How a project runs
Nine phases in sequence. The output of each phase is the input of the next, so no phase starts before the one before it is done.
- RequirementsWe agree on what the site must do, why, its inputs, and the end result you expect.
- Information gatheringPurpose, main goals and target audience. A clear plan here saves you from paying later for redesigns or features nobody planned.
- PlanningSitemap, wireframes and the technology stack, approved by you before design starts.
- DesignVisual style, colours and usability (UI/UX), built on proven components rather than custom ones wherever possible.
- Content preparationYour texts, headlines, calls to action, photos and videos, organised to match the sitemap. The guide below covers this phase.
- ImplementationHome page first, then the inner pages following the sitemap, then features, plugins and on-page SEO.
- Testing & documentationEvery link, form and script checked, spelling proofread, code validated, and the work documented.
- LaunchFinal checks on the live server, backups taken, and the project archived.
- Maintenance & reviewRegular updates to prevent bugs and security risks, and periodic performance testing after launch.
First questions
Your answers are the first input of the project. They don't need to be polished, just honest.
- Do you have a website now? If yes: how long have you had it, how easy is it to update, and what do you like and hate about it?
- What are your goals for this project?
- Who is your target audience?
- Which specific features do you want on the site?
- What could make this project fail, and how do we avoid it?
- Who are your main competitors?
- What makes you different from them?
- What is the scope of the project?
- What should it connect to? (social media, apps, your internal systems)
Why real content
Your website is the line between you and your customer. Its job is to turn your company's data into information a visitor can act on: contact someone on your team directly, visit one of your branches, request a quote or place an order. All of that depends on the quality of your files, the accuracy of your data and how well the content is presented.
Most websites use photos taken from the internet, and that is fine. But real material, such as photos of your premises, your team and your work, makes the site more credible and shows that you stand behind your products and your capabilities. The more credible it looks, the more likely a visitor is to rely on the site to reach you, and to become a customer.
Your website is also an extra branch, open at any hour, from anywhere, with no effort. Everything above is a way to support your content: use it or skip it.
What to prepare
Treat these lists as a guide, not a form you must complete. Add your own vision and anything that isn't listed: whatever supports your goal and your company's direction is worth including, in detail.
1. About your company
- Who we are
- A short description for the home page, and a long, detailed one.
- Our mission
- The role you play in your market and how you raise the standard of service against your competitors. Use key points and explain each one simply, in your customer's terms.
- Company goals
- From founding to today, and what you plan next. Not everything is fit to publish in a competitive market, but much of it is already public or easy to find. Weave what doesn't hurt you into the story of your journey: what were we, what do we do, what will we do?
- Track record
- Customers want to see your history and the projects you took part in, finished or ongoing; press coverage is a bonus. Keep each one brief. I recommend chronological order, oldest first, because it reads as a timeline (some prefer most important first).
- What people say
- Follow up with customers after a purchase to make sure they are satisfied. Collect what was said about you on radio and TV, in print and online press, and by past customers.
2. Contact details
- Phone numbers
- Landline, mobile and WhatsApp.
- Your current address if you want to keep it, for example because it is printed on your cards and contracts.
- Branches
- A Google Maps location plus the written address, because some visitors don't use maps.
- Social media
- Links to your current accounts, if you want to keep using them.
- Working hours
- For example Sunday to Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm. You can also give the best time for each channel, such as "WhatsApp messages between 10 am and 1 pm get a reply within 24 hours".
3. Featured projects
- Project data
- Name, location, start date, end date and budget.
- Details
- Description, project team, photos and videos, and what the media, social media and the client said about it.
4. Products
Because this data changes often, we can give a member of your staff an admin panel to manage it.
- Main categories
- A short description, a detailed description and a representative image for each category.
- Products
- Image, price and description for each product. Optionally its features, user reviews and links to related products.
5. Team (optional)
Names of your key people, or of every employee. It looks unimportant, but it builds a lot of trust: a visitor to your office meets one to three people at most, while on the website they get to know your team before they get in touch.
- Portrait
- Ideally the same or a calm background for everyone, so each person is shown clearly.
- Position
- And social media links.
- A short note
- From the person, on what they can offer the customer or how they ensure quality.
Send it
Prepare what you can and don't wait for everything to be complete. Send me the idea and the answers you have, and we will fill in the rest together.