Six Steps to a Great Website
STEP ONE
INITIAL MEETING
Estimated Time: 2 hours
Objective
1. To flush out all long and short-term goals that surround your career or business, and brainstorm ideas on which online tools could aid you in those goals.
2. To distill the main ideas of your brand, company or project into visual cues and images
3. To explore a typical customer/reader and what he/she would want to know about you, your company, your products or the information you offer.
Method
We usually lead people through a “goal map” or brainstorming session at the beginning. We start by identifying the end point, (where you want to be in 5 years for example). Then we work backwards, step by step, to figure out what is needed at each stage. We start to identify which online tools you will need to be in place when and how they will need to expand in the long-term.
We then brainstorm about your project’s message and audience. What you offer, who is your customer/reader, what information you are trying to get across. We identify themes and then distill those ideas into visual cues. We talk about other websites you like and why, as well as websites you don’t like and why and come up with a theme that will act as the foundation of the project.
Why This is Important
This initial meeting gives us a clear idea of where you are headed and what tools are necessary to help you get there. It ensures that your short-term goals are not working against your long-terms goals and that the tools are built with expansion in mind. This gives us invaluable information when it comes to structuring and coding your tools and will save you both money and time down the line.
We all know that images speak a thousand words, so before we start choosing colours, fonts or putting images on your site it is important to figure out exactly you want to say and to who you are talking to. Brainstorming about the project’s messages and your intended audience is invaluable even if you already have a working brand, or a website. It is good idea to re-visit the brand message you are sending out periodically to make sure it is still aligned with where you want to go.
STEP TWO
PROJECT PROPOSAL AND ESTIMATE
Estimated Time: 2 hours
Objective
1. To outline the project and describe the tools that will be utilized and why. Each of the tools that are to be built have a separate budget and are itemized as to what they will do and how they will fit into your overall goals.
Method
We put together a proposal based on the initial meeting and based on our extensive knowledge of available online tools and resources. and present it to you in an email. If the plans are to your satisfaction, I proceed to the next step.
Why This is Important
This ensures that we are both on the same page as to how to move forward and why. It ensures that we don’t waste our time and your money building tools that you won’t use or won’t be helpful. Technology should be helpful – not a hindrance. We want to make sure that the tools we are building for you will be something that can be easily integrated into your life.
STEP THREE
CONTENT
ESTIMATED TIME: Depends on how much you do yourself.
Objective
1. To write and create the content required. To follow the agreed upon project proposal and gather the content needed to fulfill the specs.
Method
Usually you will provide the content required. You know your business better than anyone else and so it is always best if you spend the time to gather info and/or write about it. If you absolutely cannot do this – we can do this for you. However, in the event that we are developing content it will require another meeting and will take longer. This is due to the obvious reason that we will need to learn more about your business and products in order to write the content.
Why This is Important
It may seem obvious that websites are nothing without content. Without pictures, drawings, video, stories and information your website would be empty and useless. But you may be surprised by how many people overlook this step. Content will not take care of itself. Even if you hire someone to do it for you – it will require your time.
STEP FOUR
NAVIGATION MAP AND DESIGN MOCKUPS
Estimated Time: 8-10 hours
Objective
1. To outline the navigation systems and to provide static visual examples of what it will look like.
Method
We will email the visual mockups and the navigation map to you for your approval.
Why This is Important
To ensure we are both on the same page before we proceed with the next step. There is a lot of work that is involved with taking a website from visual mockup to dynamic and live and if there are to be changes to the layout, the navigation, or the overall structure, it is saves us time and you money, to make the changes before the site is coded.
STEP FIVE
DEVELOPMENT AND CODING
Estimated Time: 8-20 hours
Objective
1. To code the site and begin testing.
Method
Depending on the project needs the site will be coded using a language such as html, flash, php and/or open source code. The site will be sent to a testing server and will be tested on a number of different browser/system combinations to identify any bugs.
Why This is Important
Coding makes the site work dynamically instead of just be a static picture. Testing is important because each browser/system is different and could display the website very differently or have various problems displaying the website. Although it’s impossible to test for every single browser/system variable, getting a fair idea of how the site looks on different browsers and systems is always a good idea to make sure you aren’t alienating large groups of people.
STEP SIX
FINAL MEETING AND TRAINING
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours
Objective
1. To go over the site, the tools that were implemented and how they work. How the site fits into your overall plans, and what you need to think about down the line in terms of expansion.
2. To go over any training of admin tools as necessary – how to use content management systems, how to login to your hosting server, use email, troubleshoot etc.
Method
We will go through the website together step by step – go through each feature and program and go through any administrative access site as well. If you are hosting with me I will go through the hosting details: where the server is – how to access it – how to access email, how to set up your own email client etc., so that you can start using everything right away and make a seamless transition.
Why This is Important
If we built certain administrative tools for you, or if you are hosting with us it is necessary to train you on how to access and use these tools. The best way to do this is for us to walk you through it while you do it yourself. It is possible to do it over email or the phone – but we have found that it usually is best to sit down and go through it together. Also we use this last meeting as a check-in - to make sure that everything is to your satisfaction, that you know how to use the site and you are comfortable with the technology. Technology shouldn’t feel like a burden - it should make things easier. But, as with any other kind of tool, you need to use it a few times before your comfortable. With this last meeting we can go over how the technology fits into your long-term goals and what functionality you can expect from it. That way you can immediately go away from the process feeling comfortable and organized and ready to move on to your next project.
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