The work involved in creating each web project is very individual. However, we can highlight a number of universal stages of turnkey website development. So, what are they?
Stage 1: Getting to Know Each Other
After the client expresses a desire to order digital transformation consulting services, including a turnkey website from DigitalSuits, he is first asked to fill out a brief or communicate in detail about the project with the manager. At this stage, developers determine the client’s niche and understand his expectations from the future site.
Then, the analysis is carried out. Competitors are studied, usually those who occupy positions in the top search engine results. Their strengths (what can be applied to the project) and weaknesses (what to avoid) are identified.
Data is collected about the target audience of the future site. The more information, the better. This will allow you to work out both the structure and usability of the site to the maximum.
Example
About 52% of online shoppers are women 26-35 years old. They prefer to buy via smartphone. This means that it is worthwhile to initially provide the technical requirements for adapting the site template to the main sizes of mobile displays and consider creating an application.
After this, the web development specialists are ready to offer options for turning the idea into a specific project.
Stage 2: Drawing up Technical Specifications
At this stage, a technical specification for development is drawn up, which outlines the important features of the future site:
- extended structure (hierarchy of sections, its visualization);
- cases;
- CMS, hosting requirements;
- design (concept and layouts are approved with the participation of the customer);
- functionality and SEO parameters;
- a list of content that should be on the site at the time of launch.
After the terms of reference are approved, the web company moves on to the stage of immediate implementation.
Stage 3. Design, Layout, Programming
After the designers have created the layouts of all the specified pages and the layout designers have translated them into HTML, it is the programmers’ turn. They integrate the layout (fill it with meaning) and ensure each element performs its intended functions. For example, by clicking on the “Pay” button, the client is taken to the payment page of the selected payment system.
At the same stage, installation of modules, integration with external services, and import-export are carried out.
Stage 4. Filling and Testing
The site must contain the content (texts, photos, videos) within the limits specified in the reference. Typicall,y, testing is carried out on a test server. Broken links, missing redirects, incorrect operation in different browsers,and crooked functionality are eliminated at the development stage. The site should be tested again after transferring to the production server.
Stage 5. Place the Site on Hosting and Open Indexing
When all errors are corrected, the client confirms that the work is completed and receives project documentation and all necessary access. The site is transferred to the customer’s server, which is pre-configured for the resource and is opened for users and search engines.
In the future, the site creators can provide technical support or train a customer representative to do this (by agreement). The same applies to promotion (SEO, contextual advertising, mailings, SMM).
We hope, this article gives you a full understanding of all main stages of developing a website for your business.