The Website Design Process

In order to determine whether I can help, I require basic information so I can do research.

• Contact information ...
  • Name, phone & email
  • Website address (unless you do not have one yet)
• Overview of your business ...
  • What exactly you do.
  • How long you have been working in your industry.
  • Why you started your business.
  • I will be happy to meet at a time and place convenient for you, including evenings and possibly over the weekend.
  • Challenges you are facing.
• Your competition ...
  • Who are they and why do you consider them your competition?
• Schedule a meeting.

In order for our meeting to be most effective, we will both need to prepare.

• What I will do:
  • Review your website.
  • Review your competition.
  • Create a list of suggestions and recommendations.
• What I will ask you to do:
  • Review your own website, making a list of what you like and wish to improve on.
  • Review your competitor's websites (if applicable) and make a list of what you appreciate.
  • Outline what you are hoping to accomplish.

I respect your time so I will aim to keep the meeting short.

• Brainstorm ...
  • Thoughts regarding your own website.
  • Thoughts regarding competitors' website efforts.
  • My ideas and suggestions.
• What do you hope to accomplish?
  • Discuss your current challenges.
  • Brainstorm ideas for the website to help overcome them.
• Website review ...
  • Look at elements of your competitors' websites that may be a good fit for yours.
  • Give you a demonstration of my own websites and point out relevant features.
• Review your marketing efforts ...
  • What other online marketing are pursuing?
  • Do you have a Google business profile? Is it complete?
  • Are you doing any offline marketing?
• Wrap-up ...
  • Summarize meeting highlights to be used in the proposal.
  • Discuss any remaining questions or concerns.

The meeting is meant to help establish whether I am a good fit for you and whether we would work well together.

• Did I listen?
  • Do you believe I understood what you do and hope to accomplish?
• Did I answer your questions?
  • Was I able to answer them or do you feel there are important aspects I have not addressed?
• Are our personalities compatible?
  • Creating a website is a team approach. It is important you feel comfortable working with me.
• Have I established trust?
  • My aim is to always be transparent. If I believe I can help I will let you know. If I don't think I am a good fit I may be able to refer you to someone better suited.

Surprises are never good, especially in business so I take the time to create a detailed proposal, summarizing the highlights of our meeting. This generally involves an outline of the website I envision, complete with button names and content ideas.

If other important parts of your online marketing are missing they will also be addressed.

Upon receipt of the signed contract and deposit, my work on your website begins. Projects usually evolve over time and the scope may change. If this were to happen, I will discuss potential amendments to the contract.

How long the website takes to build depends on the scope of the website and my current work-load. All original content needs to be provided unless you prefer I interview you instead to collect the information.

The outline established in the contract is used as a foundation. The colour scheme will be based on your logo to ensure consistency.

The new website will be built using a website address the public will not have access to and you can review the progress at any time.

You know your business best so original content needs to be written by you but I will create a detailed to-do list and break required website content into small and manageable pieces. Once items on this list have been completed the list is updated. This ensures we are staying on track and you will always know how close we are to completion.

I will assist with content as much as possible and make suggestions for improvements.

Before the website is launched the content will be checked for spelling mistakes and you can review it to make sure everything is perfect.

• Connecting email accounts ...
  • Depending on whether you are using your existing hosting or have decided to switch to True inSite, email settings may require updating or new accounts need to be set up.
• Training ...
  • If you have chosen to take advantage of website features allowing you to upload photos or change text, I want to ensure you feel comfortable with the process. I will connect to your computer remotely to give you a demonstration and then watch you do it on your own. All instructions will be emailed to you as well.
• Login details ...
  • Any account credentials that were created or accessed by True inSite will be supplied in a single email so you have all important information in one place. This may include email logins and settings, domain control panel, login for photo galleries and hosting.
  • With the information provided, you have control of all online marketing True inSite was involved with. You can then pass it on to someone else who will be able to take over.
  • If you wish, I can also provide you with a complete backup of your new website.

I offer discounted packages to clients who wish to have ongoing website, computer and marketing support.

You will be able to make most changes on your own but I have clients who prefer to send edits via email and have me complete them.

For changes you are unable to make or structural modifications to the website my minimum charge is ¾hour. However, I work very efficiently so to avoid being charged for individual edits I always suggest clients send multiple change requests at the same time.