We've found that most people who aren't in the business of designing websites aren't aware of how this process unfolds. This lack of knowledge may hamper our working together as a team to design the best possible website for you. So, we've included a breakdown of the steps taken to create a professional website. We have a questionnaire in PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) or Macromedia Flash Paper (needs no new software to open) that you can download and print. You can then fill it out and we can discuss your website construction and what will work best for you when we meet. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your machine, you will need to download the free version of this software. Do do that, click on the icon below.


Initial phase (free first consultation) - questions the client (you) will need to answer:

1. How many pages do you think you will need? (Home page, contact page, "about the company" page, product/services descriptions, information, links, etc.)
2. Do you have a limit to the amount you can invest in your website, and if so, what portion of your site is the most important for you to have developed first?
3. Do you have a deadline or a timeline that your web site must be published by?
4. What is the purpose of your web site? What will the theme of the content be? Search Engines look for one or more valid topics running through a web site, and rank sites accordingly.
5. Continuing from question 4, who is your target audience? Young people (young children, adolescents, teenagers, college students) parents, adults, seniors, men, women, families, religious groups, businesses, etc? Who do you primarily wish to reach through this site? Are your products/services in a price range where anyone can afford them, or are you targeting a specific income base?
6. Do you currently have a logo you want to use, or do you need one created for you?
7. What colors do you want to use for your site? If this thought hasn't occurred to you - don't worry. We'll offer suggestions that can help you make a decision on colors. If you already have colors that you would like to use, we'll be happy to incorporate them. The third possibility is, you have been using a color combination that's no longer working for you. If so, we'll help you pick new colors.
8. What name do you want for your web site (your domain name), eg: www.yourwebsitename.com? Do you already have a domain name or do you need us to help you get one?
9. Do you know who you want your site hosted with?
10. What kind of graphics would you like to use? Do you have a designer who will create them for you? Will they include photographs? If so, are these photos digital or will they need to be digitized?
11. Do you need dynamic content (content which changes with certain conditions)?

Second Phase (once all questions in the previous section have been answered):

1. The Design Team will provide an estimate for the work, as discussed, and present it to you. This will include a high and low estimate, depending upon many factors, including number of photos, and programming costs if you need a more interactive site (forms, e-commerce, database maintenance, password protection,etc.). Once a cost is agreed upon, we request partial payment before beginning work on the site. If the project will take several weeks or months, we will work out a payment plan with you.
2. Once payment is received, we will create a sample design for your site and discuss it further with you. Changes can then be made until we find the right combination of aesthetics and function.
3. We begin the design with one or more templates, depending upon the complexity of your site. For example, you may have one look for the home page and another for "inside" or secondary pages. After agreement has been reached on the design stage, content can be added.
4. Client approval will be needed before going on to the third phase.

Third Phase (adding content, creating additional pages, testing):

1. Now that the design has been approved, content can be added. Content can range from words to forms, graphics, photographs and dynamic content, if requested. Costs will vary depending on several variables, including amount of programming required, how many graphics may need to be developed, and whether we need to write the copy, or it will be provided by you or a copywriter of your choice.
2. All levels of checking for errors, including spell checking, testing and debugging, and checking for broken links, will now take place for each page in the site.
3. The client will play a part in this final testing, checking the site for errors or last minute "tweaking" that may be required.

Fourth and Final Phase (we're online!):

1. Any final changes are made, the final payment is received, and the site is loaded onto the server. After the site is "published", the client is given 30 days to request any minor modifications or corrections at no further charge. Any major changes will be at additional cost, which will be agreed upon before any work is begun.
2. Your site is then registered with major search engines, both locally and globally.
3. If requested, your site is then scheduled for maintenance, or if you choose to maintain it yourself, handed over to you for maintenance.
4. Training can be provided to your staff to aid in maintaining the site, if requested.

While this may seem very complicated, the steps listed are necessary for a professional and fully functional site. Site development and publication can take from 3 weeks to several months depending upon complexity and speed of effectiveness of communication between you or your representative and our company. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.