Design Process
So, now to the new website itself. All my sites are built from scratch using full CSS layouts and professional web-authoring software.
A new template is made for each new website which results in your completed site being unique to you and can be made to your exact requirements.
Each project will follow the same steps.
Upon instruction, clients are required a complete a questionnaire which helps me to establish the required look and feel of the completed website as well as it's main aims. It will help if you have some idea of layout you would like me to use for your new website.
Clients can often direct me to a few websites which they like the look of and this helps me to better understand their personal tastes and preferences. Many clients already have a company logo and colour scheme which they would like reproduced on their website but if not, we can start from scratch.
Once we have identified what exactly you require the website to do, we can start work on the design and layout of it. During this stage, we will make a decision on the layout the final website as well as the navigational structure. We will also decide which colours, fonts etc...will be used.
To ensure that search engines can find your published website, we will need to discuss keywords to build into the website to help it be found!
Once this stage is complete, I can provide the client with a style sheet which will show how each heading, paragraph, menu etc...will look on the completed website. This will also show how the text will look using the colours, styles and fonts we have choosen.
Once the planning stage is complete, we can start work on the production of the website. I will set up a password protected area on my test server that only the client and I will have access to during the production process. I will publish all pages to the test site as they are produced and updated so you can keep track of progress and let me know of any changes you would like to be made.
No-one else knows your business as well as you do so I will need you to supply the main copy for the site. I can use stock photos and pictures if necessary but again, if the end result is going to be a personal site unique to your business then any photos, logos and artwork you can supply will help greatly.
Once the website has been built, I will ask you to fully review it whilst it is still on my server. This is a great chance for you to request any last minute tweaks.
After you have given the website the go-ahead, I will test it throughly on all the current browsers including Microsoft Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Safari. Once I'm happy that all is well, I will inform you that the site is ready to be published
Only once you are 100% happy with the website will you be invoiced for the final payment. Once payment has been received, the website will be fully published to your chosen webspace.
Once published, you have complete control over any future changes to the site and you are free to carry out these yourself using the content management system or I can make changes for you for a small charge. (See pricing details)
As my previous clients will confirm, I won't disappear once the website is finished. I will always be happy to help maintain the website if you decide not to use the CMS
