Getting a website built is supposed to be a good experience that is aimed at helping bring your company into the information age and increase maximum exposure. Unfortunately, I have done many websites where the client was at their wits end waiting for the developer they originally hired to finish their website. Below I have put together a small outline of what it is like working with Swan Graphix, so you can rest assured that you will be getting exactly what you want, and it wont be like pulling teeth.
.getting to know you...
The first, and I feel most vital part of an exceptional web site and more importantly happy client, is getting to know you on a more personal level. In this first step I like to spend time with you getting to know more about your business, personality, and your clientele. This will give me a clearer picture of what will and what won't work in your particular case. Let's face it, the world is a very large place and no two people are alike, we all have different needs, and tastes. What would work for my last client might not work for you. After I get to know you more personally and have a better understanding of what you are looking for, I like to have you fill out a simple questionnaire about what exactly you are looking for in your website; colors, style (corporate, artsy, simple and informative, etc...), examples of websites you like and why, etc...
At this point I have a good idea of what it is that you are looking for in your new web presence, and, more importantly for you, what your clientele is looking for in your new web presence.
On to design...
.design process...
In this process, I spend some time coming up with some design and layout concepts for your new website. I will generally spend roughly 10-15 hours coming up with some designs that I feel will best serve your needs (sometimes I only come up with one because I have a good enough idea of what your looking for). Then I will post the composites in a folder on my server (that only you will receive the address to) for you to evaluate.
Once they are posted I will then give you the address and have you look at the comps and then we get down to the finer details. When you have had time to evaluate the comps you will notice elements that you like on one, and elements that you like on another. Or you may really like one whole design but want to see some different elements added or some color changes done. I then go in and do the requested changes, and we will tweak the design until it is exactly what you pictured your website could be, and sometimes more.
O.K. we've come up with the design you feel will best represent your company and put your best foot forward when your clients start hitting your website, now it's time to go into the development stage...
.development process...
After we have come to a final design, I will go in and slice the shell and compress all of the graphics for the main layout and create a template to work from. I will then go into the HTML and create all of the Cascading Style Sheets, Javascript, and Dynamic HTML that will be necessary for the content layout, and other functionality that will be used throughout your website.
This is where you come in, your role is vital at this stage. Once we have the structure set up I will send you a list of the pages that you have decided will be vital to your website, and I will need you to write the content for those pages. When people come to websites they want to know more about your company, the graphics, and functionality are what are going to peek their interest but the content is what is going to get them to stay, and keep coming back for more. If a client does not feel that their questions about your company are being answered they will leave and, more times than not, they will not come back to see if you've updated, by that time they've already found someone else. As I receive the content I will implement it and keep you updated as to the progress.
Well, that was fairly painless, now comes the debugging stage...
.debugging stage...
Once we have gotten all of the content input into your website, the shell looks great, and you are satisfied that you have an award winning site that will keep your client captivated and satisfied, it is time to make sure that everything works the way it should in all browsers and all resolutions. There will be a lot of people looking at your wonderful new website, and they will all be using different browsers (mainly Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, and AOL) and different screen resolutions. All browsers right now handle HTML, Cascading Style Sheets, JavaScript, and DHTML differently, and some don't like certain things. I will go through the website in different browsers and resolutions to make sure that everything is working the way it is supposed to and fix the things that are not.
You are ready to go live...
.going live...
Well, here it is, the moment you've been waiting for, time to show the world your new website. Once you have established a host (or commissioned me to establish one) to put your site on you will give me the ftp settings and the username and password needed to upload your site. Once I have uploaded the site I go through the debugging process one more time to make sure that everything is still working in a live environment.
Congratulations, you're live.
.follow up...
During the weeks following the launch of your website I will go to it and check on everything to make sure that there are no problems. After a week or two I will give you a call and make sure that everything is still working the way you expected and see if there have been any spelling mistakes or functionality problems, and overall that you are happy with your new presence on the web. After a website is done I am also happy to offer a maintenance program at a small fee, to make sure that your website keeps up with your company.
Well, that's it, you now have a new website, and happier clients (and, more importantly, new clients). At times it can seem tedious and painstaking, but trust me it will all be worth it in the end.
At Swan Graphix I take Design and Web Development very seriously, and do my best to make sure that you gain the full benefit of that drive. I hope that after reading this you have a better understanding of just what it would be like to work with me on a project, and how serious I am when I put my name on a design or website.
If you would like your own taylor made quote it's as simple as filling out this form, and I will get back to you right away with a quote.
