The Development of a Website

Inside Studio7 | written by Chris Allison | June 2, 2009 at 8:15 PM

The process of developing of a website varies from place-to-place and is arguable. At Studio7, this is how we develop your website:

Needs Analysis
Competition Research
The Proposal and Website Planning
Wireframing and Information Architecture
Graphical User Interface
Backend Programming
Complete Testing and Debugging
Thorough Review
Launch Your Website

Let’s take a quick look at each step above in more detail.

Needs Analysis
Essentially this is where Studio7 will analyze your needs and goals. Meeting with you in person, we’ll also learn more about your business and what you would like your website to do for you. It’s important that a lot is learned about your goals through this Needs Analysis—this is why Studio7 has a unique and effective approach.

Competition Research
Recognizing our clients’ competition and researching their competition’s internet presences really reveals their weak spots, therefore providing ideas for improvement to take advantage of those weak spots. This step comes into play in the next step: The Proposal and Website Planning.

The Proposal and Website Planning
From the Needs Analysis, we’ll determine the best way to build your website (around your goals), from what needs to be on it, to features that would benefit your business and your clients. The proposal we create for you will be customized and will include a snapshot of what your website will consist of. This is reviewed with you before it is finalized. The final copy of your proposal will include pricing and a contract. If accepted, we move on to the next step.

Wireframing and Information Architecture
Strategically, our website architects and designers will be creating wireframes for your website. A wireframe is basically a sketch of where elements will go and how your website will operate. Before proceeding to the next step, these wireframes will be confirmed with you.

Graphical User Interface
With the website’s backend and functionality in mind, Studio7’s talented web designers will create an attractive user interface for your website. Before proceeding to the next step, this design will be confirmed with you.

Backend Programming
Skilled and diligent programmers are vital in this step of developing your website. This is where all the major coding and functionality is created for your website. There will be semicolons, brackets, dots, parenthesis, exclamation points, “else if” statements, and a bunch of technical jargon which communicate with one another to create excellent functionality and performance. A Store Locator, for example, may connect to a database, pull the locations, and place those locations on an interactive map. This is all done in the backend (yes, with semicolons, brackets, dots, parenthesis, and so forth). Since the backend of your website is so complex, it is very important that we perfect the wireframes and graphical user interface before proceeding to this step (Backend Programming). These steps will provide the elements that need to be programmed and will provide Studio7’s programmers with a road map.

Complete Testing and Debugging
Obviously we don’t want to launch your website without testing it. In this step, we’ll be testing usability, functionality, and compatibility. In addition, we’ll be debugging (fixing) any errors encountered. Your website will be tested by multiple people and with multiple browsers (for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) and operating systems (for example, Windows and Mac). When operating as it should, we’ll proceed to the next step: Thorough Review.

Thorough Review
In this step, your website will be reviewed by Studio7 and by you. This review should be thorough as it is the final review before going live. Necessary modifications will be completed. Your confirmation of this step is required before proceeding to the next step: Launch Your Website.

Launch Your Website
It’s time to launch your website. Upon your permission, your website will going live. Don’t forget—Studio7 will be here anytime you need us. Additionally, we’ll be checking in with you to ensure everything is up to par.

For more information, contact Studio7.