Web Team Have Margin?

Without traffic, it takes less than 10 minutes to drive from my house to the church that my family attends.  Yet my kids sometimes ask, why do we leave 20 minutes before church starts?  It is the same reason that when planning internal projects at OurChurch.Com, we usually add 25%+ more time to any time estimate.  The reason?  MARGIN!

Margin is giving additional time to accommodate the unexpected, if something unexpected arises.  What if there is an accident that is blocking traffic on the way to church?  What if some parts of the project takes more time than expected on a project?  By adding margin, it increases the likeliness that something will happen on time.

The same is true for updating your website.  It is important that your web team have margin, so they can get the needed updates done to the website, even if unexpected problems or interruptions get in their way.  Maybe your web team is just one person.  Maybe your web team is just you.  In those situations, it is even more important that margin is given.

Below are a few tips to ensure your web team has margin:

• If you only have one person responsible for updating the website, try to add at least one more person.
• Create a weekly plan of what updates will happen and when they need to be completed.
• When estimating how long something will take to complete, add 25% more time than expected to offset unexpected challenges or distractions.
• Set an internal due date which is 2-3 days earlier than when the updates truly need to be completed.  For larger projects, increase the number of days to 5-7 days earlier.

By doing these things, you will greatly increase the likeliness that the website will be updated on time.  In addition, by having this margin in place, those responsible for the maintenance of the website will be less stressed because they will usually finish updates well before the required due date.  Less stress = happier and more joyful people:)

What other things do you do to ensure your website is updated on time?  Please share your thoughts below!

Mark Steinbrueck

President at OurChurch.Com

Mark has served as the President of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, leading the Custom Website and Sales departments with dedication and expertise.

Over the years, he has managed hundreds of custom website, graphic design, and marketing projects for churches, non-profits, businesses, and schools.

Beyond his professional work, Mark is deeply committed to serving his community. He coordinates and packs over 700 meals each week for children through One Community Now’s Pack A Sack for Kids program, volunteers in the Children’s Ministry at Generations Christian Church, and participates in a weekly Bible study.