Client Planning Area - Web Site Design

Example of the Web design process.

Keep in mind that each and every Web Design project we do is different; different clients require have different needs. The following outline is presented to give you a BASIC idea concerning the flow of a typical Web design project. Please keep in mind while the outline below is fairly standard, your unique project could deviate from what you see. You are unique and need to be treated as such!

1) What are your needs?
We start the process by having you fill out our quote form in order to gather information about your company, services, audience, purpose, site goals and more. We use this information to help us deliver an accurately priced proposal. Until the proposal is signed, we don't have an agreement. We work with you to make sure the final proposal is your vision of how you want your project to go.

2) Quotes, Proposals and Estimates, Oh My!
Once your information is evaluated a proposal is sent that includes the order of development/work you need along with all associated costs. If you accept our proposal just sign it and fax it back! We also require that our terms and agreement form be signed and faxed back at this time as well. Proposals are formulated by the amount of work involved, the number of pages needed and the complexity of the project. Please take into consideration that it could take up to three days to create a thorough proposal as every project is different and projects that are more complex usually take longer to analyze.

  • Once a proposal is sent, all add on services/work, redesign on any level and "after thoughts" are considered additional work and will be billed accordingly.
  • Proposals are valid for 30 days.

3) We have an agreement? Let's start designing!
You agree, Keli E agrees, the paperwork is signed and faxed to us. At this time a 50% retainer is due (this amount will vary for projects over $5K). Once we have your retainer we get to work. If you do not understand even the smallest of details PLEASE ASK FOR CLARIFICATION! Miscommunication and false expectations do NOT move the design process forward in a productive manner. At ANY time please contact Keli E about any concerns, questions or comments you have about your project. Communication is key!

4) Collecting Your Materials
Text, print, copy, brochures, logos, products, pictures, product weight & cost... we need it ALL to get your site going. The more you provide us with the better! If you need a copywriter, we can provide that at an additional cost.

5) Mockup Sites and Sample Layouts
The fun part! Keli E puts together some mock-ups (example images on what your site will look like) for your company to critique and discuss. At this point we're trying to narrow down exactly what you're looking for in terms of design and layout - the visual ONLY. Your feedback is essential in this process and is welcomed (and encouraged) at any time. You are given three rounds of changes during the design process. If you still need design changes after three rounds your project is subject to our hourly design fee. The end goal here is producing a design you're 100% satisfied with. NOTE: It can take up to 10 business days to complete initial mockups.

6) Site Architecture & Navigation
Navigation is one of the most important parts of your site. The last thing you want is a user getting lost on your site due to bad navigation planning! Just as important is your site architecture - we create a site that is both intuitive for your users that has an understandable architecture. Win win for everyone!

7) Working with Materials
Resizing photos, photo optimization, color sampling (for people who want to coordinate their corporate colors or logos with their site design to maintain branding), product weight & pictures and similar tasks are all done during this phase of the process.

8) Development
Once you approve your design (mockup) we'll start developing the site, adding your content, making links work - you'll have an actual site! At this point we're more than 50% done in most cases. The site architecture and navigation is also taken into consideration during the development phase. Usability is something included in our designs. Why build a site if it isn't intuitive to your users? Consider usability DONE with us and YOUR design.

9) Home Page First!
We develop your home page first. The page is typically the most viewed page of your site. If you have requested that your site be optimized for search engines, we will begin optimization at this time.

10) Sub Pages Second
The sub-pages (based upon your approved design) are developed during this step. Forms, pictures addition and SEO are implemented at this time as well.

11) Web Site Completion and Debugging
Keli E has over 500 professional Web designers from around the world look at your site. These designers all have different browsers, computers, settings, configurations and connections - the only way to test your site for optimal performance is to have a wide sample of testers with various set ups. Real people looking at YOUR site.

12) We're done and your NEW site goes live!
Your site is uploaded to the your server (ours our yours) which makes it live on the Internet for the world to see! You can now start advertising your Web site, telling friends about it, business acquaintances and publish any print material that has your domain name.

13) Marketing Your Site
How will people find your site? We can optimize your Web site for the search engines to send your site targeted traffic Targeted traffic is people looking for your services/products, an advertising medium that no other method of advertising can claim! All searches on the Internet begin with a search engine query using a very specific phrase (humans typically use Google) - this is where you want your site to be! Need social media marketing (SMM), we can do that too! From consulting to actually doing it for you, we can address your SMM AND SEO needs! We're pros and have been in this ever changing industry since 1997. That's the type of human you want on YOUR side; geeks with experience.