The sequence of site creation and clear stages – the key to the success of the project. Perhaps uninformed users may think that the development of the site – a piece of cake. Well, what’s complicated – came up with a design, pasted, filled it with a couple of or three texts and done. In fact, every stage of the site – it is painstaking work, for which each developer from the web-studio team is responsible.
Creating a website includes not only the design and programming, as you might think, but also a detailed analysis of the project, working with the customer and finding solutions to achieve the goals of the project. In this article we look at how the phased development of the site and a detailed description of the order of creating websites.
The main stages of creating a website:
- Setting goals and objectives of the site;
- Creation, elaboration of terms of reference (TOR) for the development site;
- Prototyping;
- Creating a design layout of the site;
- Make-up;
- Programming;
- Filling the content;
- Testing;
- Transferring the finished project to the client.
Setting goals, objectives and choosing the type of site
Not every client of our web studio can see the differences in the types of websites, can independently determine its goals and objectives. He turns to us with a request to create a project. We, in turn, spend podgotovitalny phase – analyze why the client site, what tasks he must solve: to serve as representation of the company on the Internet or sell products and services, to become a high-quality company advertising or be a start-up for a young company. All this is stipulated with the customer. He should understand why he wants to site, what he will help his company and what he can not cope with.
Once the task is set, the target audience is determined. It is important to understand who the resource is created for, what the customer can offer and how the audience reacts to the offer. Determination of CA “dictates” its own rules, based on these data is formed by the structure of the site, content, design, functionality, etc.
Next, a marketing analysis is made which includes an analysis of competitors, seasonality of the product or service, activity and niche, the competitiveness of the offer. The leads and chips are identified that will help attract the attention of visitors. Upon completion, a prototype site is developed and demonstrated to the client.
The next stage of site development: the formation of the terms of reference
The terms of reference is a document that is compiled together with the client. It includes detailed characteristics of the resource:
- Desires for design (color design, application of corporate identity or its development, the ratio of graphic elements to text);
- The semantic core;
- The structure of the site, the number of pages, categories, blocks;
- The functionalities of the site (only standard or development of additional modules, their detailed description and purpose);
- The technologies used;
- Technical requirements for the resource.
Terms of Reference – this is the basis on which each specialist involved in the development relies. Therefore, in drafting the TOR, the customer’s participation is essential. It is stipulated and edited until the client agrees and signs the document. Only after that the project enters the stage of creation.
At the stage of forming and discussing the ToR, the structure of the site, its navigation, the number of categories and subcategories, their sequence of placement, etc. are also developed. All information is also included in the document, which is signed by the customer.
Creating a layout of site design
All stages of website creation are important for the quality of the resource, but the development of design – one of the main. After all, design – is what the visitor sees in the first place, evaluates it and decides to stay on the page or close the browser tab.
The designer is based on the terms of reference, draws buttons, banners and other graphic elements. In other words, the prototype, which was created in the first phase of site development, gets an aesthetic appearance, produced in the colors chosen by the customer. If the company has a corporate style, the design is developed in accordance with it. Or may initially develop a corporate identity, and then – design on its basis.
It is important to note that the designer does not draw the design of each page, and templates for several major, using trends in web design. The finished layout is sent to the client and waits for his approval. If modifications are necessary, the designer performs them and then shows the layout again to the customer. The design is refined until it is approved.
Merging design with the site management system (coding)
The codifier uses HTML to translate the finished design into a working design. Resource gets life, becomes dynamic, all the buttons work. Resource becomes cross-browser and properly displays in all existing Internet browsers. At this stage, CSS styles are created.
Next, the resource is connected to the control system. It creates pages, categories and subcategories of the project, the order of the menu tabs is determined, hyperlinks are placed. Resource receives the final structure, which will be presented to visitors. Sometimes sites can be used without CMS (eg, lending), so the site is simply made up in HTML and CSS languages without a screwing to the engine.
At the same stage, typesetting categories and subcategories, the content that will be placed on the page. Much attention is paid to make-up cards for the online store, which should meet the technical and user requirements.
At the final stage of layout is developing an adaptive version of the site. It is not mandatory, but recommended for clients who want to reach mobile traffic.
Website programming
At the stages of creating a simple site (for example, a single page) in the programming is not necessary. The programmer is connected to the work, if we are developing a large and complex project. The task of a specialist is to develop complex functions: calculator, the payment system using bank cards, currency converter, that is, all those functions that are not included in the standard package functionality.
Filling with content
The penultimate stage of creating a website – filling pages with graphical and informational content. Posted videos, photos, texts and other information that can be seen or read by visitors.
Based on the semantic core are written SEO-articles (if the resource is supposed to promote SEO-method), a content manager places graphic elements in a logical structure. Pages undergo internal optimization.
Project testing
The most important role in the process of creating the site is playing its testing. Tester performs the work, which monitors the functionality of the resource on a number of criteria and identifies errors that must be eliminated.
We have not carried out a choice of domain and hosting, as a separate stage. It is necessary, but it can be carried out at any point in the process of creating a resource. On completion, the finished project is transferred to the customer, along with logins and passwords to the control system. After the project is handed over, the client can order the service of promotion and support of the project, paying their cost.
Additional work after project handover
Rarely, once the passwords and access to the site are given to the customer, cooperation with the performer ends. More often than not, clients order additional services, such as:
- Updating the catalog, materials, laying out products and their description;
- Learning to work with the site;
- Support site;
- Promotion of the resource;
- Writing articles, filling categories of SEO-texts, etc.
It is important to note that all the stage-by-stage website creation is controlled by the customer. At the end of each stage of the finished result is shown to the client and agreed with him. This helps the customer to control the work of the performer, and the performer to understand whether the client is satisfied with the results of his work.
Conclusions
As you can see, the creation of a site is quite a complicated job. The quality of the entire resource, the ratio of the desired to the real, the client’s impression of the web-studio and further cooperation depends on each stage and its faultless implementation.