· projectmanagement · 7 min read
From the idea to the website
Many customers would like to know from me what a typical project process looks like in detail up to the completion of a requirement.
In about five minutes of reading time, you will have an idea of how you too can bring your idea to the web in a structured way. In addition, you will even gain time back at the end of the project!
The implementation of the Internet presence begins at the round table. Every project starts with systematic planning, from content and design to technical realisation, over a cup of coffee and a delicious piece of cake.
It should be said in advance that very few SMEs want to or are able to realise their online presence with their own staff. Therefore it is advisable to work together for planning, architecture, conception, web design, web publishing, infrastructural planning up to the realisation and I accompany you in all phases of a project. Furthermore, as an internet service provider, I provide the necessary infrastructure (servers, line capacities, outsourcing) for you.
As with any project, it is particularly important to involve the partners and stakeholders involved in the development process at an early stage and to collect them so that the respective expertise can already flow into the planning. For this purpose, I use agile methods as well as a project structure plan and organise regular appointments for the further procedure from the moment the order is placed.
What is needed? Design, programming, technical infrastructure and precise project management for deadlines, costs and milestones.
Phase 1 – Specification and planning
The cooperation begins with a consultation meeting. It serves to clarify project content, define target groups as well as strategic goals and distribute tasks. In this phase we work out the content and technical specifications for the project together.
In addition, we fix the guidelines and agree on the appearance. The website is defined in terms of function and content. Furthermore, you already think about how your web presence can be integrated into your marketing and communication strategy. But if you haven’t thought about this yet, no problem. Here I take the helm for you and develop a suitable online/offline marketing and communication strategy based on the information and data you provide me with.
When defining the website, we determine together who will create or provide the content such as texts or images. This content may already be available to you and only needs to be prepared for the web. However, it is often the case that texts or images still have to be created. Of course, I will be happy to help you with this.
Subtasks of an example project for a website
- 20% consulting and conception
- 20% Design and layout strategies
- 20% structural concept, design of templates and graphics
- 20% Construction of the website (technical implementation), production
- 20% Test, publication, training
- Target definition of the internet presence
A complete specification is the basis of every website.
With a precise schedule, we fix the most important deadlines and determine who is responsible for what and who takes over the project and deadline tracking. We also define who is responsible for the project. We record this in writing in a binding contract for work.
Prepare yourself for the online presence. On your side, work processes and responsibilities need to be clarified. Who is responsible for the content of the pages? Who may (should) update and approve them? Who answers e-mails and customer enquiries? Here, too, I will be happy to support you in developing a work and process plan.
Phase 2 – Concept and design
Based on the information gathered from the consultation and specification, I can now develop a concept for the development and expansion of the website. It elaborates e.g. the characteristics and wishes of the defined target groups and thus facilitates the decision for necessary contents, structuring of information and design. The concept defines the content and scope of the initial offer. It also describes the planned expansion stages in terms of content, scope and technical functionalities (e.g. databases, shop system, APIs, ERP backend connection). I also formulate the long-term goals in detail in this concept.
Based on the specification, I create individual design variants for the “look and feel” of the future website, so-called prototypes. This includes elaborated sample pages, a consistent navigation and user guidance as well as structural overviews of the structure, scope and outline of the website – including the planned extensions for later expansion and integration into the navigation.
It is important to always keep the following in mind. Websites are not static projects. They are built up by me in a modular way and defined right at the beginning by initial offer, expansion stages as well as long-term goals.
Based on the design variants and structural models presented, the final specification for the layout, scope and structure of the initial offer is determined, as well as the binding design guidelines. The specification is the basis for the production of the website and serves me for later quality and function control.
Since the design also determines whether the website can or must be maintained by me or by you, we now discuss the necessary effort. Which contents require regular maintenance? What knowledge is necessary for this? After the joint effort estimate, you will receive a cost estimate.
Phase 3 – Prototyping and production
In the production phase, I build your website based on the final specification and create a fully functional website locally. In parallel, I develop the necessary programmes and scripts, for example to integrate databases or to evaluate forms. The graphic design, conceived for the end devices (desktop, tablet, mobile = Responsive), is closely oriented to the design guidelines. Optimally realised pages are convincing on different platforms and can also be loaded with high performance.
For this phase, I have scheduled one or two appointments for the presentation of the production phase of the website. This way you can already see in the development phase whether your ideas will be realised. In addition, I prepare a complete and written documentation of the entire project, both for the construction of the website and for the tools used. A fully documented project also makes you more independent.
Phase 4 – Testing
Every operating system, every monitor, every browser displays web pages slightly differently despite the identical source code. Therefore, during production it is imperative to test the appearance of the pages on different platforms and end devices with different hardware and software (screen size, graphics card, browser).
With the tests I can see how fast the pages are built up over a normal data line. To be able to assess this correctly, the test takes place under realistic conditions in the network via a server. This is because during production and presentation, the files may be located locally on the hard disk and are loaded much faster.
Phase 5 – Publication
Publishing a website means making the previously produced and tested website publicly accessible on a server. Either with a provider I trust or on your own infrastructure. If you wish, I can also advise you on the conception of your own technical infrastructure. From this point on, all interested parties can call up and view the pages. Now we can start to make the website as widely known as possible. The keyword here is online marketing campaigns. In this particular phase, you can start small and end very broadly. But first we start very simply, with an entry in the usual search engines and catalogues. In a separate consultation, I will be happy to support you with online marketing measures, mailing campaigns or even advertising campaigns.
After the publication, you will receive the complete and above all structured documentation of the project and the relevant data material. This makes the website completely transparent for you and allows it to be maintained and expanded at any time.
Phase 6 – Maintenance and revision
To ensure that interested users regularly visit your new website, the information provided must be constantly updated and, if necessary, expanded. Maintenance and expansion is a procedural and cost issue. For this purpose, I develop the new specifications in cooperation with you and organise planning.
If you maintain your website in the future, the necessary page templates are already available. With the help of an editorial or content management system, the website can be maintained and, after a little practice, expanded without much effort. After completion of the project, I offer training in various degrees of detail so that you can start completely independently with your website.