At first appearance, building a website looks simple. Anyone can do it. Right?
It may look easy, but don’t be fooled.
This is the second part of a 3 article series. Read previous article “Types of Websites”
- Part 1: – Types of Websites
- Part 2: This page – What’s involved in building a website.
- Part 3: – Realistic Price guides and Time taken to build a website (Free Download).
Watch the video (aprox 8 min)or read the post below
Dont be fooled, building a website is not as easy as it looks
Apart from what you see in your browser, there is a lot of preparation and thought required for an effective website build.
So, at its basics, these days anyone can build a website. You’ll find plenty of options out there to do it yourself but if you’re serious about your business you need to be dealing with a professional or professional organisation who understands what makes an effective website “pop”. Allowing you to work on your business.
If you’re serious about a website, download my report
“What a Website Costs & Why”
Let’s Have A Look How An Amateur Might Build A Website.
An amateur building a website.
For a very basic, simple brochure website this may be a viable option, if you have the time and temperament, but if you are serious about your website this will come back to bite you.
There are also products like WIX, wordpress.com and many others that promise you it is just drag and drop even Karlie Kloss can do it! Yeah right!
DIY’ers will jump straight into the build without any idea or planning of what they need or where they are going with the site.
Analogy: Imagine building a house with poor footings or foundations.
Let me tell you why this may not be such a good route to take.
- Huge learning curve for what may be a one off project.
- Takes a lot of time just to learn the terminology
- Don’t believe the advertising – it takes time to learn how to use the platform.
- You will cut corners, intentionally or unintentionally (this will end up costing you!)
- Easy to lose interest and motivation.
- Hard to move site later to better option
Why you might like to build your own website.
- Very Cheap
- You have control
- Great learning
- Satisfying IF you get it right, (frustrating if you don’t).
- Ego Boost – show off to your mates.
In most cases you will have to go through a huge learning curve for a one-off project that you probably won’t do again, or if you do, you will have forgotten what you learned this second time around.
You will have no one to critique your work (don’t ask parents and friends as they will pat you on the back and tell you how clever you are).
Also, don’t underestimate your visitors as many can “smell” an amateur website and quickly look for a more trustworthy option.
Is it worth it?
Looking at getting a website built? Download my report
“What a Website Costs & Why”
What’s involved in building a website by A Professional.
A professional will work out the most effective way of building a website that gives results.
Before Starting
- Initial general discussion with client about what is required
- A more in-depth discussion, question-and-answer session, brainstorming session with the client.
- Designing some kind of design/integration prototype (especially for complex builds).
- Presenting this to the client with some back-and-forth communication to nut down what is required.
- A proposal/contract with what is and isn’t included in the website design and build.
- SEO (search engine optimisation) & marketing integration.
After receiving acceptance of the proposal, we are now ready to commence the build, so let’s have a look now at
The Build.
- Many websites start on the developer’s local computer with a blank canvas.
(May start with a template as a starting point or utilise an existing theme and tweak and develop, especially for cheaper builds or a brochure type website). - Search for relevant images if not supplied by client, or engage a graphic artist to design site or image branding bundle for consistency of message.
- Optimise images and code for speed (very important for Google & SERPs (Search Engine Relults page) as well as user UX (User Experience)).
- Design an effective structure (knowing what the client requires from points one and two above). If this isn’t done correctly it may necessitate a lot of work down the track.
- Work may be done in stages. Receiving acceptance before moving to the next stage.
Before going “Live” (on server)
Before going live there are many checks, balances and tests required.
- Set up hosting, domain relegation/delegation.
- Cross browser testing, fixing and adjusting.
- Mobile device testing, fixing and adjusting.
- Checking code is clean and fast.
- Checking the multitude of settings making sure all are correct.
- Any integrations with e-commerce, membership et cetera tested under test circumstances.
Going Live
Even at this point there are other tests that may still need to be done as well as
- Re-checking some of the above.
- Any integrations with e-commerce, membership et cetera tested under production circumstances.
Follow-up
Often there is a 30 day period after the website is live to iron out any bugs and fixes.
Other Aspects
- Communication with the client during the website build and after the website build will take a fair amount of time.
- Making notes/reports of progress if required, also notating and clarifying any changes that are requested during the build.
- Research, especially if there are unusual requirements which may be required in e-commerce builds often related to shipping and payments.
I have just touched on a few broad topics and as you can see there are many different aspects of a website build.
The last part of this series is the exciting part where I show you some actual pricing recommendations.
It is a Free Download so grab it now before you forget! Cost of a Website and Why.
Continue To Part 3…
Interested in cost to build a website? Download my report
“What a Website Costs & Why”