The decision to upgrade your website is a big one. It requires time, money, and energy. So what should you expect during the process? We break down our process for you below!
Step 1: Design
This is the fun part. You’ll likely talk about color schemes, function, special features (like e-commerce), graphics, videos, and the overall look. We always recommend coming to the meeting with a few examples of websites you love. After that meeting, the creative team takes some time to bring your vision to life in 2D.
Step 2: Review
Once the team has had some time to work through the design process. it’s time to show the client. This is usually done in person with a presentation. You can discuss the layout, colors, etc. during this time. Often, more meetings will follow as you’ll likely have some feedback and changes that you’d like the creative team to implement.
Step 3: Develop
Now that the design is approved, it is time for the website to go to the developer. The developer starts to build the website on a production server so you can view the site online without it being viewable to the public. During that time, you can work with the copywriter and other people in the agency to nail down the voice, content, and graphics. This is usually the longest part of the process, but it is the most important!
Step 4: Test
Once your website has been coded by the developer and you’ve settled on all of your content, it is time to review your new site on the test server. You’ll receive a link to view the website and share with your company and decision-makers. Usually there are a few tweaks that need to be made at this stage before the site is finalized.
Step 5: Launch!
At long last, your new site is ready to launch! Once you give the go-ahead, the developer will start the launch process. This includes setting up hosting and getting the domain pointed. It will also take some time to propagate. Be patient — it will be worth it! After a few hours, your site should be live and ready for you and the rest of the world to enjoy!