Frequently Asked Questions:
The Web Development Process and Our Methodology
Processes: What are the steps are involved?
Some clients have asked what are the steps involved in a web
project and what is needed on their part. Below are a few paragraph's and graphics that
explain how the processes work. Also see
What Can
I Do? and Paul's Laws.
Web Development Process
In this phase we learn more about your
business, what your goals are, your business processes, your business plan
for your web site, review your collateral. In our initial free consultation,
we meet to learn what your goals our for your project or web site and
prepare an initial estimate and timeline for the project. We try to gather
as much information as we can to determine the scope of your project. We
then provide you with an estimate/proposal for your project. Once we get
into the Discovery Phase and learn more about your company and needs, we may
have to adjust your estimate.
Occasionally a project may be so complex that the best method is to just
commission us for the Discovery Phase to scope out the project to evaluate
costs and risks. This Discovery document can then be used as an RFP (Request
for Proposal) to us or other web firms to get proposals on the entire
project.
You:
Have executive decision makers available for interview so that we can
accurately assess the business requirements of the project. Have technical
and marketing personnel available for interview for similar reasons. This is
also when we will also collect any logos, graphics, photos, electronic
copies of brochures, etc.
MC:
Initial free, one hour consultation and free provide estimates and
proposals for simple projects. Extremely complex projects may require
contracting for as-is/to-be analysis prior to estimating.
 This is the planning and design phase of the
project. We will chart out the flow of information for your site with a
sitemap, document any necessary project briefs, and generally create the
action plan for developing your site.
We also design the user interface (look and feel) of your site into 1-3
designs for your review. You will review these designs, suggest possible
tweaks, and we will provide a final design. These three steps are called a
Design Cycle. One possible way your project may "creep out of scope" (exceed
the estimate) is if we keep having to go back and make repeated adjustments
after the initial tweak.
You: Approve and give input on
designs. Provide photography for initial designs. You will also provide all
the content for the Development Phase at this point.
MC:
Provide designs for approval, sitemaps,
documentation as necessary.
Once we have designed the approved interface,
then we take the design and optimize it (save it for the best possible
viewing and smallest possible size for fast downloads) and "Slice it up"
into html graphics and elements, much like you carve up a picture to make a
jigsaw puzzle. We then fit all these pieces back together into html-based
documents and build your page templates and pages. This is also the phase we
do any advanced programming for custom applications, database integration,
e-commerce development and customization, an generally build your site.
There is not much for you to do during this phase but wait for us to
complete the site and prepare to test it.
You: Provide us with a list of email
accounts you would like to have set-up. Wait.
MC: Slice and dice graphics into
optimized elements. Program database and custom applications, HTML code, set
up hosting server account, register domain names, set up email accounts,
etc.
This is the phase where you get to see your
site in testing form. We will usually put a site up in a private area on the
web for you to test all the links. Since you probably supplied us with the
final textual content, your testing does not include spellchecking or typos
at this time. Those will be handled after complete the site and addressed
separately. Your testing should include making sure everything works as it
should and looks as it should within reason (see FAQ about "Why does my site
look one way on one computer and different on another?"). Check to make sure
all processes such as e-commerce, database integration and applications
work. Once you have given us a FINAL list of all technical issues and we
have corrected them, we will upload your site to your hosting facility. We
will then submit your site to the search engines as contracted.
After we have completed your site, we can assist you with a variety of
tasks, such as correcting issues with the supplied content, adding or
changing supplied photos out, providing additional documentation, training,
etc. This phase is actually separate from the rest of the project as it it
is after the site is completed and is contracted separately unless built in
to the original agreement.
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Friday, July 25, 2008
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