Website design process for custom design
We follow a simple 6 step process for most sites, however, larger sites with integration and back end coding needs require a slightly different process:
- 1. WebSpec interview. We help you to work out your needs and what works for your budget.
- 2. Project plan meeting: develop Project Plan, Content Summary, and Site Plan.
- 3. Design brief meeting: Complete Design Brief and Template Requirements.
- 4. We complete the custom web design mocks for you to approve.
- 5. Either yourself or our copywriter, completes the content.
- 6. We build the website, you do a final check on content, approve and Go live.
Project plan
Your will meet with you, at our office or by phone to develop a project plan.
At the end of the meeting:
- We will confirm the timetable and each others responsibilities (Project Plan).
- You will have a specific list and names for pages in your web site and web page titles (Site Plan).
- If you are preparing the content: You will have developed an overview of the content for each page (Content Summary). Your account manager will also have explained "best practice" for writing web text including: heading, search terms, benefits vs features, testimonials, graphic text vs plain text for features/testimonials and will also explain formatting requirements that you have to provide: text, page breaks, headings, content photos, testimonials, feature boxes.
- If we are preparing the content: your account manager will provide the Site Plan, and your brochure materials to your copywriter. Your copywriter will call you for a telephone meeting to complete the Content Summary, and take your copy brief.
- We will set a content deadline in conjunction with you, usually 4 weeks. You may find that you are missing some pieces of content (eg. that elusive testimonial). It's OK, because that's why you have your content management system. Your web content is NEVER complete because you will always be getting new testimonials :)
Design brief
- Your account manager will meet with you and talk through the Design Brief. You need to prepare for the meeting: logo, colours, design photos (not content photos). Your account manager will discuss with you and confirm instructions on: screen resolution, menus styles, colour styles, photography ideas, stock photo issues.
- We will also draw up with you a diagram of the core elements that need to appear in each page (Template Requirements)
- At the end we will have a final Design Brief and Template Requirements for you to sign-off.
- Your account manager will ask our designer to start on the custom website design mocks.
Design mocks
- Our designer will commence work on the design mocks.
- If we have any questions that need clarifying your account manager will call you. In some packages, our designer may email or call you directly with queries.
- Your designer will put the design mocks up in a secure area for you to view. You account manager will call you to discuss.
- You can seek changes to the mocks. However you need to be quite specific about what you want to change.
- Our designer will make the changes and we will ask you for final sign-off.
Content submission and web build
- If our copywriter is preparing the content: they will provide drafts for you to review as part of the copywriting process.
- You or our copywriter will provide the account manager with the final copy, before the copy deadline.
- We will build the website, and place it on a test server for you to do final review of the copy.
- You give your final approval and the site is made Live.
Simple!
Of course for more complex sites, we follow a different process, but we are committed to being open in all processes. We are also committed to maintaining timetables, if you would like to see this process in action, get your WebSpec now and let us manage your new or improved web development for you, just contact us and we'll lead you safely through the build.
Call us on 1300 13 89 31 to discuss your website needs.