Getting Started

The following is a general step by step explanation to help you understand what we need to do to get you up and going on the Internet. The links to the right lead you to more detailed information.

Web site development includes:

  • Initial consultation with the customer
  • Domain name selection and registration
  • Selection of a reliable Website Hosting Service
  • Custom Website Design
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Search Engine Submissions
  • And much more!

Website Planning Phase

Planning - If you have not already done so, you should take some time to think about what you want to accomplish with your Website. Determine if you will need any special functionality or interactivity with your visitors. Also consider the type of design style that appeals to you. Visit our "What you need to do" page for more detail.

When you are ready, please contact us and request a free, no-obligation Website consultation.

Contact Us - to set up a phone consultation. During the phone consultation we talk about your requirements, discuss preliminary feature sets, and sketch out the site's graphical concepts. Based on this conversation, we'll recommend a general go-forward strategy.

Proposal and Plan - Once we understand your needs we will outline the scope of the project, estimate work duration and effort, and provide you with an estimated completion date and price. ** Note: completion dates are always contingent on the timely receipt of any required material from the client (i.e.., graphics, text, etc.)

Website Development Agreement - Once we have come to an agreement on project details and price, we will prepare a Website development agreement for you to review, sign, and send back with your deposit.

Initial Deposit - The signed agreement and a 50% deposit is required before we can begin your project. The balance will be due just prior to publishing your new Website. Once we have received your 50% deposit and signed agreement, we will provide you with a copy of the fully executed agreement, a receipt for your deposit, and your project start date.

Gather Your Content - You should then gather up all images, text, and links that you want as part of your Website. This may include contact information, location, hours, logos, and testimonials.

Initial Preparation

Upon Receipt - of your deposit and signed agreement, we will send you a confirmation of your deposit and agreement.

We will also provide a list of items that we will need from you over the course of development. You will need to let us know the navigation links you would like (such as home, about us, services, etc.) and supply all text and/or product information you want included on your site. In addition, you may also supply material such as company logo, personal photos, etc.

Website Design

Design - We'll incorporate your ideas and company logo into an initial prototype for your approval. If you have any guide sites you would like us to refer to when designing your site or if you have any preference as to colors, style, etc. please offer that information.

Ideally, all of the above information should be supplied prior to the start date. If all of the information is not available at the start of the project, we will gather this information during the design process.

Prototype Review - In most cases, we can provide a prototype within 3-5 business days following your start date. After you have reviewed the design, you may request modifications to the design until we achieve the final desired look. Once the final desired look is achieved, we will create the interior page layout and add programming, etc. During this process, you will have the opportunity to review all progress being made.

In Progress Viewing - We will set up a private directory for your new Website on our server so you can view the Website development progress. When updates to your site are completed, we will inform you via e-mail so you can review the progress.

Construction - We're now ready for any needed coding and add the site content. Based on your agreement and the final design you selected, we will create as many pages as needed to complete your site. We also complete the navigation links or drop down menus, and rollover effects, if requested. The site map page (larger sites only) will include easy one-click access to all pages of your site. We use CSS stylesheets to define font faces, styles, sizes and colors for consistency throughout the site.

Response Forms / E-mail Contact Forms - We recommend at least one contact form for your visitor’s convenience. With the contact form, a visitor can e-mail you directly from your Website without needing to open their e-mail program. This is especially convenient if a visitor is not using his/her own computer and their e-mail program is not available.

Testing Prior to Launch

Search Engine Readiness Check - We double check all meta tags, page titles, page heading, alt image tags, link text, and page body text and adjust them where needed.

At no time can we guarantee when or where the search engines will place your Website within their search results or directory.

Browser Compatibility Testing - We test your Website on a variety of browsers to ensure everything displays and functions properly.

Spell Check - Before we publish your Website, we perform a spell check on all pages to minimize mistakes.

Dead Link Check - We thoroughly check for misdirected links and missing files prior to and after publishing your Website.

Forms/Programming - We test all e-mail contact forms and/or programming features included in your project to confirm they are functioning as designed.

Revisions - We'll ask you to review your site one more time before publishing it and make any final changes.

Website Launch

Publish your site - Once you approve the final site content and functionality, we are ready to launch your new Website live on the Internet.

Website Launch - Final payment is always due before we publish the Website on your domain. Upon receipt of final payment, we will e-mail you a final/paid in full receipt. All necessary Website files and scripts are uploaded to your Web host's server. After the Website is live, we test any interactive programming and scripts to verify proper function.

Website Files - After launch and testing of your Website, we can provide you with an archive of all Website files if you request it.

Website Instructions & Documentation - We provide any documentation and information pertaining to your Website (domain name information, hosting information, features and software information) in a Website Information Document for your files and future reference.

Search Engine Submission - Search engine submissions occur after launching and testing of your Website.

Warranty Phase - We will make minor adjustments to your Website, at no charge, for up to two weeks after launch (maximum of up to 3 hours labor). Minor changes include adding or changing text, adding or changing photos, etc. Any major revision requests will require additional discussion and will possibly incur a fee.