Steps to a successful web site

Over the years, Michel has developed and refined a five-step process for the design or re-design of a web site. These five steps have proven to be highly effective, resulting in a final powerful solution that is both on time and on budget.

Project discovery

You have a need. Together we will gather requirements to define the project’s scope, priorities, and timeline.

Conclusions:
  • Project profile.
  • Project schedule.
  • Rough cost estimate.

Strategic planning

A web site should allow access to information, facilitate relationships, and create revenues. The key to a powerful site is to listen to your needs and to understand your long-term business and communication strategy.

Conclusions:

Michel Godts will create a Strategic Report with answers to these questions:

  • What do you do?
  • How will your web site benefit your overall business operation?
  • How will it benefit your clients or customers?
  • Who are your users? Which technology do they use?
  • What is your content?
  • What keywords will people use to find your information?
  • Which process will be used to publish and maintain your information easily?
  • What should be the creative requirements?

Information architecture

Ease of access and use is critical to a successful web site. Based on the requirements of the Strategic Report, web site content will be analyzed, planned, and organized to ensure that your users can easily navigate the site and use it effortlessly.

Conclusions:
  • Site map showing information organization and flow.
  • Sketches of key pages (wireframes) demonstrating navigation logic and expected content.

Web site design

The user gets the first impression of a site through its look and feel. It communicates the site content, facilitates its navigation, and reflects your corporate identity. Michel will ensure that the design also supports specific Strategic Report requirements such as screen resolution, load-in speed, and cross-platform compatibility.

Conclusions:
  • Web site design variations.
  • With further options of:
  • Database design (fields and logic).
  • Functional prototype.
  • User testing.

Production and implementation

After approval of the design the technology implementation phase begins: HTML/CSS and database programming; copy writing; search engine optimization; design and creation of graphics, illustrations; design and production of animation and multimedia components; photography; etc.

During this phase, Michel will produce graphics and HTML/CSS templates. In addition he will art-direct and supervise third-party creative, production, and programming teams as needed.

Conclusions:
  • Functional site on a test area of a web server.
  • Quality Assurance testing.
  • Final site transfer on the live web server.