Web Design Process

Start by writing down what you want your website to look like, what you want it to say, what you want it to do.

• Does your business have an existing website already or is this your first? If this is a new website, consider what you would like your domain name to be.
• Do you have a logo and marketing material already? If so, it’s best to keep your website’s look consistent with the look of your existing material.
• Who’s your target audience?
• What’s your “call to action?” In other words, what do you want a person to do when visiting your website? Do you want them to contact you, buy a product, read your blog, or learn about your business?
• Do you have some favorite websites you have saved that inspire you or contain features you think would look great on your business website?

In our discussion, we review what you’ve put together and come up with a plan. We work together throughout the web design process. At each stage, clear communication and expectations are important no matter how large or small the project. We may discuss email setup, social media integration (Twitter, Facebook, etc), search engine optimization, and possibly preparing your site for mobile devices.

It is important you provide most of the content for your website because you know your business the best. We can use your images or we can look through a library of royalty-free stock photographs to be used throughout your site.

It is also important to agree on a timeline and deadline for your web design project.

After the initial discussion Cascade Valley Designs will send you a quote for your review. Please see the solutions page  for a general idea of costs. Twenty-five percent of the total amount is requested for a deposit to start the work.

It may take a week, or it may take several weeks, to complete your first website draft. It all depends on your project’s size. We want you to see how things are progressing, and to get the look and feel right, so this draft will be the focus of communication between us.  Since every business is unique, it is important your site reflects your business’s personality.  Cookie cutter templates are not used for Cascade Valley Design’s clients.  No two sites will look alike, and we work together until you love your site!

The day has arrived for The Big Reveal!  We have tested compatibility of your website to all browsers, tested all forms, and ensured security and backup systems are in place.  We are ready to launch your new site.  This is always an exciting moment, but the work is not finished!

After your site is in working order you can decide if you would like to take the controls of the backend of your own website. It’s not as scary as it might sound!  Most sites developed by Cascade Valley Designs are built in the popular Content Management System, WordPress.  The controls are intuitive and quite simple to use.  Editing your pages or writing a blog post is as easy as using any word editing program such as Microsoft Word.

However, we will not leave you in the dust after your website is published. We provide personalized short training videos so you can learn basic to intermediate tasks on your own time.  There are many WordPress training guides and video services in the marketplace but it is easiest and less frustrating to learn your own website’s specific features. This service is unique to our company. Or if you prefer, you can purchase a maintenance solution where Cascade Valley Designs updates your website for you.  Whichever method you are most comfortable with, we’ll work with you.

We also keep tabs on your website statistics.  Using Google Analytics, we’ll send you a monthly report on how your website is performing, how many visitors came to your site, and how they got there.  It is a valuable tool to learn which pages are doing well and what could use improvement.

Your online presence is always a work in progress.  We are always here to answer questions, to offer advice, and keep you informed.  We are a full-service company so we continue to support your online needs: designing and setting up your Facebook and Twitter accounts, customizing your website so it looks good on mobile devices, or creating and setting up templates for email newsletters.