WEBSITE DESIGN

The entire web design process has to begin with us getting to know you. Let’s talk about your business, your audience, and what you are hoping to accomplish from a web site. We can meet, we can talk on the phone, or you can fill out the quote request form to begin this process.

After we have a good understanding of your needs and the scope of your future web site, we’ll put together a quote of the total costs and include an outline of your proposed site structure.

If you don’t already have a domain name, you need to get one. We can research domain names for you, or we can tell you how to research names on your own. A domain name that is available today, might be gone tomorrow. If you find one you like, buy it! Buy it today. You can hold your domain name while your site is being developed. You don’t have to have the web site ready to go before getting your domain name. Researching and registering a domain name is included in your web site design package. Learn more at the What’s Included page.

After the quote has been approved, We’ll begin on the design process. You’ll receive three original site designs to choose from. Learn more at the What’s Included page. After you have chosen your favorite design, we can refine it, tweak it, change colors and make any adjustments you want.

From your final design choice, We’ll start to build your pages and add your content and photos. If you have opted for on-site photography, or assistance in the content writing process, then these services will move forward at the same time.

You will be given a live link to view your pages as they are completed. You can see them by using this link, but they are not available to the public yet. This is a great way for you to see your real web pages in a real browser and watch the work progress.

The length of time it takes to complete the site building phase typically depends on how prepared you are for this process. Do you have a digital logo file, photography, prepared text, product descriptions and prices? If these materials are ready to go, this phase will complete faster. We’ll talk about the things that you should have ready for this, and about what pieces you may want help preparing. We are happy to help you with things like photography or copy writing.

Hosting can be arranged at the beginning of the design process if you would like an ‘under construction’ page and your email@yourdomain to be set up early in the process. We can also set up hosting just before your site is ready to ‘Go Live’. You can learn more about setting up hosting at the What’s Included page.

Before you know it, it will be time to launch your new web site! How exciting! If you had an ‘under construction’ page, it will be replaced with your real home page. If you were waiting until completion to host your site, then hosting will be set up and domain name servers will be changed to point to your live site.

You can tell your friends and family that the site is up. You can print the URL on your business cards and letterhead. You can include a link in your email signatures. Your customers can dance and rejoice in the streets! And then you can pay your designer!

All web design clients will receive follow-up training, a copy of their site files, and a website owners manual. You will also have 30 days to make any other needed changes to the site without being charged our hourly site maintenance rate. Learn more at the What’s Included page.

Once your site is up and running, you have left the design & development phase and entered the maintenance phase. We’ll be here in the future to make updates, add features or remove any outdated information