The Swim Website Building Process

Posted December 15, 2016 by swimcreativeweb-building-process

In many ways, web development is similar to the process of constructing a building. In construction, the final outcome of the project is a building. The final outcome of web development is a fully functioning website. Each type of project takes a series of steps before any doors can open or any sites go live.

Here is the simplified version of the Swim Website Building Process:

STEP 1. DISCOVERY

We start with a meeting to assess the parameters of the project, to learn what you’re looking for, and learn what your organization and users need from your website.

STEP 2. RESEARCH

When building, the research process involves building codes and construction standards. Web development research includes looking into user expectations, industry conventions and opportunities for leveraging your website.

STEPS 3 AND 4. INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE AND WIREFRAMES

These tools are used like builders would use a blueprint. An information architecture (IA) is the high-level organization of content. After the completion of the final IA, we’ll create the wireframes, which inform design by describing a basic layout and hierarchy of web page content.

STEP 5. DESIGN

There are aesthetic considerations for a website just as there are for a building. Web design mockups are static, visual prototypes of the final website’s look and functionality. The design mockup will finalize layout and aesthetics, indicate areas of interactivity and performance, and determine what those interfaces will look like.

STEP 6. CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

A new building needs windows, appliances and furniture. A new website needs content. This includes SEO-friendly copywriting, photography and video. Along with proper tagging and formatting. This step allows your website to be more relevant for users searching for your services.

Note: SEO stands for search engine optimization. SEO is the process of optimizing your website to increase the quantity and quality of the traffic from search engines.

STEP 7. CODING

With all of these things in place, the actual building process can begin. In web speak, the building process is called development, or coding. During this process, developers translate the flat image of a site into a comprehensive digital experience.

STEP 8. LAUNCH

At launch, all the final files that make up a website are migrated to a web host and the website’s domain name is updated accordingly. We’ll do a website training for you and your employees, and then ‘hand you the keys’ to your site once you’re comfortable managing and updating it.

STEP 9. DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN*

Once the building’s ready for move in, it’s time to host a housewarming party and invite guests over. First impressions are everything, and we want to make sure they’ll want to visit again.

Digital marketing campaigns are built to do this and deliver your message to a targeted audience on a variety of channels. Once they stop by, you can send them off with a fresh batch of cookies and retarget them on websites they frequent until they visit you again and convert from a prospect to a customer.

We track the behaviors of your visitors and measure the performance of the digital ads, continuously optimizing to increase engagement.  

STEP 10. 30- AND 90-DAY CHECK-IN

We want to ensure that you are happy with your site. Like a contractor who has a follow-up meeting with the building owner, we also will check in with you after 30 and 90 days to make sure you’re comfortable with the site and everything is in working order.

*Not a requirement of the website building process, but highly recommended.

Interested in learning how we can help renovate your website? Contact our director of account services, Bill Nelson at bill@swimcreative.com.

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