Creating an effective web site does not start and end with the design of the site.  It starts with a review of what you want your site to accomplish and ends with an agreement on how to handle ongoing maintenance tasks such as site updates, and how to market and promote your site.  While the design itself is an important part of that process, so are a lot of pieces that you may not have even thought about.  A summary of the typical web development process is presented below.

» Establishing Your Internet Strategy

Before we make the first keystroke, we will discuss with you what you want to accomplish with your web site.  The reason for this is that your goals for the site - both for now and in the future - should be the driving force behind its design.  Our technical expertise combined with our many years of business experience can help you focus your ideas into an internet strategy that will enhance your business.

At this stage, we will also begin to determine specific needs for interactivity, functionality, content, general design direction, specific architectural needs, etc.

» Domain Name Search/Registration

While domain names (i.e., www.xyz.com) may seem trivial, this can be an important part of establishing your web presence.  For example, Delta Airlines was stuck using www.delta-air.com as its domain name for a number of years.  Why?  Because delta.com had been registered by another company.  How many of Delta's customers tried to find them at delta.com?  Apparently enough for them to purchase the rights to the delta.com name.

» Web Design

The web sites we design are built from the ground up and do not rely on pre-packaged templates.  As noted above, we will use your goals and objectives for the web site to help determine its design.  However, we will also solicit feedback from you on specific web sites that you like, specific sites you don't like, features that you've seen elsewhere that you'd like included on your site, etc.  We may also recommend certain dynamic content, such as live news feeds, etc., to keep your site fresh.  All of this information will be incorporated into an outline of specifications for your site.  For more information on design elements, see our Top Ten Design Tips.

We will also determine how best to integrate web site into your business process if you so desire.  Some specific examples of this include:

1. Recording online sales in your accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Great Plains, etc.)

2. Utilizing specific customer service tools (e.g., shipment tracking, live chat windows, etc.)

3. Interactivity with databases (e.g., self-management of subscriber/user data, etc.)

For more information on these types of services, see our Web Enhancements Section.

Based on our the specifications determined above, we will build several mock-up web pages that you will be able to view in your web browser online.  We will usually put together three different designs for you to choose from.  Based on your feedback, we will continue to develop one or two of these designs until we arrive at a final prototype page for your site.  This prototype will include the basic graphic design and any dynamic navigation or other elements that will be part of the final design.

» Usability Testing

This is not a requirement to begin production.  However, depending upon the nature of your site, we will often recommend this while finalizing the prototype so that any potential usability issues can be spotted and corrected prior to moving to the production phase, when retrofitting changes becomes an expensive endeavor.

» Web Graphics

We have thousands of royalty-free photos and stock graphics in our libraries that can be used as-is or modified for use in your web site.  We can also design custom graphics, including business logos, using a variety of software by Corel, Adobe and Microsoft.  If you have existing print images that you would prefer we use, they can be scanned by us using high resolution scanners.  Finally, if you need custom photographs, we have relationships with several photographers that produce outstanding quality work.

» Copy Writing

We can work directly from your copy, can edit and polish your copy, or can work with you to create copy from scratch.  We can also suggest other content providers for industry news, etc., many of which provide their content at no charge to you.

» Web Production

Based on your web site's requirements, we will handle all aspects of programming your site, including basic HTML, DHTML (for dynamic navigation elements), JavaScript (for dynamic navigation elements and certain scripting needs), Active Server Pages (ASP - for database interface), Perl (for special scripting needs), Visual Basic (for special scripting needs), Animated GIF's (for animation), and Macromedia Flash (for navigation or animated effects).  We are also registered Web Presence Developers for Microsoft FrontPage, one of only two in the state of Georgia.

During the production process, we will also complete the necessary programming to integrate your web site into your business process. 

We will test your site on Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Opera to make sure that your site renders properly on all browsers. 

During the production phase, your new site will be posted behind our web site in an area that only you can reach, so that you can provide continuous feedback throughout the production process.

As part of your web site's production, we will also include development of keyword meta tags and a one-time submission to major search engines (e.g., Lycos, Google, etc.).

E-commerce options will also be constructed at this time - for more details see our E-Commerce Section.

» Web Site Hosting / E-Mail Set-Up & Administration

Assuming that you do not have your own dedicated web server, we will arrange hosting for your site.  Our hosting plans start at $14.95 per month for basic service and increase based upon the size of the site and the traffic expected.  10% discounts are available for paying for a year's hosting in advance.

We will also set up basic e-mail functions and can configure e-mail addresses for you.  We can also provide you with instructions on how to set-up and modify accounts yourself and will give you instructions on how to configure your e-mail software (e.g., Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, etc.) so you can download your e-mail with ease.

» Marketing / Search Engine Optimization & Registration

If you build a web site but no one can find it, is it really there?  In addition to our one-time submission to search engines, we can help you devise a strategy to get your site the exposure it needs.  This includes including elements in your site to increase visibility, optimizing keywords based upon search requests, paid submission to top search engines, and pay-per-click registration with top online marketing services.  See our Marketing Page for more details.

» Maintenance

Once your site is built, it will likely require periodic updates.  We can provide this service using a maintenance contract or on an as-occurs basis.

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