how I build your site and other questions
If you are new to owning your own web site, or would just like a more 'plain talking' explanation of what goes into making a professional, modern web site, then allow me to talk you through the finer points.
I have broken the process down into smaller sections, so please feel free to click a link below to jump to a certain section.
If you require any help with any of the terms used below, then check out my 'Web Design Glossary' which should explain anything you need.
Type of Site | The Design | Construction | Content | Launch | Optimising | Statistics
Part 1: what type of web site?
(Typical Time: 1hr - 1day)
The first conversation we will have (after "hello, my name is Paul!") is to discuss the type of web site which will best suit you. This conversation will evolve from what you tell me about your business or organisation - and I will give you some options based on what I feel in my experience would best suit you.
There is never any point in forcing a web site that is far beyond what the client will ever need, so if its a 3 page information site that will best suit, that is what I will recommend - if it is a huge monster (technical term!) of a site, then that is what I will recommend.
In all instances, I will outline 2 or 3 differing options for you in any case, which would allow you to start with something smaller and build up at a later date.
After being commissioned to start your project, I will usually ask for a 50% deposit (with the remaining 50% payable on completion).
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Part 2: design phase
(Typical Time: 1-7 days depending on feedback)
Once we have agreed on the size and type of web site that would suit you, comes the design phase. Again, this is a very open, 2-way conversation. It is very important to me that the client has a web site they really love - and not just something that I can show off on my portfolio. That said, I will make certain recommendations and suggestions based on my experience of what is best suited to a professional web site.
If you have your own logo and colour branding, that is a great place to start a design from - or I am also able to produce these for you if you are just starting out.
The design process will then begin and depending on the type of site and discussion we have, I will present you with between one and three differing designs. You then can take these designs and show friends and family and gather feedback - if there are elements that require changing, then that is absolutely fine and I will re-produce the designs to your feedback.
This back-and-forth process will continue until you are totally happy with the design - but in honesty, it often takes very little changing from the initial design to get that magical look.
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Part 3: construction and programming
(Typical Time: 2/3days - 3weeks depending on size)
Once the design has been agreed - and signed off as 'the one', I then begin to build the web site for you on the internet. Depending on the type and size of site, this can take anything from a few days to a few weeks (timings will be outlined to you in Phase 1 above).
During the construction process, I will supply you with a private web site address so you can log on at any time and monitor progress as it goes along.
You will also be given access to your own Client Account Area. This type of initiative is uncommon for large web design companies, let alone private Freelancers and it is something I am proud to offer my clients. This Area will allow you to have a complete overview of your project, see invoice information, make payments and most importantly during this phase, have access to a 'Blog' made especially for you.
The 'Blog' is a series of messages from me which I will post as I build your web site - you can then log onto the Blog at any time day or night to catch up with progress. Of course you can contact me any time by more conventional methods for an update, but the Blog allows you the freedom to keep track of progress at your own leisure!
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Part 4: content and testing
(Typical Time: 1-3 days)
Whilst I may ask for your content during Phase 3, it is important once the programming is completed that your own content is ready to go onto the web site.
If you are struggling to raise any substantial content, I do offer a Copy Writing service which can be called upon to provide comprehensive copy and professional imagery for your web site - please inform me if you need my Copy Writing service.
Once the building of your web site is completed, the copy will then be added to the site. Unless quoted otherwise, I will always build a bespoke Content Management System (CMS) with your web site. This is my own creation and not a 'difficult-to-use' off the shelf package.
Using the CMS, you will be able (with my help) to insert your copy and content onto the web site Working together, we will then test the web site in full to ensure code and copy are working in harmony and everything is as it should be for you.
(Please note, a 'Milestone' date will be set for you to supply your copy for me. The Milestone date for copy will usually coincide with the final payment for your web site and I would respectfully ask this date is complied with.)
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Part 5: Launching your web site
(Typical Time: 1 day)
Once your web site has been agreed, designed, constructed, content added and tested, its then time to make it live on the internet.
If you do not have your own web site address (domain name/URL), then I can purchased one on your behalf as part of your package - which would then be renewable yearly.
If you already have a domain name, you can either transfer ownership from your current supplier to myself, or finally, I can log into your supplier and just 'point' the domain name at your new web site for you.
You then have the option to set up your email addresses with me. You can have an almost infinite amount - though in reality, you should only require between 1 and 3 if you own a small business and obviously more for bigger companies where staff require an email address each.
Once you inform me which email addresses you require, I will assist you in setting them up for use and provide you with all the settings you will need.
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Part 6: Optimising your web site
(Typical Time: 1 day)
Once your web site is launched, it is important to ensure it is correctly optimised.
There will be certain optimisations that I will make to your site as part of the construction process and some which will be made at launch. You may have heard the phrase "search engine optimisation" (or SEO)? This is a process that any (good!) web designer should evoke on your web site.
The largest search engine, Google, use a highly secretive formula for ranking web sites that nobody fully knows. As web site developers, we have to make do with 'recommendations' that Google provide to us, so we can best optimise a web site.
There are far too many to list here, but suffice to say, the days of 'keywords' pushing your web site to the top of Google are long gone. A more complex - and fairer method now decides overall ranking based basically on how good your content is and how well your web site is built (as I said, there are many other factors within these two facets, but I am trying to keep this article simple!).
An organisation called "W3C" make recommendations on what makes both a technically good web site and a usable one. Any good web site designer (or company) should adhere to the W3C recommendations as these are known to assist your Google ranking, as well as making your web site conform to a prestigious industry standard of quality. And of course, as a 'good web site designer' (and modest too he! he!) I will ensure your web site meets the W3C standards.
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Part 7: search engine statistics
(Typical Time: Ongoing)
As your web site is now live and also optimised, it is time to watch it grow and flourish. Now sitting doing that is like watching paint dry of course - so its a good job with have Statistics! Lovely Statistics.
As part of your package, I will install Google Analytics onto your web site. Google Analytics is a piece of software Google provides to help monitor your web site in terms of the number of people visiting, how often it has been shown in their search engine and all other many of useful facts and figures.
As with all my other services, I will take care of this for you and outline the best way to monitor your web site on an ongoing basis to ensure it is heading on the up and up.
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