By: Matt Mernin
Interactive Web Development
As I write my first blog entry for Pushing the Envelope, one particular topic comes to mind, which is vital to effective project management – Defining the Website Development Process. This can be defined as a sequential series of steps to follow, guiding a web development project from discovery to launch. It is vital that websites are built carefully and systematically, as they are the nucleus of your internet marketing strategy. This process can be different for every company, as we all have different approaches to our trade. However, there are four key steps that we feel every company should follow to a certain extent. They are:
- Discover & Define
- Concept & Design
- The Build
- Website Launch
I’m Matt Mernin, Interactive Website Developer for Pushing the Envelope. After several of years of experience in the industry, in addition to my education at the world-renowned technical school, Full Sail University, I’ve learned that walking down a path of assumptions is never a good idea. Following these steps makes for a systematic website development process that (1) accommodates the client’s marketing goals, (2) conveys the brand accurately and (3) is built on-time/on-budget.
Step One: Discover & Define
This step consists of researching the company, analyzing the industry and competitors, understanding the target audience, and submitting a proposal. At PTE, we consider it our “due diligence”. The more we learn about the client, the more confident our client will be in our ability to craft an effective marketing tool (i.e. their website). The following subjects should be included, but not limited to, in your proposal:
- Client Profile – A brief explanation of the company will reassure the client you understand who they are, what they do, and why they operate.
- Communication Brief – The overall vision of the project and identification of the target audience.
- Audience Profiles – Business storytelling to describe, in detail, the target audience.
- Timeline – Key milestones, not only to keep clients in-the-know, but to keep the project moving forward.
- Situation Analysis – The current situation, goals of and intent of the website, and how you plan on accomplishing those goals.
- Time Estimate – Create a list of all phases and how long each one will take. Ex. Wireframe design, mockup design, html coding, programming etc.
Step Two: Concept & Design
In this step, we review all of the information gathered during discovery and begin applying it towards the overall project structure. Important elements are of course the architecture of the website, branding, art direction (visual look and feel), hierarchy of information, any features and functions that are needed, wireframes, design mockups, analytics setup, etc.; any activities relating to the project as a whole and aligning the build with the clients needs and wants. This step is just as important as the build itself, because it will serve as a guiding light moving forward.
Step Three: The Build
We always start this process with a team production meeting, identifying who will be handling which tasks. All components of the site are be broken down and assigned to different team members. Website content is revised & edited (if existing, or developed if not), server and domain settings are determined, and of course, constructing the actual website (constructing the website has an entire process of its own, and we can discuss that in a future entry!) The Build can take varying lengths of time, depending on the project. Also varying from project to project is the approval process. Every company has a different leadership structure. Once the website is completely built and approved, we move forward to the Website Launch.
Step Four – Website Launch
We like to handle the launch of any project with care. Rushing a launch can lead to costly mistakes, which takes away from ROI, and can have a negative effect on our relationship with our clients/customers. We advocate having a soft launch, which is a collaborative process where the website is reviewed internally by all key management, followed by time for revisions and debugging. Following this step is the website launch, summation and hand-off of all assets. Time to show the world what we’ve built!
Again, this is a general process for website development. Every company has a slightly different approach, but these core components should certainly be covered. Your brand deserves it! If you want to know how we would approach YOUR website development project, get in touch with us at Pushing the Envelope Inc., our team of experts will provide you not only with a great website, but an incredible experience to go with it.
