Getting Started: Step-by-Step
I love to keep things simple, so here’s an overview of what I need and an overview to help guide you along before we begin!
1: What I need to get started
HOSTING CREDENTIALS
Your hosting account login and/or Cpanel username and password.
*If we are hosting your website you will not need to worry about this
YOUR LOGO
PDF, EPS or high res JPEG or PNG if possible.
WORDPRESS LOGIN
An administrator login to your current WordPress site. (if you have one up already)
IMAGES & PICTURES
Current and/or new images and pictures you’d like to use on the new site.
CONTENT
Page content and any updated verbiage/information for the site.
STYLE GUIDE
Brand style guide, colours or any specific design requirements.
These items can be uploaded to a shared Google Drive folder or uploaded to your secure Dropbox folder.
2: Sharing Content/Assets
GOOGLE DRIVE
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage and collaboration platform that allows you/me to store files online and access them from any device.
As a valued web design client, Google Drive can be a valuable tool for sharing design mockups, collaborating on website content, and managing project files in a centralised location. You can easily review and provide feedback on designs, co-create website copy, and access all project-related documents from anywhere with an internet connection.
BONSAI
Bonsai is a great project management platform. You will have access to your own Client Portal with a secure login. This is where you can view proposals, contracts, invoices, but more importantly share and view files. You can upload images here ready for your project.
There is the option for tasks/To Do lists and a messaging feature that enables us to communicate quickly and easily within your client portal.
3: The Design Process
Designing a website, no matter how big or small, is an extensive process that can be overwhelming. To better help you understand what to expect during the design and development, I’ve outlined my process into 3 steps:
LAYOUT & DESIGN
A large and time consuming part of designing a website is in the planning and layout stage of the process. I’ll create the sitemap (Page/Menu hierarchy) of the website for approval first, then I’ll design the home page and a sub page (or more upon request) for approval.
DEVELOPMENT
Once the site layout and design is approved, I’ll move forward with the designing the entire site, pages and add all functionality and plugins. We’ll make sure your site looks great and functions nicely across all devices and web browsers before moving to the final step.
EDITS & REVISIONS
Once your site is ready for final review, you’ll be able to review each page and we can make detailed edits until the site is revised completely. We ask that you please review ALL pages to make sure all spelling, grammar, addresses and information are correct before going live.
4: Wrapping & Going Live!
GOING LIVE!
Once your site is ready to go live, all unnecessary plugins, pages, images and backend files will be removed. The new site will be backed up and saved locally, should it ever need restored. Once live, it may take between 24-48 hours for the new site to pull up on some devices
SEE YOUR NEW SITE
Some computers will need to be refreshed in order to see your new site, though most computers will see the new site immediately depending on the wifi connection and where they are in relation to the location of server that the website is on.
LOGINS & CREDENTIALS
Your website logins and all credentials will be sent to you via Bonsai or secure email insuring the security of your passwords. Though your logins and passwords will be saved by me locally, PLEASE SAVE ALL LOGINS FOR YOUR RECORDS AS WELL.
UPON COMPLETION
Upon completion, you’ll receive a link to my “moving forward” page where you’ll receive tips and tricks on what to do with your new website and also information on our Maintenance/Security Plan which I highly recommend for all my clients.
And if you didn’t get a chance, please fill out the website strategy questionnaire that was sent you you.
