Many businesses keep putting off a new website because it’s unclear how much work it will mean for them. Here you can see how a project works with me and where I need your input.
1. Intro call
45 minutes by video, free of charge. We talk about your business, your customers and what the website should achieve.
2. Quote and scope
You receive a fixed-price quote with a clearly defined scope. As soon as you agree, the project starts and you get access to your client portal.
3. Material and content
In the client portal you fill in a short questionnaire and upload your logo, images and existing copy. If something is missing, you see it there at a glance.
4. Design and build
I design and build the website. You see every preview version in the portal and give collected feedback in agreed rounds. That way nothing gets stuck in long email threads.
5. Approval and launch
You approve the finished website in the portal, then it goes live. At launch you find the link, a short guide and everything about support collected in the portal.
What happens in the intro call
The intro call is not about technology but about your business. Who are your customers, how do they find you today, what should the website change? We also look at your current site, if there is one, and at examples you like. At the end you know what scope makes sense and what happens next.
The scope is put in writing
The quote describes exactly what is included: which pages, which features, how many feedback rounds and who provides copy and images. This description is the basis for the whole project. If a new request comes up later, we discuss it as a change before I implement it. That way there are no surprises on the invoice.
Structure before design
Before colours and images comes the structure: which pages are there, what goes on each page, and how do visitors find their way to an enquiry? Only once that is right does the design begin. I work in stages: first the structure, then the home page, then the other pages and finally the finished website. You see each stage as a preview and give feedback before we move on.
Giving feedback that helps
- Collect your comments and send them together instead of spreading them over days.
- Describe what bothers you and why, not just the solution you want. There is often a better way.
- Decide who on your side makes the decisions. Several voices with different wishes slow a project down.
- Look at the preview on your phone as well.
What you contribute
- Your knowledge of your business and your customers, in the intro call and the questionnaire.
- Material such as logo, images and existing copy, as soon as it is needed.
- Feedback on the preview versions, collected in the agreed rounds.
- Approval before the website goes live.
Where projects most often get stuck
Rarely on technology, usually on material. If copy or images are missing, the project waits. That is why it pays to clarify early who delivers what and by when. Just as important: bundle feedback instead of spreading single comments over weeks.
See the status at any time
With me you see the status of your project in the client portal: milestones, the next step, every preview version and your feedback. So you never have to ask how far along it is.
Before launch
Before the website goes live, I check how it looks on different devices, loading times, forms, links, titles and descriptions for Google and, if there is an old website, the redirects. The legal notice and privacy policy must be in place. Only then do you approve it. The points worth checking before every launch are in the website launch checklist.
After launch
The launch ends the project, but not the working relationship. In the client portal you will find everything important for the handover: the link, a short guide and the support details. If you like, you can hand over hosting and maintenance as well. Then I take care of updates and small changes after launch too.
How long it takes
A one-page website usually takes me two to three weeks, larger websites four to eight weeks. What that depends on is explained in the post How long does a website take?.
How much time do I need to set aside?
You need the most time at the start, for the call, questionnaire and material, and later for feedback on the previews. In between I work on it, and you can see progress in the portal.
Can I still change things during the project?
Yes. Small adjustments belong in the feedback rounds. New requests that go beyond the agreed scope are discussed as a change, with the effort and impact on the timeline, before I implement them.
What if my material isn't ready yet?
Then we plan around it. Structure and design can often start with placeholders. Real copy and images must be in place before the finished website. If copy is missing, I can write it too.
Do you only work in Stuttgart?
No. Projects run via video calls and the client portal throughout Germany and beyond. In and around Stuttgart, meeting in person is also possible.
How long a project takes depends mainly on its scope and on how quickly material and feedback arrive. You get a realistic schedule with the quote.
