1. Initial Consultation
Define Objectives: Clearly outline the purpose of the website and what you hope to achieve.
Target Audience: Identify your target audience and their needs.
Budget and Timeline: Establish a budget and timeline for the project.
Competitor Analysis: Share any competitor websites you admire or want to compete with.
Inspirations: Provide examples of websites you like, including design elements, layout, and functionality.
2. Project Scope
Pages and Features: Decide on the number of pages and specific features (e.g., blog, e-commerce, contact forms).
Content Creation: Determine who will provide the content (text, images, videos) and when it will be delivered.
Branding Materials: Provide the designer with your logo, brand colours, fonts, and other branding guidelines.
SEO Requirements: Discuss any SEO goals and whether you need keyword research and optimization assistance.
3. Design And Layout
Design Mockups: Review and provide feedback on design mockups, focusing on aesthetics, branding, and user experience.
Responsive Design: Confirm that the design is mobile-friendly and looks good on different devices.
Typography and Colors: Ensure the chosen fonts and colors align with your brand identity.
4. Content and Functionality
Content Review: Review all content before it’s added to the website. Ensure it’s accurate, well-written, and aligned with your goals.
Functional Elements: Test all functional elements like forms, buttons, and navigation. Ensure they work as expected.
Call to Actions (CTAs): Confirm that CTAs are clear, compelling, and strategically placed.
5. Testing and Feedback
Cross-Browser Testing: Ensure the website looks and functions properly on all major browsers.
Responsiveness: Test the site on various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure responsiveness.
Load Times: Check the site’s load times and discuss any necessary optimizations.
Final Review: Conduct a thorough review of the entire site, checking for any issues or last-minute changes.
6. Pre-Launch
SEO Checklist: Confirm that all SEO elements (meta tags, alt tags, keywords) are correctly implemented.
Analytics Setup: Ensure Google Analytics or other tracking tools are integrated for performance monitoring.
Backup: Request a backup of the final version of the website before it goes live.
Redirects: Ensure any necessary redirects from old URLs to new ones are set up to maintain SEO rankings.
Legal Compliance: Verify that the website complies with relevant legal requirements, such as privacy policies, terms of service, and POPIA-compliance.
7. Launch
Domain and Hosting: Confirm that your domain is correctly pointed to the new site and that hosting is set up properly.
Live Testing: Once the site is live, test it again to ensure everything works as intended.
Promotion: Plan how to announce the website launch to your audience, including social media, email marketing, and other channels.
8. Post-Launch
Training: If needed, request training on how to update content or manage the site through the content management system (CMS).
Regular Updates: Discuss a plan for ongoing maintenance, including software updates, content refreshes, and security checks.
Performance Monitoring: Review website performance regularly and discuss any necessary adjustments with your designer.
Feedback Collection: Gather feedback from users and share it with your designer for potential improvements.
9. Ongoing Support
Support Plan: Establish a plan for ongoing support, including how to handle any issues or updates that may arise after launch.
Future Enhancements: Discuss potential future enhancements or additional features that may be added to the site as your business grows.
This checklist ensures that we stay aligned throughout the project, leading to your successful website launch.