Over the years, we've noticed a recurring pattern: the sites that are most likely to deliver to expectations are those that have a passionate site owner steering the ship. No single thing makes a site successful, but the right owner gives it a fighting chance.

The Site Owner

The role of the site owner is the most important in the website deployment team. However it's important to point out that the site's owner doesn't need to be a technical expert - in many ways it is best if the role is considered to be that of a generalist.

In a small business, the site owner is often the person paying the bills, so it's easy to identify who's going to fill the role. But in larger organisations it can be less clear cut

The primary responsibilities of the website owner are…

Establishing a vision for the site

An effective website owner will have a clear vision for the website, and be capable of developing it over the long term. This vision will evolve through discussions among the site's stakeholders.

Being an advocate for the site

Establishing a vision is one thing; maintaining it is another. The vision needs an advocate: somebody willing to defend the site against others within the organisation who might seek to undermine its focus.

  • Evangelist
  • Content guardian
  • Project coordinator
  • Referee