life cycle of the web site
Steps to creating a web site with me. Here is an outline of the steps so you’ll know what to expect and we’ll stay on task!
1thoughts to action
Decide what you want. Do you want a fully customized web site or will one of the premade designs work? It’s your choice.
Figure out what you need. What is the web site for? Are you informing the public? Collecting donations? Selling services or products? Showing off your photos or artwork?
2 prototype/draft
Whether you ordered a fully customized web site or a premade design, we’ll have a little chat to discuss what you want and what you need. The overall look and feel of your web site draws from your logo, color scheme and other parameters you set.
3 prep work
We both have to roll up our sleeves to do some hard work, but our efforts will pay off in a big way at the end. While I am tinkering behind the scenes playing with the code, you are typing away furiously on your key board to create content that is engaging, relevant, and appropriate to your audience. Use this time to collect images or photos to complement your soon to be web site.
Please note: You are responsible for all website content. I am happy to help. For an hourly fee, I can write, edit and/or input your copy.
4 building the site
Once the web site is built, it needs your content and images to complete it. If you haven’t gotten around to it, no worries. Either I will give you a link to the testing server or I will set you up on your own domain name with a complementary “web site in progress” page that the world will see. Your site will come complete with sample text you can swap out whenever you are ready.
5 a little test run
Now it’s time to take it out for a little spin. This is to make sure everything looks and works properly on a variety of current and up-to-date web browsers. Visual elements such as spacing, line height, font styles and colors are tweaked as needed.
6 go live!
Once the test site is approved, we’ll move it all over to your server, install selected plugins and check it out a little more to make sure everything is just right. Then we’ll simply remove the “web site in progress” page and tah-dah! It is live for the world to see! I’ll show you how to insert pages, add text and do special stuff as outlined in our initial service agreement.
If you aren’t ready to show the world your great new site just yet, just keep the “web site in progress” page until you are!
Be on the lookout for a copy of your web site files, which includes web pages, code, graphics, etc. Please hang onto these files as I don’t keep client digital files indefinitely.
7 post launch tweaks
Minor tweaking and adjustments are included (up to two hours) for two weeks following your web site launch or the date I turn the web site over to you. This means that if something is missed during the review process and you require minor modifications, you can be assured that it can be done quickly and at no additional cost.
8 keep your site healthy
Don’t let your web site go stale. Keep your content fresh to keep your visitors interested and search engines happy. Upgrade WordPress when there are updates, to use the great features and your favorite plugins. Updates are necessary to increase security as websites are vulnerable to hackers. If you need help keeping your content updated and/or your web site healthy, contact me today!
