A Process for Developing an Effective Web Presence
Our approach to your project will be calculated with distinction in mind, yet there are basic, underlying principles for delivering a great web project. No two Client’s are ever the same... but there are always 3 basic questions that begin every project, and 5 phases that complete it.
3 Questions to Guide Website Development
1. What do you want to accomplish?
This is the needs assessment phase of any project. We spend time talking with you about what you want to accomplish. Then, we spend time figuring out if we’re the right firm; the best people to help you. That may sound simple, but it is unique. We realize that we’re not the best fit for every potential Client. But when we are, we’ll do everything we can to make sure that your objectives are met, your goals are accomplished and that you are overwhelmingly satisfied with the services of Alabama Web Media.
2. What unique designs or solutions are required?
When we have documented your desired objectives for the project at hand, we move quickly to identify and investigate solutions. New web design? New marketing initiative? Search Engine Optimization? Some carefully placed social media ads? What is it that will move your business objectives forward? Whatever the solution,we’ll design, communicate and help to implement a solution that is built to industry standards and provide completed projects that work across all media platforms.
3. What development processes are needed to meet the objectives?
We expertly engineer and develop specific solutions to meet your specific objectives. In web design, that means we develop within Web Standards, and ensure that your design, elements and functions work on all platforms. We test, and always seek approval prior to making any function live on your website or implementing a new advertising initiative.
Our 5 Phase Process
1. Information Architecture
Development of a Navigation Chart that works out how visitors will move through the site, and what information each page will include.
2. Content Creation
Research related to your product or service, collection of information from you, and writing of original content.
3. Design Phase
An exclusive, original design based on your branding and current marketing materials.
4. Development Phase
Web-standard coding of your project for stability, usability and profitability.
5. Testing
All components of the new website are tested on multiple platforms and browsers before the project is released to you for approval to launch.
Web Design - Web Development Costs
Websites can be just another form of advertising or they can function as your entire business. Either way, it is going to be an investment, a good one to help your business grow. There will be upfront costs and ongoing costs. Just as you might have an advertising budget, you may need to consider having a website budget if you are serious about having a web presence.
Most people do not have a clue as to how much a website costs or the other costs that are involved. This is usually the first question most web developers are asked before even meeting the Client, or knowing any information about what type of website the Client wants. Without knowing the details of the website, the question of cost is unanswerable. This industry is still so young with so many different variables to consider: half of it is art; the other half is technology (forms, e-commerce, web applications, databases, mailing lists, forums, blogs, etc…). At Alabama Web Media, we package our web design development into one fee. The fee depends upon what the Client needs are. A website with a shopping cart of 200 widgets will cost more than a static website with three pages of basic information.
If you have done your research, decided on what you want your website to do, and have outlined your site's content, you have already taken out most of the guess work for the web developer. With this information, your web developer should then be able to give you a more precise cost estimate for the website's construction and any additional fees involved. If you are unsure where to begin contact us.
There are generally four basic fees involved in having a website: the website itself, the domain name for your website, the hosting fee, and finally, the maintenance. The website development cost will be the largest of these fees, but it is a one time deal. Once created, the website design is complete until you decide to re-design it. The second fee is the domain name (www.yourbusinessname.com) for your business. In order for people to get to your website, the files that make up your website will have to be "hosted" on a computer that has a special connection to the Internet. The hosting cost is billed either quarterly or yearly and the price, once again, depends on the functionality of your website (e-commerce and other more functional websites will need special hosting may cost more). Your maintenance fee varies; this can be a reoccurring fee, or an as needed cost. Keep in mind at Alabama Web Media most web development packages include one-year of free maintenance.
Responsive, Responsible, Consistent.
We’re available for ongoing maintenance, changes and improvements to your website and e-marketing programs. You can count on Alabama Web Media to provide timely, cost-effective and value added support for your project for years to come.