Perhaps you know you want a web site but have no idea what the first step is. Or maybe you've worked up a detailed plan about how you want your web site design to look. Whichever point you're at, I'm happy to discuss your ideas with you.
The Process
Here is a brief outline of the process of getting your web site designed and online, as well as some of the things you should think about
in advance.
Getting Started - Web Design & Development
Step One: Discovery
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The first step is to discover and define the exact needs and goals of your business. Your job is to teach us your vision, and ours is to bring it to life. A few examples of questions which will be addressed during this phase.
Most importantly, how do you intend to receive your visitors? You may have the best site in the world but without visitors it is useless. The best method is through Internet search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Therefore your site must be designed with search engine optimization and good coding style in mind right from the beginning.
Is the site a tool for existing clients or a way of generating new business? Do you sell products and/or services directly through the web or would you prefer to generate leads that you can follow-up for further dialog? Do you require some kind of content management system? What technologies will be necessary to use for your web site?
The discovery phase clearly states the problem, and contains all of the information needed to design a solution to the problem.
Step 2: Design
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After we've completed the discovery phase and received the client's approval, we come to the design phase. Keeping in mind all your goals and priorities we will begin to design graphic and layout
The site's navigation structure is one of the main focuses here. It must be highly optimized and quick and easy for your visitors to browse. Often an alpha site will be created without graphics to see if the site's navigation and ability to deliver content works.
When both our design team and you, the client, are completely satisfied with the proposed "look and feel," we then move forward with development.
Step 3: Development
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In the development phase, the web pages drawn up in the design phase will be created and optimized. Import and conversion of all database information is done at this time
In the development phase, the web pages drawn up in the design phase will be created and optimized. Import and conversion of all database information is done at this time. Great attention to detail is given and we and utilize standard conventions for good programming style - site-wide CSS stylesheets, web-based content management systems, highly optimized graphics, etc.
Functional beta versions of the site are created and every aspect of it is tested thoroughly before site launch. Clients can watch the progress of their development and participate in testing on our development servers. The final site optimization is always done by hand using a text editor for every site we publish, no matter what application was used to create your site!
Eric's work comes straight from his heart with an incredible knowledge of how the Internet should be used. I know this all to be true because many people have asked, "who did your web site?".
—Kat Dunkle.com, Author/Speaker, Founder: Customer Research, Inc.