Imagine a world where your business commands a strong online presence, building relationships, attracting clients and driving sales – sounds idyllic, right? But here’s the harsh reality of it all – generally speaking it takes a user approximately a tenth of a second to make a good first impression, and with the internet being faster than that you’re going to want to make sure your website is strong enough to determine whether a potential customer will stay on leave.
The question here then is how does one go about building a website that’s appealing enough to not only retain but also convert your visitors? By creating a flexible checklist that’s unique to your customer’s needs, you’re able to streamline this process to make sure no steps are skipped when creating a site your target audience is going to love. Of course, organization is key. That’s why a checklist would come in handy before launching any site. Irrespective of what your website is about and what audience you’re hoping to target, you need to have a clear set of goals that resonate with whoever you’re hoping to captivate.
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What’s Web Development?
In a nutshell, web development refers to the process of building a website which could range from anywhere between a static landing page to complex web-based apps and social media platforms. This process includes several skills and tasks which include:
- Content development
- Web / UX design
- Network security configuration
- Client/ server-side scripting
Good web development will serve as the backbone for your online business, to create an engaging, functional and user-friendly website for your target audience to enjoy. Different types of web development include:
- Front-end development
- Back-end development
- Full-stack development
- CMS development
The Ultimate Web Development Checklist
The web development process includes several steps that eventually lead to the creation of a website that’s both visually appealing and fully functional. It’s a journey that’s born from an idea and ends upon completion of a fully digital platform that’s primed to drive conversions while engaging your audience – here are five of the most important stages.
Stage 1 – Gather Information – Laying the Foundations
One of the most important elements of good web design heavily relies on how meticulously you’re able to gather information while exploring your business’s unique requirements. Being actively involved in this process assures that your final web product is a true reflection of our brand’s goals and beliefs.
- Understand your audience – defining the true purpose of your website will not only set the stage for design but also provide a guideline for the content it will host.
- Competition analysis – look at what other businesses in your industry are up to, which will help you avoid any obvious mistakes while helping you identify what works best.
- Market research – apart from looking at the competition, you’re also going to want to direct your attention towards current consumer preferences and market trends that can help you stay on top of your game.
- Keyword research – your visibility depends entirely on your rankings, which is essentially the way your audience can find you.
- Tone of voice – and lastly, you’re going to want to define your brand’s tone which is the core of consistency and relatability when it comes to branding.
Stage 2 – Planning – Chart Your Course
The planning phase of any web development will ensure that your site is built on solid foundations. Once you’ve gathered all the information you need, you’re ready for this second step.
- Sitemap & architecture – one of the main outcomes of this stage is your sitemap which represents a digital blueprint of your new site. Here you’re able to define how various pages and their content will connect, while also defining your site’s goals and objectives.
- Scripts & analytics – everything on your website is trackable, and during this stage, you’re going to want to integrate as many analytics scripts as required which will allow you to monitor your site against several key metrics.
- Redirect mapping – if you’ve already got an existing site, redirect mapping is where you’re able to retain all the goodwill and forward your old URLs to brand new ones for SEO purposes.
Stage 3 – Design and Content – Bringing Your Ideas to Life
This stage is where your website starts coming together visually, it’s a critical step where your creativity will meet strategy, and while great design will not only capture the attention of your audience it will also ensure a superior user experience.
- Choosing your template – with hundreds if not thousands of design templates available the first step is deciding whether you’re going custom or off the rack. Next, you’re going to want to evaluate your timeline, budget and specific needs to land the design that provides both aesthetics and functionality.
- Function and features – these are what are going to give your website its overall user experience and usability. Consider whether your site might require an e-commerce platform, a booking system or even perhaps a live chat feature.
- Define your content – Content writing is probably one of the most important aspects of web development and design. At this stage we aren’t simply speaking about filling up web space with words, but carefully crafting valuable information that will speak to your audience while reflecting your brand’s unique personality and beliefs.
Stage 4 – Construction – Creating Your Framework
Once you’ve got content and design in the bag, it’s time to move onto building your website. Normally, you’ll be developing the site in a private space where all your visuals are translated into code, transforming your website from concept to execution.
- Your development setup – to ensure everything goes as planned, your development environment should be carefully created. Using your preferred content management system (CMS), you’re able to access a huge selection of plugins and themes that meet your needs.
- Page creation – here you’re going to want to follow your sitemap to create all the required pages and URLs included. This not only includes your main pages, but also additional content such as blogs which might have been scheduled during the content stage.
- Template configuration – if you’re making use of a prefab template, then here’s where you configure it to match your current business requirements.
- SEO – remember that optimization should be included from the very first stages, working on healthy SEO at this stage will save you time and money in the future.
Stage 5 – Testing & Launch – Making It to The Finish Line
At this stage, your website should be up and running, and this step will ensure that your new site is geared up for a successful launch.
- Pre-launch – before your website goes live, you’re going to want to review and test it appropriately. This includes functionality, design and content testing, meaning that all your links are working, you’ve got no typos, and your site looks and functions as it should.
- Migration – after all the necessary checks have been carried out, and any DNS changes and redirects implemented, if necessary, it’s time to move your site from development to live environments.
- Analytics and tracking – before your site’s official debut it’s crucial to include any analytics or tracking scripts that you plan on using to monitor user behavior and web performance.
- Launch – well done! It’s now time for the grand debut. Once your site is live it’s a good idea to run a final round of checks to ensure everything is functioning as it’s meant to.
- Live testing and checks – once you’ve gone live, it’s time to run through another round of testing to pick up on any issues you might have previously overlooked.
