Website development process checklist – The Step By Step process
WordPress website design process checklist – The Step By Step process
The 16 Steps of the Website Design Process. Quality web design is much more than building a website and having a step-by-step approach to web design is the key to success…Web design Process.
Discover how following a structured web design process can help you deliver more successful websites faster and more efficiently.
The 16 Steps of the Website Design Process for Clients at digitallydiv Agency.
Quality web design is much more than building a website and having a step-by-step approach to web design is the key to success…Web design Process Checklist, here we go..
An introduction to our web design process
#1 Initial Chat with the new Client
Pro Note:
Do not discuss the Content( that Clients are supposed to provide) at this time of the session.
The reason is simple, thinking about the Content that they have to generate, they tend to get shy of the project itself.
The Initial talks with the client-2 Hours
In the Initial Chat with the new Client/prospect/Lead we talk about many things Including:
– The web design package that client want to select from our Bronze, silver and Gold plans.
-The Price Module and Total cost of the project
– For <$10k price deal we normally don’t send proposals and also we do not provide Mockups, we write down price points and whats Included in the plan and email details to the client..
However more than $10K deal we send the proposal document to the client.
-Number of pages the new website will have : the Home page, service pages(Number of service pages to be included),
About page, Contact us page and Blog page, portfolio page and so on..
-We will discuss briefly about web design Process and build Timelines.
#2 Sending out Price Points Via Email or proposal (PDF via Email).
Price Points or Proposal
Normally if the Project cost is < $10K we send an Email with the price point , and In detail description of the plan selected and what’s Included in the selected plan , and the snippets from the Initial talks.
However, If a Client needs a proposal for what ever reasons , we will create one for them.
#3 SOW-Statement of work( when the client says we are Interested)
SOW-Statement of work as per the Plan chosen by the client
The Complete Statement of work document will be sent to the client along with the Contract to sign. Check out our SOW details
We will need Both documents signed with in 7 working days.
What is SOW
A statement of work (SOW) is a document routinely employed in the field of project management. It is the narrative description of a project’s work requirement.
It defines project-specific activities, deliverables and timelines for a vendor providing services to the client.
The SOW typically also includes detailed requirements and pricing, with standard regulatory and governance terms and conditions.
It is often an important accompaniment to a master service agreement/Contract or request for proposal (RFP).
#4 Contract Sign:
We don’t start the web design process without signing the contract, Period.
The contract is an important document for the Agency and the clients to understand how the process goes.
Contracts provide a written document that outlines the full understanding of the business relationship and scope of the work so that no one can claim any misunderstandings later down the road.
“Society is indeed a contract. … It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection.”
Edmund BurkeReflections on the Revolution in France
“A contract is only as good as the people signing it.”
Bryonie WiseCEO
#5 Request 50% of the Project cost in ADVANCE(NON-Refundable)
Show me the Money: 50% of the Project Cost
Once we receive the initial Non-refundable deposit, we will send the welcome pack to you .
What does our welcome Pack Include :
1. Our step By step Web design process(PDF), so that You don’t miss any step. PS:We email the client after completion of every step of the process.
2. Welcome letter from Our Director DIV Acharya
3.SOW – Statement of Work
#6 Deep Dive in to the client’s web design requirement and needs
Digitallydiv Process
In the deep dive meeting, we zero in on a specific concept and design direction.
We will sit/chat with the client to Understand Clients Goals, Objectives and dreams about the website. We develop a strategy as per their needs .
What do we discuss in the Deep Dive meeting( One Or Two ZOOM meetings each for 3-5 Hrs)
1.Discuss the structure of your site prior to our meeting with your team
2.Make a list of the content priorities for your home page
3.Look at other sites in your industry to see what they are doing and what they have on their sites
4.Get the list of competitors and see what they are doing in their websites
5.Get input from your team/You on what needs to be on your website
6.What functions do you want? Put yourself in the user’s place and think about how your site should work
7.Make a quick sketch on a piece of paper, showing where you want things to go.
We talk about every point related to the Home page( it’s your TOP sales page) , service pages , About us page and Contact page.
For Instance ,If a client want a Lead Magnet to be used for the email collection, we provide advice on type of content as per the client’s Niche.
We discuss about What does all the pages contain. In this step we want the client to be confident of what they are looking at as this is the step where we finally decide on how the website is going to look like.
PS: No new elements are added away from the SOW .But, can be added with an additional cost.
Zoom Chats + Phone calls is the combo that works for us!
#7 As per the plans selected , source 5-7
Themes for the client to select one WordPressTheme selection/custom Mockup
As per the Plans selected we provide 5-7 WordPress themes that will suit the niche OR Two page Custom Mock up(For the GOLD plan).
Once you select the theme that you like, we zero in the them and start the work.
Custom Mockup: We provide Two pages mockup for the review-The mocks are done only in Gold pack (Home page and a service page) send them for revision..
Look at Our Plans & prices
#8 ask for the content.. Your content is due now
Clients; Homework
Content is DUE form the client side.
In this Stage the Client will receive Home work package with the details about what we need from them Including:
-Niche Specific Content for Home page, Service pages , About page
-Contact details , Social media links, Brick & Mortar Address for Google map, Phone Numbers and Email address.
-Team photos, Business related photos,Text, Or any Infographics to add in the website.
At this stage we wait for the Client to send the content, However the build work do not stop.
we will start the work with design and Build , still wait for the content arrive .
#9 The website build starts while waiting for the client to send the Content
The WebsiteBUILD
We start Building the website as soon as possible .
However, if we have not received the content from the client we wait for them as well we start the website Initial web build without the content and fill the content once we receive them.
Pro tip: Do not stop the website build because you haven’t received the content from the client.
You can always use “Loren epsum “and fill the real content when you receive them.
This way you are on the TOP of the complete process and can complete the project on said timeline.
#10 1st Revision of the website sent to the client
2-3 Revisions as per the Plan selected by the client : Revision Sent to the Client
We will do our clients website on a secure cloud away from Google spiders.
We will send the link for you to review. We limit the Revisions to 2-3 as per the plan selected.
WHY LIMIT REVISIONS? CAN’T WE JUST MAKE CHANGES UNTIL Client is HAPPY?
Good question, and one we get asked all the time when designing websites, brochures or anything else for that matter.
We’re not being lazy—there are definite benefits to you in keeping revisions tight, especially in a website redesign and Design. We want you to be happy with the final product—and the final invoice.
Limiting website revisions does not deter the creative process; it actually helps to focus it.
#11 Before we work on the revisions , Request for next 25% of the Project cost
25% of the project cost
In this stage we will Require the Next 25% of the total Cost. Once we received the funds , we start working on the Revisions.
#12 We work on the Revisions( 2-3 Rounds of Revision as per the Plans)
Why do we Limit the Revisions
The bottom line is, get consensus on the direction you want to take before we start designing.
Round 1
In the initial presentation, we zero in on a specific concept and design direction.
We analyse the input from our conversations with you and your team and transform the ideas into the design.
You will see a presentation with 2 or 3 concepts created for the home page.
Each concept will speak into a specific benefit of your product or service. The headlines, images, fonts and colours will reflect a different benefit or show one in different ways.
Featured work on the revisions
The Benefits of Limiting Website Revisions
• Your project will get done faster
• There will be less confusion on both sides
• The design team will not experience burnout
• It helps us both be accountable for the timetable
• You will keep your project on budget
• Procrastination disappears and your decision-making process is clearer
• The design will look fresher and not look “worked over” or turn out like the kitchen sink
• Your message will not be muddled by over-thinking
That’s why we stick to 2 rounds of changes for all the plans.
It holds you accountable and helps you focus in on things early on, saving a lot of time, money and disappointment in the long run.
Round 2 At this point in the website development, we have a clear direction for the images, colour, styles and layout.
Now we build out the home page and a few subpages, applying the design direction to each one. At this point, we need to have all of the content ready, edited and approved.
#13 Final Review & Website Test
Final Review & testing
Reviewing and testing functionality is key to a successful site launch.
Inspect the design in all the devices desktop, Laptop, mobile and tablet.We sometimes go traditional and literally check on all the devices.
Before we get into testing the functionality, we take a look at the visual elements of the design.
Are we using the right final-final-final logo?
Are there new photos to swap in? And did you increase the font size on the calls to action?and so on…
#14 Final Invoice
Final INVOICE $
The Final payment (25%) before we Migrate your website to your Chosen Host.If we find the Host you are planning to move do not suite your website, we recommend the host will clearly suits your website needs.
#15 Congrats! The website is Ready for Migration
YAY!
Now Your website is ready to Loose us.
Your Website ready for the move…to your selected Host.
We are WordPress experts
We know WordPress like the back of our hand. Chances are we have encountered a migration error before and know how to fix it.
We always migrate sites manually.
This is better than using a plugin such as Duplicator, and also allows us to check and remove any adjustments some web hosts (e.g. WPEngine, Siteground, Bluehost, GoDaddy…) make for their hosting environment.
Website Migration/Transfer
Your website transfer handled by experts. We will move your site between any two web hosts with no downtime, at a time of your choosing.
We can also handle DNS and domain transfers, to make the migration process as simple as possible.
#16 The Final step
Thank you letter from the Director
We can’t Thanks you enough for being part of this Journey and giving us the Opportunity to serve you.
We are here to help if you need any assistance in the future. We loved working with you and your team, we hope you are too.If you are happy with our work, you can provide us the feedback.
We will send the links to our GMB and FB page for the review.
Director at Digitallydiv Agency
Make it a habit to tell people thank you. …
—AnonymousReflections on the Revolution in France
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. …Thank you for brightening my world.”
Div Acharya CEO
What’s your Web design process Looks like?
The great design isn’t about how you integrate the social media buttons or even slick visuals. Great design is actually about having a website creation process that aligns with an overarching strategy.
Do you follow a similar design process, or does yours look radically different? We’d love to hear all about it, so comment below.
