It’s important to use that the design process is easy for you and that the website created effectively meets your business needs. As your web developers, we can assist you with gathering content from online sources, help with content organization and getting it web-ready, and we assist with content writing to fill in any missing pieces. We are readily available by email to answer questions along the way.
Web Development Process:
Initial Web Design Assessment
If you have an existing website, we will perform a full assessment to evaluate both its strengths and areas for improvement. This review covers key considerations such as:
- Overall look and professional appeal for your industry
- Placement of text and images within the layout
- Visual consistency across pages
- Type of scripting, usage, and functionality
- Navigation style and ease of access
- Optimization for search engines
- ADA (American Disabilities Act) provisions
- Social media integrations
- Mobile responsiveness
If there are elements you want to retain, let us know.
Clients without an existing site will be asked to provide an overview of what they’re looking for, along with sample URLs where possible.
Define the Type of Website Needed
We’ll first determine the purpose of your website and the content you plan to include. This helps us recommend the best platform for your needs — whether that’s a traditional HTML5 responsive site, a CMS-based site (Content Management System), a single-page landing site, or an e-commerce build.
Traditional HTML5 Website
Best for simpler websites with infrequent updates. These “static” sites are extremely secure since they don’t use a database.
CMS Website
Required for blogs, forums, polls, e-commerce, and other interactive content. CMS sites are dynamic, database-driven, and allow you (or your staff) to make updates without developer assistance. They may have template restrictions and require more security oversight, so we install the best firewall and monitoring tools available. We also offer discounted maintenance for platform, theme, and plugin updates.
Landing Page
A single-page responsive site, ideal for new businesses with minimal content or for promotional campaigns that link back to a full site.
All websites we build follow modern development standards and are ADA-compliant where possible.
Define the Pages and Their Content
Once the site type is set, we’ll need a list of all planned pages and their content. For menu structure clarity, a sitemap or storyboard is preferred — especially if you have sub-menu pages.
Please note special needs such as:
- Photo galleries or portfolios
- Custom forms (contact, quote request, surveys)
- Calendars or event managers
- E-commerce product listings or ordering systems
- Member login areas or password-protected content
- Interactive maps or location finders
Your planned content directly influences layout decisions. For example, left sidebars often hold secondary menus, while right sidebars may feature links, forms, or contact info.
The earlier we define all inclusions, the more accurate your estimate will be and the smoother the development process.
Designing the Look and Feel
The look and feel of your website is shaped by choices such as your color palette, typography, page layout, logo placement, and how imagery is used. We’ll also decide whether your site features a hero image, a slider, or a single masthead image, as well as layout specifics like sidebars or full-width content areas. Elements such as subtle animations, featured image carousels, or other interactive touches can be added where they enhance the design without distracting from your message.
To help us match your vision, we recommend browsing competitor or industry websites and noting what you like (and don’t like) — navigation styles, header layouts, image treatments, column arrangements, and footer content. If you use social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, etc.), we can integrate those into your design — from small header/footer icons to larger, more visible placements such as banners or embedded feeds.
Pro Tip: Consistency in colors, fonts, and imagery not only creates a professional appearance but also builds trust with visitors, which can directly influence how long they stay on your site — and whether they contact you.
Gathering Assets
When you’re ready, please provide your content via email, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another secure file-sharing tool. And yes — if you’re old-school and burn CD/DVDs, we’ll gladly accept those too (bonus points if you still know how to label them with a Sharpie).
Please group related items into folders named after the page they belong to so we can keep things organized.
In addition to quality business images and your page text, we’ll need:
- Your business URL
- Business name (exactly as you want it shown)
- Tagline or slogan (if you have one)
- Logo (in the best quality you have)
- Contact information
- Licenses, credentials, and memberships
- Links to social media and review/testimonial sites
- Any print marketing materials
- Case studies (if applicable)
- Website and hosting login details (provided securely)
We’ll then review everything and let you know if additional content would help strengthen your site.
Teamwork
Teamwork ensures your website conveys your company message effectively while reflecting your style and preferences. We value your input, so please communicate your ideas. If working with a team, choose one primary contact to streamline communication.
