6 steps to successful website design and development
After registering the domain name, server, and related things, the next stage will be website design. There are countless ways of web design and development. We are starting by gathering the necessary information on how to build a website and how to maintain and update it.
Often it is not possible to have an exact description of the website design process because different designers will have different ways of doing it. However, the basic steps are exactly the same. Next, the article will list 6 basic stages that every website design must perform.
1. Collecting information
This step is the most important step because it requires a firm grasp of the company’s or individual’s goals and orientation when designing a website. How to achieve those goals is also something to keep in mind. Here are some example questions to ask during the crawl:
- Purpose: What is the purpose of building this page? To provide information, promote services, or sell products?
- Objective: What will this site bring?. Making money and sharing information are two of the common goals when designing a website.
- Audience: Which audience groups will help the website achieve its goals? What group of users will want to visit the site?. Considering factors such as age, gender, and interests will help determine the right design and construction style for the website.
- Content: What kind of information will the target group of the website expect? Are they looking for specific content such as product specifications, services, etc.?
2. Analysis and planning
Analyze and combine the information collected to create a plan for the website. This is also the time to develop the sitemap. The sitemap is understood as a map of the website, including all the information items, the structure of the website, and a brief description of them. During the planning phase, the web designer will also decide what technologies and techniques to use. Are programs like WordPress-style CMS (content management system) and contact form plugins necessary for the site? Also discussed in detail when developing a website plan.
3. Interface design
The object is one of the factors that play a decisive role in the design style. A website aimed at teenagers will look completely different from a website aimed at financial investors. Don’t forget to add details like the company logo or the main color to the web interface, as they will help increase brand recognition.
It is advisable to prepare a variety of website designs with different styles as well as provide mockups. Thanks to mockups, viewers can imagine what designs will look like when displayed on different devices.
4. Build and develop
What is developed first is usually the home page, which begins with the construction of the “ribs”. This “rib” includes website layout, arrangement, presentation of page content… Once the web page is completed, the content will be distributed into appropriate areas on the website. At this time, CMS, contact form, shopping cart function, and other functions also started to be built and integrated into the web.
5. Check and operate
This is the stage where the website is close to the final website design. Missing details will be perfected before preparing to test the website. Web programming with specialized tools in web design such as HTML and CSS can also cause input errors. Besides, the website also needs to be checked for form functionality, scripts, compatibility issues.
6. Maintenance and update
There are always problems affecting the website, such as outdated applications, slow page loading speed, etc. Therefore, regular website maintenance is the best way to prevent unexpected problems at unexpected times. Many web designers are willing to offer maintenance packages at friendly prices. In addition, updating and posting new content or products regularly is a must if the website wants to maintain traffic. Website owners can use the CMS to update and manage the content themselves.