As a Website Designer, I get asked the same question a lot: “How do I get a website designed?” The obvious answer, to me, seemed to be “hire me to make it for you.”
What I have found, though, is what they REALLY mean is “What is the process of getting a website designed?” They know that I can’t just make a site out of nothing, but they don’t know what, if anything, I’ll need from them. They also don’t know how long it takes, how much it costs, what they can expect to get from their website, etc. etc.
Business people, in general, want to the know the bottom line: when will it be done, how much will it cost and how much return on investment should I expect?
In fact, I have found that many people haven’t gotten a website created for their business because they had a lot of questions that other web designers either couldn’t, or didn’t want to, answer.
In order to address these questions in one big comprehensive answer, I have written the Steps of Website Design:
Step 1 - ”The Sit-Down”
This one is fairly self-explanatory. Basically, weI sit down with you, talk about your business, and figure
out how your website can make it more effective…and of course, more PROFITABLE!
Of course, depending on your location, we don’t have to actually sit down together. Our “sit-down” can be done by phone, email, fax….we can send postcards back and forth if you’d like, although I wouldn’t recommend that.
Once I have all that, I give you a Comprehensive Design & Maintenance Quote. This is what we think it should cost to do all the things your website will need. It includes Design, Hosting, Search Engine Optimization and everything else you’ll need.
This is also the time that you give me any materials you have (flyers, ads, brochures, pictures, logos, news articles, etc.) related to your business. This helps give me the overall “feel” of your business, which will help me to design your site. For example, if all of your other promotional materials use red and yellow heavily, and feature a specific company logo, and your site uses blues and greens with a completely different logo, then the site isn’t going to be as relatable to your business, which means it will be less effective (and less PROFITABLE!).
Step 2 – “The Name”
Once we’ve got all that nailed down, if you haven’t already picked out your domain name (for example, buy-my-peaches.com) we help you pick out your site’s domain name.
We help you figure out the name you want, make sure it’s available and then purchase it for you. Don’t worry, the cost of initially purchasing your domain name is factored in to your Comprehensive Quote. We don’t know about you, but we HATE hidden fees!
Step 3 – “The Contract”
Once we both know what we’re getting into, we draw up a Contract for the Design & Maintenance of your Website. This Contract has a bulleted list, written in plain English, of the services you will be receiving, as well as a breakdown of your price.
In terms of payment, the way we usually do things is that 1/3 of the cost is paid at the time of signing the Contract, another 1/3 is due upon your approval of the Mockup (see below) and the final 1/3 is due once the site is completed and ready to put online.
I say “usually” because, depending on the size and cost of your Package, and the amount of time it will take to design it, payment can be drawn out into smaller installments.
Step 4 – “The Mockup”
After we get your John Hancock (and your Ben Franklins), we begin drawing up a Mockup of your site. This will give you an idea of the overall “look and feel” of your site. The Mockup normally comes in a few stages, the first being a quickly-drawn sketch on a notepad that we’ll do at the Sit-Down just to give you a basic idea of where we’re going, and ending with a fully-designed graphic image that will show you exactly what the site will look like.
Once we get your OK on the Mockup, we move into Step 5.
Step 5 – “The Design”
This too, is fairly self-explanatory. I take the materials you’ve given me, and the Mockup you’ve approved, and start building your site.
Unlike many other companies that pretty much keep you in the dark until the site is created (those darn techie types), we keep you regularly updated along the way. Typically, we’ll let you know as each page is designed, and give you a link to see it for your input and/or approval.
Step 6 – “The Launch”
Once the site has been finished, we move forward with The Launch. This means that we put your site online, submit it to all the Search Engines and Directories and begin our Link-Building and Promotional Campaign.
Congratulations, your business is now Online!
Unfortunately, The Launch does not actually involve anything being launched into space. Although we have no problem coming to your place and shooting off a bottle rocket in the parking lot to commemorate the event, provided that sort of thing is legal in your area.
Anyway, check out Our Portfolio, then head over to read some of Our Testimonials, and if you want a professionally-designed website with that personal touch for your business, Get a Quote from Myrtle Beach Website Designer!
PROFITABLE!
