Once you contact me and request a FREE consultation, the website design process begins.  This process will take you from the initial consultation, all the way through the launch of your website and subsequent maintenance.  Throughout this whole process, you'll always be in control of the direction and design of your website.  The website design process generally follows the following steps:

1. The Initial Consultation
This meeting usually takes place in person, and takes about a half hour. The meeting is free and without obligation. This initial meeting is an exchange of information. Any questions that you have will be answered, and we'll find out more about what kind of web site you are planning or considering. The purpose is to provide you with enough information to allow you to decide whether you would like to work with TOWD, and to discern whether your project is an appropriate one for TOWD to undertake.

2. Proposal & Contract Preparation
Based on the information gathered during the initial consultation, a design proposal detailing the specifics of the project will be created.  In addition, a standard contract will be prepared for you to review. The proposal and contract will include specific information about the project timeline and a cost estimate based on the design package and features that are chosen.

3. Signing of Agreement
Once you have had an opportunity to review the design proposal and the standard contract, the next step is to sign the agreement. 

4. Initial Payment
For clients selecting the Small Business Package, payment in full is required prior to work beginning on your website.  For all other packages and projects, an initial payment in the amount of 50% of the project cost estimate must be paid before work will begin.  In both cases, the amount paid is refundable at any time within 30 days of when work begins if you are not satisfied with the work that has been performed.

4. Content Gathering
Graphic content must be gathered before most work can begin on the site, and text content before the site can actually be built.  Assistance will be given to help you pull together the text, logo, graphics, and photographs needed for the site, but it's important to be aware that a web site project does require work on your part. 

5. Final Design of Site Structure and Dynamic Applications
A finalized plan for the site structure (the way information is arranged and how navigation will work) and any dynamic applications will be developed and presented for your review.

6. Page Layout Drafts
Next, page layout and visual design begins. The site's basic design templates are designed first.  We will produce a draft based upon the content, needs, and preferences provided, and upload this draft to a private location on the Internet where the client can view it. The client's feedback is solicited, and this feedback used to produce a second draft. Once more, client feedback is used to make another round of changes, and these changes are expected to produce a final draft.

7. Coding of Actual Pages
The approved page designs are now used as templates. Text and graphic content is "plugged in" and adjusted for a perfect layout. Dynamic page code is added to page templates.

8. Final Site Testing
The site is thoroughly tested. You'll have another chance to review it for any minor changes or corrections, and we will test the pages on numerous browsers, on different platforms, and at different browser window sizes and resolution settings, and correct any remaining errors.

9. Site Launch
Full payment of the remaining balance is due at the time when your site is uploaded to the server and goes "live" on the Internet

10. Ongoing Maintenance
Once the site goes live on the Internet, it is important to keep it up to date with current content, correct contact information, and any other details about your organization that may change. In addition, any programs or scripts that are built into the website will occasionally need updating to keep them secure and compliant with the latest Internet standards.  TOWD would be happy to provide these services through our Extended Support Package!  Click HERE to find out more about our Extended Support Package!