Web Development
Once the designs are finished for your web page, the process of bringing that design into the online world begins. The design must go through a
break up process in which different elements such as the logo, navigation buttons and other graphic elements must be converted and encoded into a format appropriate for the web. This initial phase is called the "alpha" phase and along with the breakup this also includes the basic programming needed to get the basic shell of a site working and online.
- At the launch of the alpha phase your site is about 40% complete.
After the launch of the alpha phase you will be able to look over your basic site and make any changes to the functionality that you find appropriate. All
design changes should be complete by this point. There may be filler text on the pages, but that's ok, we'll get to that in the next step.
If everything looks ok after the alpha release then it's time for the content of the site to be added. This is the meat of the site and it includes all the words and images you want on your individual pages. When the content is complete and added to your site the project enters the beta phase.
- At the launch of the beta phase your site is about 75% complete.
Beta phase involves more debugging on the functionality side of your website and resolving any content issues that may arise. After the beta phase all the little changes and polishing touches should be complete and any bugs in the code and spelling errors in the content should be fixed. At this point your site enters the "release candidate" phase.
- At the launch of the release candidate phase your site is about 99% complete.
The release candidate phase is the last phase before your site becomes "live" and public for the entire world to see. This is your last chance to make any minor changes. Once we're sure the site is just how you want it, the site goes live.
- At the go-live phase your site is 100% complete and publicly available at your web address.
Your site is finished and you can breathe a sigh of relief! But your work is not completely over yet. Just like a houseplant or pet, your site will need some ongoing attention to keep it healthy and useful for your users. If you have an online store that must be maintained, or a news page that needs fresh entries, somebody will have to keep an eye on your new investment to make sure its up to date and running smoothly. All of our web packages include an integrated content management system to allow you to easily manage your page content and keep your site up to date. If you don't have the time or would rather have somebody else maintain your site, we offer maintenence plans to help take some of the hassle out of maintaining your website.
Move on to Step Six:
Maintenance Plans to learn more.