If this is your first website or you are new to working with a designer, becoming familiar with the website building process will be useful. Below is a typical project structure and timeline.
Step 1: The preliminary process
- You decide you want a website or website redesign
- You begin brainstorming and thinking about what you want.
- Examples of tasks that will help you are:
- Determining who is your ideal visitor and what you want them to do when they come to your site.
- Brainstorming your content and organizing to determine how many pages you’ll need and what will be on those pages.
- Going on the internet and building a list of sites (or features of sites) you like
- Examples of tasks that will help you are:
- You ask yourself, “Do I have the time, energy, focus, and skills to do this job myself?
- If you answered “No” to the question above, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Select your designer
- Determine your needs:
- Do you need a full custom design or a semi-custom design
- Reach out for interviews or consultations
Step 3: Working with Kirsten Hope Design
- After we have set up your consultation appointment you will be sent a link to a questionnaire that helps me get to know your business, your website needs, and your aesthetic.
- Following the consultation I will send you a proposal based on our conversation.
- The proposal will outline my understanding of your website needs, the fee for the project, and the payment schedule.
Step 4 – Decide if I am the right designer for you
- After we have talked and you have reviewed the proposal you will have a good idea if I am the right designer for your project.
- If you decide yes, you want to proceed, simply email or call to let me know.
- Sign the agreement and pay the deposit payment
- I will prepare your formal design agreement and send to you via HelloSign.com which allows you to legally sign the document and keep a copy.
- After receiving your signed agreement I will send you your invoice via email. You can pay this online or send a check.
Step 5 – Your project officially begins!
- I will prepare 1-2 design mock ups for you and send these to you via video.
- Based on your feedback I will send you revisions until the design is just right.
- Once you have chosen your design I will send you your second invoice (development).
Step 6 – Development
- During the development stage I will be building your website, sending pages to you for review, and getting your site ready to launch.
- Prior to launching your website I will show you how to add SEO settings (Search Engine Optimization) to your website.
Step 7 – Launch
- Your site is launched and ready for the public!
Step 8 – Training Phase
- Following the launch of your site you have access to me for 4 months. During the 4 month period the focus is to get you trained and comfortable in editing and maintaining your site.