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All Articles [22] NHS/PCT [4] Government [1] Online Business [4] Corporate [2] Small Business [4] Web Site [10] Urls [2] SEO [6] Marketing [10] Photography [1] Print [2]Understanding the Web Development Process
See all articles by: George Griggs
Last updated: [ 12.08.2009 ]
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Web Site
To most people the process of creating a web site is a mystery, and that's why it's important to choose a Website Design agency that know what they're doing. But unless you have a basic idea of how the process should be, how are you to know if your choice is the right one? To help you make that choice, below is a typical outline of what you should expect.
Analysis
The first step is to establish your requirements. Through in depth discussion of your goals, needs, audience, and what your company wants to get from a web site, a Web Agency should be able to offer suggestions and advice until you've settled on a basic blueprint for the site. The Agency will then be able to provide you with a detailed proposal, with additional features, full costings, and timeframes.
An order is then placed based on the proposal and a deposit is usually paid.
Planning
Once an order is received the Web Agency will create a working specification and schedule the project. The Client will be provided with an expected deadline for completion, as well as guidelines for content, and any other elements that may be needed from them.
Ideally a domain name would be chosen and registered at this point. This domain name is pointed at the Web Agency's servers, where if required a holding page can be displayed, saying something along the lines of "New Website Coming Soon". Required emails can also be set up at this point.
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Content Creation
Images and text are either collected or created. The Client may do this, employ the Web Agency to do so, or go to a third party. At all times the message, professionality, and quality of the content should be carefully considered, so that it matches the web site design, which should in turn perfectly match the company image. Copy should be proof read to eliminate any errors with grammar or spelling. Images should be optimized so that they are a reasonable physical size and quality, while still being quick to load.
This stage can run concurrently with the others up until going live. However, the earlier a Web Agency receives the content, the better. The amount of text, size and number of images, and the tone throughout both, can really help inform the general design and layout of a web site so really should be provided as early as possible. Being late with content can also delay the launch of the web site.
Design
The web Agency will create a concept design for the web site based on the discussions held with the Client. This would usually be a flat image showing the design and layout of the Home Page, and also any internal pages were the design differs significantly. This image is put online for the Client to view and provide feedback on.
This feedback is taken into consideration, and if necessary amended or new concepts are provided until the Client is happy to proceed with the design. A sign-off sheet is signed by the Client to confirm their approval and consent to continue.
Development
The concept image is now 'chopped up' into the discreet sections of a webpage, and additional pages are designed and built. Programmers devise the code that facilitates the functionality of the site. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) may be created to govern and ensure a consistent look throughout the site. If required, databases will be built, populated, and integrated. External systems, such as Paypal for E-commerce sites, or any internal admin systems the Client may have, are integrated and tested.
The web site build is conducted on the Web Agency's in house development servers. If required a Client can be provided with a link to the server so that they can view the web site as it is created. Feedback may be requested at agreed points, but apart from this the Client should always be aware that they are looking at a work in progress.
All professional web site development should be compliant with the accessibility guidelines and standards set out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Testing
Even a simple web site has so many different elements that extensive testing is essential. Apart from checking the basics, such as that all the link go to the right places, and that the functionality of the more advanced features is sound, one of the biggest issues is all the varying ways a user may view the web site. The large array of different browsers, monitors, and operating systems in use throughout the world means that a web site can look very different from one screen to the next. The Web Agency should minimize the chance of this difference by testing the site on as many systems as possible, and then work to ensure a consistent appearance.
Going Live
The web site is now uploaded from the Web Agency's development server to their live servers, and is available to the public on it's domain name.
Website Promotion
The web site is built and live but will need further work to start getting visitors. The Web Agency should include basic optimization, such as meta tags, and submit the web site to the main search engine and directories, as part of the process of going live. However this would not usually be enough to get a healthy amount of traffic to a web site.
Promoting and bringing visitors to a web site is an ongoing process. As well as a traditional real world marketing campaign to announce the launch of a web site, massively effective and economical online methods can be used. Full Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC) services, such as Google Adwords, should be seriously considered, as there are few, if any, better or cheaper ways of getting people to visit a web site.
In certain instances, such as with internal web based applications like intranets, promotion isn't necessary.
Maintenance and Updates
General ongoing bug fixes and maintenance may be included in the cost of the web site or as part of an ongoing service contract that may have been agreed. The same goes for updates, although if a web site has content management included, the Client may be able to perform required updates themselves.
Quotes for larger additional updates or additions are provided on request.
If hosting with the web agency, general admin of the server and email accounts would be provided.
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