Webstar Uganda has been in Uganda since 2011, and we have got the necessary experience to build our clients a website that surpasses their expectations using Our Website design Process .
We very well understand that our clients entrust us with one of their greatest marketing assets, and our input in the process can make or break the project.
Fortunately, there are solid, practical steps we take to ensure that we deliver a successful client website. By planning each step of the process, we guide the client through the project and deliver a website that meets (or exceeds) their expectations.
Webstar Uganda will build a successful website for you in eight practical steps. We’ll break down each phase, and include some helpful tips and essential questions to ask along the way.
We get to Know the Client and Ascertain Their Website Goals
This step is primarily about extracting information from the client and listening for their needs. Some clients may not be sure what their exact requirements are, so it’s helpful for us to ask exploratory questions when they seem unclear.
Our goal in this step is to gather and clarify information. Later, we will have an opportunity to propose a solution and pitch our ideas .
bellow are some of the questions we might ask our clients:
- What do they do?
- What do they value?
- Do they have brand assets already created? A brand guideline?
- What do they want their website to accomplish?
- Do they have any “musts” for their website?
- What is the time frame to complete the project?
- Do they have a domain name already? Web hosting? (You will need access to their website hosting account and possibly their domain registrar.)
- How do they want to integrate social media, and which platforms?
- Do they require email integrations?
- What about ongoing site maintenance? Will someone on their team take care of this, or are they open to a monthly or hourly contract with us for ongoing maintenance?
- Who will be the project point of contact and decision maker?
- Do they have a preference for which website platform they want to use?
We listen for important details and take notes. We then ask follow-up questions in areas we need clarification.
As we end of the meeting, we take a moment to review our notes and recap the most important information, to make sure we have not missed points that are important to the client. They may assume that we already know certain details, or that they’ve implied these points during the conversation.
We will cover a lot of ground in this meeting, We let the client know what the next steps are –we will review their project requirements and provide them with a scope of work document.
We Choose a Platform to Build the Website On
A website’s platform can impact several aspects of the project, including hosting, pricing, functionality, and timeline. It’s important to decide on a platform early in the process, as it is the foundation of what we will be building.
Our client’s website will require a Content Management Solution (CMS), and there are several options available. Each has its own benefits. Once we understand the client’s needs, we can decide which CMS will get the job done.
We will then Write Up the Proposal and Determine the Scope of the Project
Once we have gathered all the information for the project, it’s time to put a project proposal together. This document will explicitly identify the deliverables and terms, including project costs.
We shall make sure we include enough information to cover the essentials.We cover all details in the scope of work or contract. We state the client’s project requirements and our proposed solution, including a project cost. We will suggest different solutions, but be open for revision as per the client’s feedback.
Once our proposal is approved, We then use it to generate a more detailed scope of work that explicitly states the project in full. This document will direct our work and relationship with the client. It will serve to clearly state what everyone should expect.
A solid scope of work can spare lots of stress, time, and money throughout the life of the project. Elements to address include:
- Website scale. Will this be a 10-page website, or an ecommerce site with 35 products to sell?
- Timing. What is the timeline? Does the client have a hard launch date they need to meet? Are there stages within that process?
- Process. Include workflow and approvals. What will their approval process look like?
- Assets. Which assets will they provide, and which will you need to obtain or create on their behalf?
- Access. How will you get site assets and access permissions?
- Contact. Who will be our point of contact, and are they the decision maker?
- Platform. Which CMS will be used to build the site?
- Integrations. Determine any plugins or additional functionality required to achieve the project objectives. Will they require integrations (or ongoing services) the client will be billed for by a third party?
- Accessibility. Define what accessibility functionality will be built into the website.
- Backups. Will we include a plugin to run automatically? To be sure our client has a plan for site backups.
- Security. We Include an SSL certificate, and define what security measures we will implement.
Once we have agreed on the scope of work, We will then draw up a formal contract that both parties can sign. This protects both Webstar Uganda and the client. Even if the project is small, it’s vital to clearly specify who is responsible for what. To streamline our process, we have templates for key documents, including proposal, scope of work, and contract.
We Develop a Sitemap and Visual Layout (Wireframe)
Every good Website design starts with a blueprint. During this phase, We will define the flow and user experience of the website with a sitemap and wireframes.
We use Octopus.do or Sketch for building sitemaps and wireframes:
We also use paper and pencil to sketch out these visuals.
We will take some time to complete this step, as we have learned…It’s much easier to redraw an element than have to redesign a website page (or ten). Along with the sitemap and page layout, at this stage We want to determine the overall look and style of the site, including its:
- Colors
- Typography
- Images
- Visual hierarchy
We create a style tile, to help our client visualize the website’s concept. This helps save time by ensuring that the client is in agreement with the overall look and feel.
We will always refer to the scope of work often during this phase, to make sure we are covering all of the stipulated points. If issues arise that are integral to the project, We will express our concerns to the client immediately and schedule a meeting to evaluate and decide on the best course forward. Any tasks outside the scope of work will be signed off by the client.
We Collect or Create the Website’s Content
By this point we should have a clearly-defined content plan, know who is responsible for delivering the content, and understand how that will flow throughout the website. At this step, we will be sure that everything is ready to deploy, and that we have sufficient resources for each website page we build.
You can start by collecting page content elements – such as copy, Calls to Action (CTAs), videos, links, and images. Review any website content provided by the client, and suggest any areas where it might require optimization.
The client may not understand the importance of keywords or Search Engine Optimization (SEO), so we might consider providing some quality keywords to guide their content creation. Part of the project’s success – especially in the long run – will depend on having targeted content that delivers results.
Some tools we use include Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends:
We will share these with the client as a means to help them continue creating search-optimized content.
Design the Website and Test It
This stage is especially fun, as it brings your hard work to life. When designing your pages, consider their content first. You can ask yourself questions such as:
- What is the purpose of the page? This should be a priority throughout the design process.
- What action should the user take when visiting this page? Make sure the CTA is clear and compelling.
You can create and use page templates to maintain consistency throughout the website and speed up your process. Make sure to adhere to your agreed-upon styles and visual elements during the design phase. This should be about the implementation of the predetermined design concept, not about creating something altogether new.
As the website takes on form, it’s especially important to provide opportunities for client feedback. Sometimes it is difficult for clients to envision how the website will look and flow, so when they do see it, they may have some objections or questions.
Once the site’s design is finalized, we will perform a pre-launch checklist that might include:
- Checking copy for typos.
- Verifying that all links and buttons work properly.
- Testing all forms, and making sure notifications are routed to the correct team members.
- Testing online transactions and shopping cart functionality (if applicable).
- Checking the website on multiple devices and browsers for responsiveness and accessibility.
Once our checklist is complete, it’s time to launch!
Launching of the Website
When the site is ready, check the pages and links within to verify that everything is working properly. we will schedule the launch during the weekend, at night, or at another time when website traffic is low.
Customer Service
We serve as a vital bridge between the client and the technical aspects of their website. Therefore, it’s smart to be proactive in offering support options. We may include free support for the first thirty days, or offer an add-on support package billed monthly (or annually for a discount).
Handing over the website to our client is similar to handing over the keys to a car. Keep in mind that the client may not know how to drive. At a minimum, they won’t be familiar with all the believable options, and a helpful walkthrough will facilitate a smooth transition.
Once your client is satisfied with their new website, this is the time to ask for a testimonial or review of our work. we make this process as easy as possible for the client.
After this, we consider scheduling a three-month, six-month, and annual check-in call with our client, even if we don’t have a maintenance agreement. This may present opportunities for future work, and keep us in mind for referrals. Plus, these calls will demonstrate our care and support, reflecting well on Webstar Uganda.
Conclusion
Building a successful client website is a complicated process, but the task can be simplified by breaking down each stage into well-thought-out steps. By following a few crucial stages, We can manage the project with professionalism and make it enjoyable for the client and Webstar team.
In this article, we shared eight steps for building a successful client website:
- Get to know the client and ascertain their website goals.
- Choose a platform to build the site on.
- Define the scope of the project.
- Develop a sitemap and visual layout.
- Collect or create the website’s content.
- Design the website and test it.
- Launch the website.
- Customer service.