OK, so you are ready to get your website project up and running, but how do you do it? There are several steps in the process that often go unnoticed in the end result, and as a result many people designing websites overlook them altogether
This can be bad for your website in multiple ways, but especially from the user experience (UX) standpoint. This refers to how a website makes its visitors feel. For example, does it frustrate users, or does its navigation clearly and easily guide the user to make informed decisions? Are the colors and shapes of graphics and text appropriate to their intended message, or do they cause confusion? In addition, inexperienced web designers tend to overlook search optimization. When we design websites, we give much attention to each of the terms that web searchers might use to find your business, because that is how they will find you online! We build the site with these terms in mind, so that Google, Bing, and other search engines can send searching customers your way.
Below is an overview of the Web Design Process, which takes all of these and other considerations into account throughout the site’s design and development. In upcoming posts, I will break down each of these five phases to give you more insight into what goes into a site design. In the meantime, if you’re ready to get started on your web project, go to the Web Design Questionnaire; and, if you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you!
The Web Design Process
- Research Phase
- Gather Website Requirements
- Compare Competitor Websites
- Determine Key Terms, Design Elements
- Design Phase
- Layout
- Content-Gathering
- Final Design
- Development Phase
- Coding
- Testing
- Final Prototype
- Launch Phase
- Satisfy Hosting/Domain Requirements
- Upload Site to Web Server
- Submit Site to Search Engines
- Post-Launch Phase
- Training
- Tracking Analytical Data
- Maintain Website Wish List for Next Site Update