Web design and e-commerce services

What is web design?

Web design is the 'look-and-feel' of your web site.

We understand the importance of brand, and why the identity your business communicates is important to you. Whether you are a new business with no branding, an existing business with branding you would like to revisit, or an established business with branding you would like to use as the basis for your web site, we can help you.

Web design consists of many aspects, including:

• graphic design
• how your brand is used effectively;
• what message your site communicates;
• what content and functionality is available through the site, and where on the site it is made available;
• the usability of the site (the ease of use of your web site);
• accessibility (how easy your site is to use under certain circumstances, for example when the site is being used;
• how 'search engine friendly' your web site is (sometimes called 'search engine optimization' - how well your site is put together affects how it performs in search engines);
• and more...

What does the process involve?

As our client, the only thing we need from you is conversation, to help us to understand your business, and the content (text, images etc) which you would like to use on the site. We will give you advice on how we would recommend the site is put together for your business objectives, and we will also offer help to edit your text so that it is suitable for the web, and for search engines should you require that assistance.

Although each project is different, a straight forward project may consist of the following steps:

1. We sit down with you to understand your requirements;
2. We will plan the project based on your requirements, and send you our recommendations;
3. We will then create the initial graphic designs, normally for 2 or 3 pages of your new site;
4. We will then make changes to those designs based on your feedback;
5. Once you are happy with your designs, they are used to create the actual web pages for your web site;
6. If you will be editing your own site once it is live, we shall have started work on the content management system;
7. Finally, we will give you training using the content management system if required, and the site will go live!

What is web development?

Web development is largely the non-design aspect of creating a site. It is the creation of 'what you do' rather than 'what you see'.

Some examples of functionality we have created are:

• A online booking system;
• An interactive product catalogue;
• A search-able property database;
• A search-able jobs database;
• Several content management systems so clients can edit their own sites;
• ...and much more...

What input is required?

We need to sit down with you and talk to you about what is required of your web site.

We don't need to discuss many of the technical aspects of your site with you - we will rarely discuss 'how' functionality is implemented - we will normally only chat about 'what' can be achieved.

What skills are used?

Web development tasks normally involve:

• The use of programming languages such as PHP or Javascript, which create functionality;
• Databases such as MySQL, which are used to store product data, system settings, web site content and so on;
• Existing software, such as a pre-written Content Management System like Drupal or Wordpress, which is used to fulfil the majority of a requirement, then customized to suit the requirement exactly.

What is a Content Management System?

A Content Management System (CMS) is used to update the content of a web site. It allows you to 'log in' to a secure area of your web site, then add text and images to keep your own site up to date.

How much control will I have over my web site?

We can give you as much or as little control over your site as you wish. Some example setups are:

• Full control: you control page content, create new pages, add blog items, add news items;
• Edit only: you edit existing text, but do not add or remove pages (we do that if required). You can also add new blog or news items;
• Limited control: you edit the text on exiting pages only.

Do I need a CMS?

The makeup of your site may mean you need some control. For example if you have a blog you will need to be able to add posts when required.

The regularity with which you update your site is also a factor. If you would like to update your site quite often then it works out more efficient to have the control yourself. You can make the update whenever you wish without having to ask us to do it for you. On the other hand, if you only see small updates being made to the site every month or so, then our full management service is probably more suitable.

Will you train me to use my CMS?

Yes, and we will also be there to answer any questions you may have about it.

What is Search Engine Optimisation?

Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO) is the part of the process followed when putting together a web site which has the greatest effect on its performance in search engines. Having a well designed site is important - then getting visitors to the site is a must - however these visitors being relevant to your product or service is even more important.

We will build your web site in such a way that the search engines can understand the content well, and therefore return it for relevant searches (IE searches for terms related to your product or service).

What is involved?

As part of the overall process we will talk with you to understand the content of each page from a search perspective, and which search terms are most relevant to these pages. We then do the rest, requesting your feedback along the way.

Once the site is launched the search engine work is ongoing. If we manage the site for you we will monitor its performance in search engines, and make changes to improve the performance over time.