Web site development can seem complex and daunting. It isn't. This page shows you exactly what the process is and what documents are needed at each stage.
You'll be informed at every stage of the build exactly where you are. Also we promise to explain each stage carefully and thoroughly.
Once we have found out about you and you've decided you want to work with us (research phase), there are four main phases in building your site and running it:
Here's a full breakdown of the stages and what's involved at each stage.
Stage
Documents/actions
In this phase we find out about you and your project and give you an accurate estimate of the costs and timescales involved.
The initial contact between us and yourselves is recorded in this document together with your contact details and your general project requirements.
We record Customer Contact Details
Research phase
We respect your confidentiality and privacy. If you need us to sign a confidentiality agreement, this is the time to do it. We have a standard NDA (Nondisclosure Agreement) that we can sign and fax to you.
We send you Nondisclosure Agreement
Following any initial meetings and discussions we produce a ballpark estimate of cost and timescales within which the project can be completed. This is emailed and posted to you.
We send you Ballpark Estimate
If you like working with us and accept our ballpark estimates, the greenlight document commits us to working with you on the project and commits you to undertake the project and pay us accordingly.
You send us Greenlight
In this phase we work with you to design the site precisely as you want it.
The Statement of Work is our instruction manual for building your web site. It contains everything we will need to know about how to build your site, including these elements:
We send you Statement of Work
Design phase
Once we are agreed that the Statement of Work is complete, you sign it off so we can proceed to the build phase.
You send us Statement of Work sign off
In this phase we build the site for you, giving you the opportunity to make as many adjustments and refinements as you need.
The designers produce candidate designs for your approval.
We send you Candidate Designs
Build phase
You decide which design and which designer you would like to work with and appoint that designer.
Designer appointment
You can refine the submitted design up to two times.
Your fixed price covers two refinements of the design only. If you would like to add additional elements to the design it may affect the cost and launch date of your site.
You send us Design Refinements
In accordance with your timetable we will release sections (modules) of your site for your approval. We aim to release one section or module at a time for you to test.
We send you Module Release Note
You can refine the layout and text in any module or section up to two times.
Please note that your fixed price covers refinements of the layout and text only. If you would like to add additional elements to the site that are not in the Statement of Work this may affect the cost and launch date of your site.
You send us Module Refinements
If during the course of the site development you would like to change anything described in the Statement of Work or add any additional elements please submit a change request so that costs and timescales can be adjusted accordingly.
You send us Change Request
The site is ready for sign off when the design has been signed off, and all modules have gone through up to two rounds of refinements. The site is now complete and ready for launch.
You send us Site Sign-off
In this phase we host and manage your site as per the Statement of Work.
Once your site is live we manage it in accordance with the Statement of Work.
This can mean we host your site on our super-fast and ultra-reliable web servers, manage your email and email accounts, manage and performance-tune your databases, provide any training you required, make changes to your web site and everything else you might need.
You submit Issues
Manage phase
In this phase we help you to get visitors to your web site.
Our Spotlight product gives you monthly search engine submissions to bring visitors to your site. It is a service tailored to your budgets and requirements.
If you would like to order Spotlight please submit a Spotlight Order form.
You send Spotlight Order Form
We send Spotlight Reports
Promote phase
We can run marketing workshops for you and your staff. Contact us to arrange dates and times.