An average website takes 4-7 weeks to build. Overall turnaround time depends on the complexity of project, such as volume of site content, special features that require extra coding and designing, multilingual features etc. It also depends on how quickly the client can provide content and brand elements necessary for the project.

I use a cloud-based project management software for close collaboration and interaction with the client throughout the entire development process.

1. Project Planning & Research

– Discuss project via email or messenger

– Create website brief (description of website goals, audience, architecture etc)

2. Contract

– Sign the contract

– First payment: 30-50% of total project price

3. Prototyping

– Create project moodboard (fonts, colours, styles…)

– Create sitemap (hierarchy of pages and sections)

– Design website wireframes (visual hierarchy of content on pages)

– Design website prototype (a static design of homepage and key pages)

4. Development

– Setup WordPress on a development server

– Install and configure plugins and add-ons

– Do necessary coding (HTML, PHP, CSS, Javascript) to turn the prototype into a live site

– Add interactive elements like buttons, menus, contact forms etc

– Add content (text, images, videos…)

– Configure basic SEO settings

– Optimize load speed (configure caching)

5. Review and testing

– Listen to client’s feedback

– Do necessary bugfixing/edits

– Test website in different browsers and on different devices

– Help client purchase hosting plan and domain name (if necessary)

6. Final payment

– Final payment (100% minus upfront payment)

7. Launch

– Transfer website to client’s web server

– Configure SSL, mailboxes and other hosting-related stuff

– Add Google Analytics tracking code

– Allow website indexing by search engines

8. User training

– Provide all website passwords, logins etc

– Provide written manual on basic website administration

– Create user roles such as editor, contributor etc on the website

– If necessary, hold a training session via chat/messenger/call

9. Maintenance

– Sign a contract for monthly/quarterly website maintenance (optional)

– Regular website updates and upkeep