What are your steps for building a website?

He has: 12 posts

Joined: Jul 2005

Every web designer/developer has their own personal way of developing a website.

Here's my personal preference:

Pretending that I already talk to client. What I do is create Phases.

Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, and sometimes Phase 5

Phase 1 is planning. I do the research, planning, and etc.. I write down, print, and do everything to learn about the industry.

Phase 2 is executing. This is where I start building the site. I apply all that I plan

Phase 3 is testing. Making sure that the links are ok. Making sure that it works with different browser and etc...

Phase 4 is marketing. This is where I do the Search Engine Optimization. Submit it to Search Engines, Directories and etc....

On the side note: Each Phases has their own steps as well. I just didn't put the details because it will be longer.

So What's your steps?

timjpriebe's picture

He has: 2,667 posts

Joined: Dec 2004

Step 1: Discuss the different design options with my business partner. This includes looking at any websites that the client wrote down on our website planning worksheet.

Step 2: My partner generates a rough draft of the website as an image.

Step 3: I create a much cleaner and sharper version of the image.

Step 4: I create an HTML page using CSS to implement the design, simultaneously checking both Firefox and IE for any display issues.

Step 5: Fill in content, ensuring everything is coded properly for SEO.

Step 6a: Meet with client to look over site. Take any suggestions at this point.

Step 6b: If there were any suggestions, implement if needed and meet with client again.

Step 7: Upload and submit to search engines.

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

Joined: Jun 1999

I don't do a whole lot of websites these days but I think this applies to the multimedia work I do to:

  1. Review available information about the project; learn as much as I can about the topic
  2. Define goals and objectives, working closely with client - very important to know exactly what you're trying to accomplish
  3. Create mock-up of key components and get client feedback
  4. Revise based on feedback and finish developing the project
  5. Have client to review everything in detail; make corrections
  6. Test/implement/test
  7. Client sign-off

Of course, if this was a freelance job I'd be getting paid a few points in that list too Laughing out loud

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