The Process
The process of building a website is the same regardless of what company you hire or going at it alone. the Clients' website Company will work with you, keep your objectives in mind, apply best practice, and help you maximize your efforts.
Our Goal is to have your site as live as possible. In most cases, with good communication and materials prepared, a site is live in less than seven days.
What you need to know before you start:
Domain Name - Many hosting websites allow you to register a your site for a price. You are able to register the name for a minimum of 1 year. If you are concern about being listed on search engines, we recommend you register for at least two years. Also, if your address ends with a .com, and .net. the chances of being picked up on a search engine is increased. If you have a name that is complex, long, or difficult to remember you may want to consider registering parts of the name as well. Prior to going live, you will have all of these "pointed" at the main domain name.
Logo - Every organization needs a logo, it can be simple or complex. If you have trouble creating one, a graphic designer can help you with it. For the website, a clear precise image of the logo is required. Your typical photo editor will create a .jpg or .gif image. These are ok, however, professionally done, the image will be in .png, .eps and .ai format. They have a higher quality that show up clearer on websites.
Images - You are responsible for the images. Digital images will work fine. Various websites offer professional images for a fee. If you wish to use these images, you will be responsible for purchasing them. Pay close attention to the fine print. Royalty free means you are paying one fee to use the image as much as you wish. Hence they are not really free.
Content - Every page has some content. The content is your message. Keep it to 200-400 words. Have spaces between paragraphs and stick to the topic of that page. Keep in mind that the words you use should include keywords that will help to have your site listed in the top 20 listings on a search engine page.
The Process :
1. Site Architecture - What pages do you want to have? You will need to identify which pages will be viewed when a button is clicked on and which ones will be embedded into those pages,
1. If your site will have an e-commerce your requirements will need to be identified.
2. Home Page Layout - Roughly, features and elements you wish to have on the page are decided on. This includes where the navigation bars will go - on top or to the left.
3. Home page Design - This is a critical element. The design is submitted in a picture image. As the client, you have the opportunity to view it and ask for revisions. If you are doing your own site, seek opinions of your friends.4. Rest of the pages will be completed for a final layout.
5. Once the home page is approved, all the coding will begin, as forms, flashes, etc are created, the client will be asked to approve. The site is made live as soon as the home page is coded and approved.
6. The rest of the pages are designed.
7. Each page requires reviewing, revision and approval.
8. As pages are approved they are coded and made live.
9. Alpha test - Check the pages for working features and content, and images are in the right places, etc.
10. Revise and correct errors.
11. Beta test - Final test of the entire site.
12. Revise, and correct errors.
13. 100% Live