Step 1 Information gathering
As a starting point, we require all of the information that will be present on your site. This includes any electronic information you may have already accumulated, such as images, text documents, company logos etc.
The more information you can present to us at this stage, the faster the initial designs of your site will be completed. It is always helpful for us to have more information than we need, that way we can be more selective and create more diverse designs for you to choose from.
Items like your company logo, and sales brochures can be used for us to create colour schemes that will compliment you existing literature. Your website should fit into your company's identity and maintain continuity.
Step 2 Site & Audience research
Once we have all of the details of the kind of services or products your business provides, and what you would like to see on your website we start researching your competition and how to get the attention of your target audience.We do this by visiting search engines and searching for companies that provide the same services or products as your business. Once we know your main target audience, we can look at sites that are popular to that specific group. For example, if your target audience is teenagers, then we would research music and game sites etc. This helps us to find out what catches their eye and how best to present information to them.
Step 3 Site Plan
Once all of the research is completed, we then work on the website plan and decide which pages will go where on the website. We also decide how best to present the information to your clients and the basic layout for the design.We also register your domain name if you do not already have one, and begin to investigate the coding requirements for any dynamic content you may have.
Step 4 Initial Site Designs
At this stage, we make up several images detailing the initial concept designs of your website. These images are not fully functioning but almost like paintings of your new website to help you decide which one you wish to choose.Once you have chosen a site design, we will then refine it until you are happy with it, after this we move onto the next stage.
Step 5 Site Build
Once a decision is made about which design you would like us to go ahead with, we will start building your site. Whilst doing this we keep in mind usability regulations and test download times.Once we are happy with the layout of the site, we add the navigation to the site and create the links. We can then make the page into a template from which we create the other pages of your site.
Using a template makes it easier to update big changes to your website and ensures that the site design is identical on every page.
Step 6 Search Engine Optimisation
To make your website more visible to the search engines we input keyword phrases into your website content. This means that search engines will read your website content and store the keywords in their database. When clients search for a keyword that is used in your content, your website will show up in the results.To decide which are the best keyword phrases to use in your content we take into account the products or services that your business provides and the keywords that people are most likely to use when researching resources such as yours.
Step 7 Content Addition
Once the Search Engine Optimisation has been performed on your site and the enhanced content created, it is added to the pages.Usability is the biggest issue here and we try to make the pages easy for your potential client to use as well as complying with all of the relevant standards and conventions.
Step 8 Dynamic Content Creation
If you have requested to have dynamic content present on your site, that is content that changes frequently, then the programmers will begin working on creating these systems for you.Currently we use the PHP/MySQL languages for our sites, as experience has shown these to be extremely reliable and stable. It is possible that during this stage we may need to liaise with you about this in order to get it to work exactly as you need it to.
It is important that we create a system that is usable both to you and to your customers. The flow of data is thoroughly planned at each stage to ensure minimum data redundancy and maximum efficiency.
If you are storing clients information, then you will need to have a privacy policy on your site, which we will help you to prepare. You may need to register with the data protection commissioner if you are storing certain data, or if you are using data in a certain manner.
Step 9 Testing & Going "Live"
Once we are happy that the site is complete, a rigorous testing regime is employed. We not only test the site ourselves, but get confident outsiders from various age ranges to make sure the site works in the way expected. This is one of the most important steps as creating a site that is both appealing and functional to your target audience is our main objective.When all of the small problems that may have arisen in the testing phase have been fixed, the handover occurs, during the next two weeks, any problems which you may discover with the site, providing they are not significantly different from the original plan, will be fixed free of charge.
The site will then "go live" and you can start benefiting from a well designed and optimised site.
To find out more about how we can help you why not fill out an online quote form or contact us.