Contrary to popular belief, the most important portion of developing and designing a website is not done before coding can begin. Technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are responsible for giving the web as we know it its form and determining how we engage with the content. In contrast, the website development life cycle phases that include early information collection, comprehensive planning, and post-launch maintenance are typically kept out of sight, even though they continue to be an essential component of the process.
Here, we will look at what the process of developing a website would look like
Step 1: Information collation: Consider the target audience, purpose, and primary objectives.
This step, which consists of researching and analyzing, is the one that decides how the subsequent phases will pan out. At this stage, you need to gain a crystal clear idea of your future website’s objectives, the primary goals you want to achieve, and the target audience you want to attract to your site.
Step 2: Building a sitemap and wireframe
At this point in developing a website, the developer is responsible for creating the data that gives the client an idea of what the final appearance of the site will be.
The sitemap is developed based on the information amassed throughout the phase that came before this one.
The sitemap has to describe the connections between the primary sections of your website. This kind of visualization could help you understand how the final product will be used. You will be able to see the “relationship” between the various pages of a website, which will allow you to determine how simple it will be for an end-user to obtain the needed information or service. The primary objective of the sitemap development project is to facilitate the building of a website that is user-friendly and simple to browse.
Step 3: Design, review and approve
Your website starts to take form when you get to the design phase. At this stage, all of the pictorial material, including still photographs, moving pictures, and videos, are produced. Once more, the significance of the information you accumulated during the first phase cannot be overstated. When developing a design, it is essential to keep both the client and the intended audience in mind.
Once a designer has worked on it, the client will be able to go over the layout and provide their input to you. If the customer is unsure about some of the design components you created for them, you should modify the structure and submit it to them for feedback. This cycle needs to be repeated as often as necessary till the consumer is content.
Step 4: Content creation
The stages of creating a website that include writing and compiling content typically overlap with one another, but the importance of this step cannot be overstated. At this point, it is vital to put in writing the very core of what you would like to express to the audience of your website. As a general rule, it is the client’s responsibility to supply material for the website ready to be migrated.
Step 5: Coding
At this point, you are finally able to start working on the website’s actual content. When it comes time to develop a website, you should use the graphic elements you built during the earlier phases. In most cases, the home page is the first page to be developed, followed by the addition of any subpages. Finally, frameworks and CMS have to be installed to guarantee that the server can handle the installation and set-up without any hitches.
Step 6: Testing, reviewing, and launching
It is vital to check every one of the links to ensure that none are broken. You need to examine every form and script and then put them through a spell-checking program to locate any errors. Use code validators to determine whether or not your code adheres to the most recent web standards. If you need support with any elements of this, we can help at Chiron.
When you are satisfied that your website meets all of the requirements, it is time to upload it to a server. A piece of software known as FTP, or file transfer protocol, is utilized for this function. After you have completed the deployment of the files, you need to conduct a further and conclusive test to ensure that all of your files have been appropriately installed.
Step 7: Ongoing maintenance and updates
Keep in mind that a website is primarily a service rather than a physical good that someone can purchase. Therefore, simply “delivering” a website to a user is not enough to satisfy expectations. You should also make sure that everything works well and that everybody is happy, and you should constantly be ready to make adjustments if something else goes wrong.
If you need further support or guidance when it comes to website development, get in touch with Chiron today.
