Randall Roberts

Step 1 - Planning

Whether you want to create a new website or re-design your existing site, we'll discuss everything we need to know to get your project off on the right foot:

what kind of site you want, who your target audience is, & how you plan to promote your site;

your likes & dislikes in terms of presentation, colors & layout, & what level of interaction you want to offer your visitors;

the technologies I'll use to develop your site, your deadlines & any other requirements you may have.

Go to Step 2 - Your content...

Step 2 Your Content

Once we've determined what kind of site you want, we'll discuss your site content:

whether the content is mainly text & images, or you want to offer your visitors rich media like streaming music or videos;

who will supply or create your content, who will validate it & who will be responsible for updating it.

I'll explain anything you don't understand, or help you decide what you need based on the kind of site you want. You can look over the project-kickoff checklist here, or use the contact form to schedule an appointment.

Go to Step 3 - The team, the budget, your deadlines...

Step 3 - The team, the budget, your deadlines

... Once we've established the scope & details of your project, I'll give you

a detailed bid, broken down into easily understood tasks. No hidden costs, no budget overruns - everything is out in the open.

Depending on your requirements, I'll also give you a team proposal containing the CVs & portfolios of any additional developers or graphic artists that I hope to include in your project team.

Your deadlines are important! When I commit to delivering a project on a specific date, that's a guarantee that the project will be completed by that date, no matter how large or how small.

Go to Step 4 - Getting down to business…

Go to Step 4 - Getting down to business…

1^st Delivery - The Framework document…
The first delivery on any project is a document outlining the outcome of our kickoff meeting. I'll ask you to validate this document, & it will serve as the framework for development & production.

Graphic proposals…
Our initial graphic proposals are based on the criteria you validated in the framework document. These initial proposals will be delivered as image files, and we'll revise them as often as we need to until you're satisfied with the result.

Go to Step 5 - Site template & bug tracking

Step 5 - Site template & bug tracking

Once you've validated a graphic proposal, I'll transform the static image file into a functional site layout template that will serve as the basis for further development. This template will include the site navigation bar based on the main topics & sub-topics you selected when we created your sitemap.

Bug tracking…
I'll create a secure client space for your project on our server, where you can view and comment on all deliverables throughout the development of the project. I use Bugzilla for bug tracking and resolution, so you will have a clear idea of exactly how we're progressing by checking the daily build of your project & looking over the bug reports, from the initial graphic proposals through the delivery of your site.

Go to Step 6 - In production - Coding & programming…

Step 6 - In production - Coding & programming…

After you've validated the basic site template I'll start producing the front end website (the part your visitors will see), and the CMS, if you've chosen to use one.

This phase is where your website is really being built; I'll create all the pages for your site and do the necessary programming so your visitors can find what they're looking for where they expect it, and I'll program the CMS here so you can manage your content quickly and easily.

Go to Step 7 - Creating & integrating your content…

Step 7 - Creating & integrating your content…

Content is a key factor at this stage, & I will be developing or integrating your content all throughout the production phase.

Beta delivery…
When I've finished the production phase, I'll announce the Beta release of your site & ask you to test and validate it.

Go to Step 8 - Testing & validation…

Step 8 - Testing & validation…

Testing
On my end, I'll run functional tests to make sure everything works the way it's supposed to, and perform compatibility tests to ensure that your site is fully functional and beautiful on the latest versions of all major web browsers. I currently test on Google Chrome 13, Mozilla Firefox 5 & 6, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 & 9, Safari 5.0, & Opera 10.

100% valid code…
I guarantee that your site will be developed using valid XHTML and CSS, so I never really have any major surprises during compatibility testing.

Go to Step 9 - Training & final delivery…

Step 9 - Training & final delivery…

And now that we've ironed out the bugs, we're ready to take the site live. I'll upload everything to your server, configure the database access if I need to, and test the whole kit and caboodle one more time just to make sure everything works like you expect it to work.

Your project bid will include a training session, where I'll show you and your colleagues how to use all of the functions I've integrated into your site. The training covers topics like adding new articles or media content to your site, modifying existing content, and using back office functions like user rights & management, order fulfillment, logistics and tracking.

Go to Step 10 - Maintenance…

Step 10 - Maintenance…& more!

Included in your bid is 1 day/month of scheduled site maintenance for 1 year, plus intervention and resolution within 24 hours of any bug you find after delivery. I would be happy to talk to you about a longer or more intensive site maintenance program - often this includes adding content or sections to the site, or adding additional functions once the site has been launched.

If all this has convinced you to take a closer look, just use the contact form below to give me a call or send me a mail - we can also set up a virtual meeting by skype if you wish! I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Go back to Step 1 - Planning…