• Home
• About
• Services
• Portfolio
• Process
• Resources
• Request quote
• Contact

This simple 12-step process is the proven and effective way that I take a website from start to finish. I use this process to keep things hassle-free for you, and ensure you’re updated at each stage of the project.

You'll find this information helpful if this is the first time you've worked with a freelance web designer, or if you’d just like to know where you fit in the process.

1. Initial quote

After you contact me for a quote, I'll get back to you with an estimated cost within 48 hours.
If you’re happy with the estimate, I'll set up a meeting so we can complete a detailed site requirements analysis.

2. Site requirements analysis

This meeting is about making sure I understand your needs completely and determining how I can maximise your return on investment (ROI). I'll ask you all about your project, including:

• your target market
• your organisation’s goals, products and services
• problems you want the website to help solve
• your visual branding.

3. Fixed price quote

Once I understand your requirements, I'll be able to give you a fixed price quote and a Web Design Specification detailing time frames and the exact work to be done.

4. Deposit

To go ahead with the project you'll need to sign some documentation and pay a deposit. At this stage, you'll also need to give me any visual branding elements (logos, fonts, photographs) for your creative design concepts, as well as details of your web hosting and domain name if applicable.

5. Wireframes

Next I'll provide you with wireframes for your homepage and internal pages. Wireframes are an outline of the page layout without the distraction of visual design. They will help us to decide where objects should be placed on the page (content, menus, logos etc) in order to guide the user to where we want them to go.

6. Visual design

After we've decided on a wireframe layout, I'll provide you with visual design concepts which show the proposed layout with colours and imagery. I usually create one homepage concept, one for the internal pages, and individual concepts for any unique pages such as contact forms or photo galleries.

This is when I'll also give you the Design Rationale explaining how the design works and how each element contributes to your website’s overall goals. You'll have the opportunity at this (and every) stage to request within-scope changes.

7. HTML templates

Once you've approved the visual design concepts, I'll build the basic HTML and CSS templates, testing them for accessibility and browser compliance.

8. Complete HTML build

When you’re happy with the HTML templates I'll move on to building the complete website using the written content you've supplied. I'll send you regular updates so you can see how the site is progressing.

9. Final testing

Before presenting the completed site I'll do a final test and debug to ensure your new website works optimally across standard web browsers and screen resolutions. I'll upload your site to a staging environment and send you the link so you can look through the entire website before it’s published.

10. Go live

I'll publish the website to your domain name and complete a final test of all the pages. I'll also submit your website to various search engines so they can begin to include your new webpages in their search results.

11. Post-launch support

After your site is live I'll continue to monitor it for the next few days. I'm also available to you for the next 10 working days to help you if you have any questions or concerns.

12. Close of project

At the end of our project I'll send you the final invoice along with a CD copy of your website and customised ideas to help you drive traffic to your new site. Don’t forget, my warranty period means you’re covered for the next 2 months and, as always, you can contact me with any questions or concerns.

Contact me for more information or request a free quote