Initially we need to know to know the purpose of your web site, with an overview of the content that will be provided. At this point it is important to note if there is any need for advanced interactivity such as flash animation, video, blogs, newsletters, calendars, eCommerce, etc. For most sites an Xhtml web site is all that is needed, though some clients will be better suited with a CMS (content management system) web site if the need for advanced interactivity is high. Note that if your site is going to use advanced interactivity it is important to ensure that your site's hosting space is suitable for this. In most cases we recommend a Unix server since they are less expensive than Microsoft servers, are very secure and stable, and are typically able to process Perl and PHP scripts of all types without issue. If you need hosting space or a domain name we recommend www.godaddy.com, though we also offer affordable site hosting for our clients, and can register a domain name for you on your behalf.
If you have an existing web site we will perform an initial assessment of it in which we will evaluate both the strengths and areas that need improvement. This evaluation will cover the header design and the logo inclusion, visual layout, text styling and effectiveness of the content, choice of site colors, graphical inclusions, style and effectiveness of the navigation, and the site's strength with regard to SEO (search engine optimization). Clients without an existing site will be asked to provide a detailed overview of what they are seeking in a web site if this has not already been provided.
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If you are unsure about what you need on your web site we encourage you to use our web site worksheet's 10-step process. Upon submission, this form will automatically be sent to us. |
Site Map.
To start you will need to provide us a listing of the pages needed for your website, and we would prefer to have this provided in a site-map format. This site map should contain the desired page name and a general overview of the content that will be provided for each. If you have special needs for a page, such as a photo gallery, calendar, etc, please indicate this. If you plan to have sub-categories (utilizing a hierarchical drop-down menu system) please indicate this in the site-map as in the following hierarchal menu example:
Home (index.html)
- about us
-- overview
-- press
-- employment
-- customers
-- affiliates
- company services
-- service 1
-- service 2
-- service 3
- contact us
-- contact information
-- privacy policy
-- legal disclaimer
Representative Model.
Once we have a clear idea about the pages your site will need we will ask you to provide representative visual models of the look you are after. Typically we like to receive 3 or 4 links to sites that you find visually effective, wherein you will indicate on each site what you do and/or don't like as specifically as possible. As with our initial assessment, it is important for you to identify what you liked with each in regard to the header design, style of navigation, site colors, page layout, use of images, etc. From your answers we are able to better assess your own design preference.
Navigation.
There are a variety of ways to provide navigation for your pages, both static (text links and non-animated graphical buttons) and dynamic options (flash, dhtml, javascript). Most contemporary websites use text links with styling done through CSS since these are search engine friendly; but navigation bars and graphical buttons (with or without a roll-over) are commonly used as well. In most cases the navigation is aligned horizontally below the header. Note that typically between 6 to 8 links can be represented effectively in a horizontally aligned format when designing for the default 800x600 browser window. If additional links are needed then either a hierarchical menu with "drop-down" sub-categories would be used, or a separate vertical navigation system would be employed as well (often effective if you want to differentiate content type). Note that we encourage the use of text links in addition to all dynamic menu systems to ensure effective indexing by the search engines. You can view samples of navigation systems on our - "navigation design" page.
Header Design.
In addition to a site's colors, layout style, and navigation, the header design undoubtedly will make the biggest impact on how your site is perceived. Header styles vary considerably, from a simple logo inclusion at page left or center, to a representative image, collage image design, or flash animation. You can view samples of header design styles on our - "header design" page.
Gathering Assets.
When you are ready please provide the resources available for your site's design through email as an attachment or direct mail (cd/dvd). Initially you will want to provide us a high resolution copy of your existing logo if you have one (and plan to use it), your contact information, and your text and image page content. We will then discuss any additional content you may need. Note that we will gladly assist you with acquiring the needed images for your site, and in most cases we can assist with the copy writing of your site pages. We can also scan documents, render documents and images to .pdf format, and we can work will all common files types, photoshop and illustrator, eps, tiff, jpg, png, etc. When providing your own images please size them relatively larger whenever possible, typically 800px in length is sufficient, and of suitably high resolution to help ensure their visual clarity online. If you are in need of representative images, we recommend istockphoto.com.
Now that we know the look/feel you are after in a design, have all your ready content in-hand, and know the additional content you will need, we can provide you an estimation of the cost and the time needed for your site's development. In most cases the quote we provide will never be exceeded. The exception would be if during the development process additional development not previously indicated is asked for, accordingly the quote may rise to reflect these changes. If a quote is exceeded, you will be promptly notified. Note that our estimate is based upon the anticipated hourly ($35/hr) rate cost of a site's development from the initial site evaluation through site development, and its final optimization and submission.
The first thing we do when designing a site is evaluate the top-ranked web sites of your industry to see what they are doing effectively. After looking at several sites of your competition we will begin a unique site layout utilizing the visual and functional elements that we have found to be effective while always keeping in mind your own design preferences and the functional purpose of your website. We strive to utilize the latest of design practices while conveying your message beautifully and effectively through quality graphical inclusions.
When a design model has been defined we will create the home page.. This page will include all common design elements, including the logo/header design, navigation system, page colors, layout style, page text, and visual ascetics (such as drop-shadow borders, rounded table edges, gradients, etc). We will then post this page on-line from our server and provide you a link for assessment. After your feedback has been provided we will then make edits as needed. This process of initial development and assessment typically takes a week with one or two revisions, though in many cases we satisfy our clients expectations the first time.
Once the initial home page has been approved we will begin to create all the additional pages using this initial page as a visual model for the others. As we develop the site we will periodically upload these new pages, allowing you to follow along in our progress. After a page has been completed we will contact you by email and provide you a link for viewing, during which you will want to convey to us any text/content edits that you feel are needed. In most cases the development time for a website is approximately two-weeks on average sized websites once all content has been received.
All the site pages are optimized to be ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant, and search engine optimized for enhanced ranking. This includes proper use of keyword density, "title" and "alt" tags, unique page titles, and effective use of the meta-tags (specifically the "keyword", "description", and "index, all" tags).
Once all the pages have been completed we will ask you to "test" the entire site with regard to functionality, ease of use, and visual layout to ensure that we have achieved the look you are after.
Once the site is completed we will need to get access to your hosting server. This information consists of the server-path, the username. and a password. In most cases the server-path is your domain name (web site url), though in a case where you have yet to get a domain name then an IP address can be used. It is important to note that some shared hosting companies use a company specific pathway, such as www.mpower.com/~username. In some cases we will also need you to provide us "control panel" access to your hosting space as well. The control panel (cpanel, plesk, etc) is used to set up email redirects, install databases, provide site backups, and perform other routine functions.
Once the site is uploaded we will test the functionality online. We will then submit your web site to the top ranked search engines and directories. Note that in most cases this first submission of a site is ample to get a quality ranking, though based upon the online competition in your market, it can take several weeks to get a prominent ranking. In such cases we do offer a premium marketing option as well that includes nearly all possible search engines, directories, and online yellow pages.
Lastly we will email you an invoice for the cost of the site. This cost will be based upon the mutually agreed upon quote for development services.. And know that even after your site is completed we will always be available to make additional changes or updates as needed.
We look forward to working with you! |