The Process of setting up your Website
My expertise is not just in building the website you are wanting, it is in helping you finding the right solution for yourself and your business. More often than not my clients are a little confused about the wealth of possibilities that they could employ in their website. Understanding the business side of things and the proper implementation of the website into the business routine is a crucial part of the success of your new website. Therefore, proper planning in the beginning will put you in the driver seat of your website.
The Different Stages of the Website Creation
1. Planning
So, you would like to enhance your business through the help of a website? It is here where we start with the planning. The more you know what you want from your website the better I can help you. Some people have a very good idea about this, others can utilise my help to establish the real need for their website. In my many years of running my own business, being a director and a consultant to other companies and people I am able to give you profound advise and help you establish what you really need.
On the basis of this information we are then able to define the scope of the website.
2. Setting up
Once we established your needs, I will setup the content management system on your chosen web server and connect the domain name. I will create the desired email and FTP accounts for you and install the basic software thus making the system ready for the next steps.
3. Designing
Designing involves the creating the graphic look of your website. Do you have a branding established, it highly suggest we follow its guidelines. If not, you might have a logo (a logo is a substantial part of your new website, please read more about this here) and some preferred colours or some sample websites that you particularly like the design of it.
We will be establishing your design of the website in this step. This design gives one part of the structure to your future website.
4. Content
Content, content, content ... we are talking about images, photos, videos, written articles and other information the website will display to its visitors. While the design plays one part in the equation, content is certainly the part that makes it complete. Remember, this is your opportunity to reach your audience. The better the content, the better your clientele. Apart from helping you structuring this content, I can and will not write any of your content for your website. This is what you need to bring to the table before we even can begin to build your website.
5. Building / Implementing
In this stage I will install other components, Modules, Plugins (extensions) to your website and make final adjustments to the look and feel of your website. Your content will be implemented and will become visible to the audience.
6. Taking Ownership of your new Website - Signing Off
While some testing had to be done throughout the process of building your website, now is the time where the final testing will take place before the website is handed over to you. GO LIVE!
I will hand over a written document outlining all the passwords and what has been implemented into your website. You will be responsible to keep that in a safe place as I do not store records such like this for privacy reasons.
Maintaining your website is fairly easy as we have implemented a Content Management System that allows you to make changes to your website no matter where you are. I have created some tutorials for your perusal to help you with this task. Also, during the process of building your website I might have asked you to add some content yourself in order to give you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the new system. However, one of my biggest strength is support. I offer tuition packages if you would like help with this.
Enjoy your new website!
