PHASES OF WESITE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
There
are numerous steps in the web site design and development process. From
gathering initial information, to the creation of your web site, and finally to
maintenance to keep your web site up to date and current.
Phase
1: Information Gathering
The
first step in designing a successful web site is to gather information. Many
things need to be taken into consideration when we design the look and feel of
your site, so we first ask a lot of questions to help us understand your
business and your needs in a web site.
Phase 2: Planning
Using the information gathered from phase
one, we put together a plan for your web site. Here we develop a site map – a
list of all main topic areas of the site, as well as sub-topics (if applicable).
This gives us a guide as to what content will be on the site, and is essential
to developing a consistent, easy to understand navigational system. This is
also the point where we decide what technologies should be implemented –
interactive forms, CMS (content management system) such as Word Press, etc.
Phase
3: Design
Drawing
from the information gathered up to this point, we determine the look and feel
of the site. Target audience is one of the key factors taken into consideration
here. A site aimed at teenagers, for example, will look much different than one
meant for a financial institution. We also incorporate elements such as the
company logo or colors to help strengthen the identity of your company on the
web site.
Once
we’ve designed a prototype, you are given access to the Client Studio, which is
a secure area of our web site. The Client Studio allows you to view your
project throughout the design and development stages. Most importantly, it
gives you the opportunity to express your likes and dislikes on the site
design.
In
this phase, communication is crucial to ensure that the final web site will
match your needs and taste. We work together in this way, exchanging ideas,
until we arrive at the final design for the site. Then development can begin…
Phase 4: Development
This is where the web
site itself is created. We take all of the individual graphic elements from the
prototype and use them to create the functional web site. We also take your
content and distribute it throughout the site, in the appropriate areas.
This entire time, you
will continue to be able to view your site in the Client Studio, and suggest
any additional changes or corrections you would like to have done.
Phase 5: Testing and
Delivery
At
this point, we attend to the final details and test your web site. We test
things such as the complete functionality of forms or other scripts, we test
for last minute compatibility issues (viewing differences between different web
browsers), ensuring that the site is optimized to be viewed properly in the
most recent browser versions.
Once
we receive your final approval, it is time to deliver the site. We upload the
files to your server – in most cases, this also involves installing and
configuring WordPress, along with a core set of essential plugins to help
enhance the site. Here we quickly test again to make sure that all files have
been uploaded correctly, and that the site continues to be fully functional.
This marks the official launch of your site, as it is now viewable to the
public.
Phase
6: Maintenance
The
development of your web site is not necessarily over, though. One way to bring
repeat visitors to your site is to offer new content or products on a regular
basis. If this interests you, we will be more than happy to continue working
together with you to update the information on your web site. We offer
maintenance packages at reduced rates, based on how often you anticipate making
changes or additions to your site.
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