The website design process
Posted by Danny on Apr 20 2010
At DCC Digital we like to shout about quality and while we don't think our prices will break the bank it's an undeniable truth that quality costs. But why does it cost we hear you cry? Well quality costs because it takes time to plan, design and build a website properly. We know there are a multitude of cheap and cheerful options out there for website design but, if chosen, the bargain basement route is a sure way of devaluing your business.
So let's presume you choose us to design your website (and if you haven't click here to drop us a line for a quote), how do we approach a typical website project?
We get to know your business
The first stage in a project is all about getting to know your business. Often a face to face meeting is good for this but we've also worked with plenty of businesses who like to do this by email or over the phone. Once we have a clearly defined picture of what your businesses does and what you would like to achieve then we can define some goals and requirements for the project. We take the time and make the effort to define the scope of the project and understand your business goals and customer needs. We research the market for your service or product and learn what your competitors are doing and suggest what you could do better.
Planning your website
A great way of planning your website is through the use of wire frames that show of all the basic elements. In addition to this we will also create a site map which shows the top level navigation and all the pages leading from this. We'll define key areas of text on the home page, placeholders for images, contact forms, secondary navigation and all the key elements that make up your website. We also work with you to clearly define the functionality that your require.
Website design
Moving from planning into design we get our creative juices flowing and come up with a look and feel for your site. We've designed websites for a huge range of businesses in Scotland including architects, mining companies, holiday lodges, caterers and ecommerce stores and always come up with something fresh, dynamic and interesting. We also listen and take on board feedback and suggestions from you during the design process to arrive at something everyone is happy with.
The website build - putting it all together
We won't bore with the technical details but we're expert at writing HTML, CSS and the code that forms the foundation for your site. Being great at coding means we also care about how your website looks on different browsers and how it appears to users with different accessibility needs. It's at this point that we can add a content management system (CMS) to your website. Having a CMS allows you complete control over the content of your website; for instance we can add a blog that allows you to post news and announcements; a CMS is also crucial when it comes to optimising your content so that it's treated more favourably by search engines.
Adding content to your website
Actually, this isn't always the case because often our clients will do this themselves but we're more than happy to do this if the copy and images necessary are provided in a web ready format.
Review and testing
We perform a complete usability test of your website on common platforms and browsers to ensure the appearance and functionality are consistent throughout.
The website launch and afterwards
Once your website is launched we can provide you with training and instruction in how to use your website's content management system. Beyond this we're always contactable to offer advice and support should you encounter any post-launch hiccups along the way. We can also integrate useful website monitoring tools like Google Analytics and are happy to give search engine optimisation advice and recommendations.
Our clients are constantly amazed at the high level of service we provide but don't take our word for it click here to take a look at what they have to say.
Of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating so the following are some of the websites we're particularly proud of:
www.rubylovesred.com
www.drtvcentre.com
www.tullochwoodlodges.com
www.angelmining.com
www.rossieochilhouse.co.uk
