1. Register the web site's domain name with a reputable registration service such as Network Solutions. I can help you with this if you'd like. The cost of a domain name is anywhere from $15. to $35. per year, depending upon the registration service you choose.
2. Specify the web site's organization and site structure. This means figuring out which pages will be in your site, what information will be on each page, and how the pages will be organized within the menu.
3. Design the visual concept and layout for the web site. Based on our discussions, I design up to four visual layout options that you can then choose from or that we can use as starting points for arriving at the final web design.
4. Create all the web pages. This begins with collecting all images, text, media, etc. that will be used to create each of the web pages, and then using those elements to create the actual pages.
5. Test all aspects of the site.
6. Arrange for web site hosting. This is an outside service that I can help arrange for you. A reliable website host costs about $10-$20 a month for most sites.
7. "Go live" with site - put it online, accessible to the public.
8. List the site with search engines such as Google. For many search engines, it's not necessary to manually register, since these search engines find your web site on their own. However, there are some manual steps that can be taken in some instances.
Professional, custom web sites require care and planning to do things right. The time it takes to complete a site depends upon many factors, such as the degree of complexity. Is the site static? Database-driven? Are there Flash elements included? How much material needs to be included in the site? In most cases, I suggest allowing 4-8 weeks for a site's completion.
The timeline is very much dependant on how well-prepared a client is — if they have their text written, photos taken, and various other details worked out. For some clients, we've had their web site completed within a couple weeks. For others, the process turns out to be more complex than they anticipated and the site has taken longer to finish.
Additionally, one of the more crucial aspects to building a professional web site is planning for ease of future maintenance. In many cases it can be quite easy to put a quickie web site online almost overnight. But that approach often doesn't take into account the issues involved in making future edits. As many "quickie" web site owners have found, if it's too much of a hassle to maintain, then the web site just ends up sitting there outdated and useless.
It's possible that the "friend's nephew" approach could be sufficient for your needs. However, much more goes into creating a successful web site than simply tossing a page or two up on the internet.
1. Professional planning. An experienced web designer has the knowledge and resources to know what works well for a professional web site — how to organize the site's content, understanding of how different visitors will see a site, knowledge of the complexities of search engines, and much more.
2. First impressions are critically important! A professional web site design that properly represents your business or organization makes a lasting, positive impression. If a web site looks amateur next to its competitors, site visitors will likely choose the competitor.
3. Search engine ranking (SEO). A web site's ability to be found in the search engines can be crucial. After all, if no one knows your site is there, it's basically useless.
There are thousands of "web site designers" out there — everyone from inexperienced teenagers making a few extra bucks, to high-end firms that charge tens of thousands of dollars. With 10 years of experience offering web design services, we're able to create affordable, high-quality custom web designs that can make your website a success for your small business or organization.
A common mistake that some businesses or organizations make when needing a website is the "Can you just make one for me really quick?" mistake, expecting it to all happen without their input. Clients should be prepared to provide content — text, photos, etc. — and to make decisions as to layout and functionality of your web site.
You will have full ownership of your web site once it's completed. You can manage it however you wish.
However, there are a variety of factors that may affect your decision to do so. You or your employees may not have the ability or comfort level to learn a new technical skill. Or it may be that the web site updates will be so rare that it's easier to simply pay someone else to do it. Each situation is different. This is something we can discuss during our initial meeting.
We do not offer websites developed exclusively with Flash. We personally feel that Flash is often overused on web sites, slowing the load time and displaying content that visitors don't care about seeing. We believe in keeping sites clean, simple and easy to navigate. However, small Flash elements can work quite well and we frequently use them in the form of slideshows, text animation, etc.
Guaranteeing that we can get you a #1 Google ranking would be unethical. We include basic search engine optimization with any site that we create. Search engine optimization is a complex undertaking and there are many companies specializing in just that aspect of the internet. It takes planning, trial and error, and patience, and it doesn't happen overnight.
Contrary to popular belief, a web site will not appear in the search engines the moment it is put online. Sometimes it can take many months to appear. How long you have to wait depends on the search engine, but you should usually allow a number of months, particularly with Google.