To ensure a successful web development project it is important to understand that there is a lot of planning and process that needs to take place in order to achieve a success outcome. Many projects fall short of the site owners expectations because we designers rush straight to the design without properly planning and evaluating how they can best serve there user. The following process will ensure that you have done everything possible to create a site that will deliver maximum value.

Step by step web development guide

Personas – types of customers

How you will connect to each customer? Persuasion architecture.

When commencing your web development project you need to understand your audience. Unlike face to face selling, where you can adapt to the personality type you are selling to, on the web you need to create a website that will persuade every persona. There are four main types of personas that your web development project will need to cater for:

1. Methodical. (Prefers to focus on the how questions)

These buyers love facts, hard data and information presented in a logical manner. They abhor disorganisation. They prefer to think about the specifics and details. They are always looking to see how your product or service can solve there problem.

2. Spontaneous. (Prefers to focus on the why questions)

They live in the moment. They thrive on impulse and action. They like a personal touch and are always searching for new experiences. They fear on missing out on life experiences.

3. Humanistic. (Prefers to focus on the who questions)

Tend to put others needs before their own. They love helping others and value relationships. They are slow in making a decision, and fear separation. To sell to the humanistic buyer you need to answer the question; “who has used your solution to solve my problem”? Testimonials will help sell to this buyer.

4. Competitive. (Prefers to focus on the what questions)

They are the power personality and love to be in control of life. They are very goal orientated and love a challenge. They love people who back themselves. Guarantees are powerful with this buyer.

Before you start wire framing or designing you need to think about how you will persuade of the personas. This will help with your structuring. Further, this is a great time to write you copy. This way you will be able to write copy that persuades users, and structure and design your website to sell to these personas. This is referred to as persuasion architecture.

Information architecture & site map

In this stage you need to tie down your site structure. Many designers make the mistake on focusing on only the two top levels of the site. However, we feel that you should design ever layer with the same importance. This web development technique will boost conversion rates down the track. Further this will ensure that you develop navigation systems that will allow users to browse the site and find what they need.

Wireframe

This is a simple, non technical step. Nonetheless, this is a critical step,  often ignored by web development companies. Further this is the step in the process that ensures that you build the write site structure. Wireframes are so powerful because you can start working out where the user will click, what information will be included on the page and where electronics hyper links and calls to actions will be placed. Further, this can be done as objectively as possible as there is no colour, design or emotion. It is purely function and structure. It saves you a lot of time and money. Changes can easily be made and so can many iterations.

Story Board

This stage is essentially the graphical mock-up of what the site will look like. You have already thought about how you will persuade your users, structured the site. This step creates the colour emotion and personality that will help communicate your message. If you have performed the previous sets correctly then this stage should be smooth. However, this largely depends on how competent your designer is. Some designers get structure, and some designers don’t. There is a big difference between making something look good and having it perform your sites goals. In this step always be mindful of this. Don’t let pure aesthetics get in the way of function. Many designers believe that they need to create something fresh and unique. The fact is that users expect to see similar navigation and conventions that they see on the major sites that they visit. Keep it simple. It’s not an art contest.

Develop

Once you have approved your designs you will then move into the development phase. This is where your web developer will code your site. Once your web development professional is nearing completion they will put your site on a test server. In this stage you will need to thoroughly test all the tasks that your users will need to perform on your site. Have several people test these tasks on all major web browsers. It is important that you iron out any bugs in this stage, otherwise your developer will make you pay for it after the site is released.

In this stage only very minor changes should be made. Often once you see the site on your screen and you are navigating you will see a few things you will need to change, to enhance the users experience. Make sure that all major calls to actions and text are above the fold of the screen. This is the water front real estate of your web page. Often the user will scan and click the most obvious link or call to action.

Further, try and keep good keyword saturation throught the text for SEO.

Release

Once you have tested your site and you are certain that all major have been ironed out, then you can make your site go live on the web. Just remember that often a site takes some time to get traction. Unless you are going to be heavily investing in offline media, or pay per click advertising, it will take time for users to come to your site. However, you will need to put together an online marketing plan to build your traffic.