Overview:
We've been in business for over 20 years in Memphis, TN. We've learned that successful project management requires creating a well-defined plan (blueprints) for every project before it ever gets off the ground. Up-front planning always saves time, money & frustration. This has proven true with large database projects (AT&T, Quest, American Express, Barnes & Noble, etc.) as well as smaller web design & development projects. Some of the following questions should help you define your expectations, giving us the spec's necessary to estimate the corresponding time & cost required to get the job done right and ensures everyone is on the same page.
Concepts & Planning:
Do you already have a good, short tag-line & welcome blurb? What makes your business unique? Can you describe your target audience(s)? What's your compelling "call-to-action" i.e. What action should your audience take after viewing your site.
Start with the end in mind! Creating a clear plan is important for every successful web project: identifying your goals, the scope & success criteria. Have you created a sitemap (an outline) for your new website yet? Do you have a detailed plan or do you need help developing one?
The amount of time required for concept & planning meetings always factors into the overall cost & success of the finished product. It's important to know how many people are on your planning & decision making team. Are they all on the same page? Has a project timeframe (start & end dates) already been determined?
Typically 60 - 90 days is a general timeframe to complete a project.
Imagery & Copywriting:
On the web, people "scan" more than they read. "Don't make me think" is an unspoken goal. Web pages should be self-evident, obvious, and self-explanatory. What is your website about? What are the core "hooking" messages? Is your content condensed for the web? Remove everything non-essential. ("less is more") Pages should be divided up into clearly defined areas. Will you need help re-organizing your site content? (Information Architecture) Would you like rotating site promotions or testimonials?
Do you give visitors a reason to come back? Is the text on your site captivating as well as 'to the point?' The quality of the content on your website often determines how long your audience remains interested in your message, products, or information. Carefully-crafted, quality content improves search engine (SEO) rankings.
Do you already have professional images & an identity package? Will you need help selecting & purchasing stock photography? The cost of quality images and professionally written copy can certainly be a factor, but investing in these assets greatly increases the positive impact on your audience and the overall success & professionalism of your site. Your photography should match the 'over-arching concept' that drives your message, website & marketing.
Graphic Design:
Design is one of the most important factors influencing cost, timelines & the quality of the finished product. Every design is different, but most quality projects require at least 20 hours of design. Do you need several rounds of revisions to get that exact look you want? Revisions can add hours to the proposal and increase cost, but are often the difference between excellent and award-winning design. Check out some of our client reviews saying "Deluge Studios delivers the best web design in Memphis." Notice the attention to detail: depth, textures & lighting.
Development:
Development is the process of transforming the finalized web design & site-map into a fully functional site. This involves building a solid foundation with programming using HTML, CSS, AJAX, Flash, Databases, PHP, etc... Make sure your web partner can bridge both sides of the brain: code and design. (function and form)
The next step is placing content into the content management system (CMS) & optimizing graphics for the web. Solid code takes time. Of course, the more pages you need & the larger the project scope, the longer the development time.
Extras, Add-ons & Advanced Functionality:
When it comes to the web, almost anything is possible. Some options to consider are sophisticated CMS content management tools, shopping carts, customizable forms, database-driven web applications, payment gateways, EDI, email marketing, social media, dynamic Flash interactivity or interactive menus. Special features & functions can quickly expand the scope & cost of your project. These must be defined at least at a high level before we can estimate the time & cost required. Extras add value & give that elusive “cool factor” to your finished product.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
Is your site at the top of search engine results? Need tools to measure your site's successfulness? Missing out on potential customers? What keywords would you like for people to find you? Want your site to appear before the competition? Deluge Studios can move you to the top using SEO techniques.
Set-up & Testing:
Placement of the final website on a hosting server of your choice & testing, to ensure everything is operating as defined, is the final step in production. Every project requires some amount of time for set-up, testing & debugging. Costs associated with set-up & testing are influenced by the complexity & amount of requested changes to your project.
Looking for the best value in Web Design, Graphic Design or SEO work for your budget?
Contact Jeff Presley today at 901-757-8898 or fill out our Request a Quote form.
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