Step by Step

Creating a website is multi-step effort. The more thought is given to the initial planning phase, the smoother the rest of the way will be. Below I outlined an overview of a the essential phases of this process, so that you can get a sense of how it will unfold.

Overview:

1. Planning
2. Design
3. Coding and Testing
4. Site Launch and eNewsletter
5. Maintenance

1. Planning

Domain Name Registration - Your very first step should be to choose your website name. This is called "domain name" and usually ends in .com, .net, .org and so on. If you have a business, you will want a name that ends with .com. Most people are used to this mental association, and you would be best served to follow the custom. Once you have decided on a name, check to see if it is available and register it, even if you are not ready to start building your website. Good domain names are becoming ever more difficult to find, so when you have found a good one, act fast!

Web Hosting Account - Once you registered your domain name, you need a provider to host your account. There are many different sites that offer web hosting accounts, and many of them also offer free domain name registration. Some of the aspects you will want to consider are cost, quality of technical support, and space availability. A good place to start is a web hosting comparison site.

Content and Navigation - Now is the time to think about what you want to have in your website. Together we can talk about the goals of your website, who you are trying to reach, and how best to do it. We'll work out a list of pages and features you'd like, how the pages will be linked to each other, and we'll discuss the kind of look you want your future website to project.

2. Design

Armed with the information you provided me, I will create an image, or mockup, of what your home page is going to look like. This will have the exact dimensions, colors, and fonts of your future home page.

This image can be uploaded to your website, so that colleagues, friends, and family can take a look at it and give you feedback. However, since it is just a mockup, none of the links will be working. Any changes to the overall look of your website will have to be decided at this stage, before any further step can be taken.

3. Coding and Testing

Once the design has been approved by you, I will start the coding and testing phase. The new site will be tested in the major browsers on different platforms, making sure that the text and images line up correctly, all the links work, and all the special features perform as planned.

4. Site Launch and eNewsletter

After all the technical aspect have been ironed out, and we have done a final walk-through, the site will be ready to be launched. This might also be the right time to start an email newsletter. I can help you design and code it to give it the same look as your website.

5. Maintenance

If you foresee making frequent updates to your site, like schedule announcements for example, you might consider using a content manager.

A content managed site, or CMS, allows you to manage the content of your website, like making changes to the text, uploading images, and inserting videos. In case you prefer to have me do the maintenance, we can work out a plan that fits your needs.

Are you ready to start? Let's talk!