After several years' experience of building new websites, I usually follow a well-established and highly successful plan of action to ensure that you end up with a website that meets your needs perfectly. Of course, if your specific requirements mean there is a very good reason to do things differently then I will adapt to meet your individual needs.
Step 1 - Establish your requirements
The starting point is to get an overview of your website requirements. I provide a UK-wide service, so I normally gather this information by email. If you prefer this can be done by phone or by meeting with you if you are reasonably local and visitors to my Herefordshire base are welcome.
Alternatively you can tell me about your needs by answering some simple questions direct on my website. See the Get Started page. Don't worry if you are unsure about your precise needs - it is my job to translate your ideas into an effective website design. I can write your text for you based around rough copy if need be, and I can source images and graphics if required.
Step 2 - Check that I can help (and within your budget)
I never take on a project unless I am confident that I can meet all your requirements in terms of specification, cost and timescale. In the unlikely event that I can't help I'll explain why and may point you in the direction of someone who is better suited to assist.
Step 3 - Free draft website
Having established that I can help you the next step is to build you a draft website. This is totally FREE of charge and without any obligation. You will be able to view your draft website online (it will be based at a temporary website address that I'll give you, hidden from search engines).
This draft website won't be a complete website but it will have sufficient content to show you how your finished website will look and how it is likely to be structured in terms of pages and navigation. I'll continue to refine the draft based upon your feedback until you are happy with a design that suits you and you are satisfied that I can meet your brief.
Step 4 - Written proposal and quote
Before you commit I will give you a detailed written proposal and quote. This will spell out the precise costs, show what is included and explain the options for support arrangements once your new website has gone live. Of course, you may decide that you want to update your website yourself in the future, in which case I can offer you one-to-one instruction on using the online website editor should you need any help.
I offer ongoing support which can range from simply reminding you of renewal dates (for things like hosting and domain registrations) to carrying out future website updates for you (normally done on a simple pay-as-you-go basis). You will not be tied in to any future financial or support commitments at all.
Step 5 - You decide to proceed
Once you have decided to accept the proposal I will request a deposit and move the draft website from the online development platform to an account in your own name. The deposit will be 25% of the website build cost, plus any advance third party hosting fees required (these are supplied at cost price).
Step 6 - Your website is built at a temporary website address
I then build and refine your full website until you are 100% happy with it. During this stage the new website will be hosted at a temporary website address. I'll work with you to get together the final website content and you'll be able to see your new website taking shape online. Based on your feedback numerous adjustments and refinements are typically made during this key phase. These continue until you are ready to have the new website published live.
Step 7 - Your website goes live!
Once your new website has reached a stage where you are happy for it to be published live you pay the 75% balance of the development cost and I then move the website to your own website address. If this is your first website I will have already established with you the website address (i.e. domain) that you want and, if required, will have purchased the domain for you on your behalf ready for the launch.
I can also set up any new email addresses that you might want specifically for your domain and explain how to configure these for use on your computers, tablets and mobile phones.
If you are having a new website built to replace an existing one I will take care of the technical aspects so that your new website seamlessly replaces the old one. Your new website can be based at your existing website address or at a brand new one if required (in which case I would sort out the automatic redirection of visitors from your old website to the new one).
Once your new website is live you will receive a handover document detailing the important passwords and renewal dates for your website. This will include logon details for your domain control panel, your website editor password plus any email address passwords. This ensures that you have complete ownership and control of your website and domain.
Step 9 - Support arrangements finalised
If you plan to carry out future website changes yourself then I can show you how to do this with some one-to-one instruction if required. This training can be carried out at my premises in Herefordshire or at yours. Your website will have been built using one of the latest state-of-the-art online website editors now available, carefully chosen for its ease of use. This means that very little instruction may be needed. High level IT skills are not required.
Alternatively, I can carry out any future website changes for you on a simple pay-as-you-go basis.
You have full ownership and copyright
All services and domains are registered directly in your name so that once your website has been built and published, you have total control of your website, including 100% ownership and sole copyright.
