The Website Design Process

It all begins with:

1) A conversation

The first step involves me listening to you. What do you want from your website? Who is your audience? If your site already exists, how and why do you want it to be changed? What is your business's or organization's "personality"? Do you have a timeline? Do you need help with a domain name?

This early stage is critical to my being able to serve you to your satisfaction. Over the phone, by email or, if possible, in person, we need to clarify what you are looking for in a web designer, and be certain your expectations match what I can provide. For customers putting together a website for this first time, this early conversation is especially important.

2) We agree to work together

If the first conversation is satisfactory to us both, I will send you an estimate of what I think the job will involve at my end and a contract that reflects the objectives for the project. I will begin work on the site when you and I have copies of the signed contract, when I have received a 1/3 deposit, and when a substantial amount of Step 3 has been accomplished:

3) We gather the materials

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Text, photos or illustrations, colors, current logo or other branding -- all of these are important to have in hand early. Most important is the content. I build websites around the information the pages will present to the viewer. It is essential to my ability to help you that I have the website text early in the design process.

This is often the most difficult step for a client, especially if this is a new website. While not a professional writer, I am an effective editor and can help you adapt existing text to the particular needs of website writing.

Any existing advertising materials such as brochures, newsletters and the like are also helpful to me to see so that I can get a feel for your business or organization.

4) I work on a draft

I will work on a draft of the layout, colors and design. Throughout this stage, I will send you links to the drafts. First time site or re-design, no one gets it 100% right the first time through. Your input is 100% important! This is why:

5) The conversation continues

It is not always easy for one person to "see" what another imagines. Even though we did all that talking in the beginning, it is very important that the discussion continues throughout the website design process. Your feedback is vital.

6) The site is built

When you are happy with the general design and layout of the draft, I will begin to add pages. Depending upon the situation, I will develop the website in a sub-directory on my business site or at your domain and host.

7) The site goes "live"

When the website is completed, and after receiving payment for the remaining 2/3 of the estimate, I will upload the site to your primary domain.

8) We fine tune

After your website is online and complete, you will have 30 days to make minor revisions at no charge.