This might be new to most people who are not techies.  Website design and web development is a process that takes several stages. There is a planned out procedure of what events take place when and for how long. Let’s take a look at the key stages that a website developer takes.

Major Stages in Web design and Web Development

Information Gathering

As the first stage of the web design and web development process, it outlines the project goals. It is at this stage that the target audience is also defined. Detailed research is carried out to ascertain the purpose of the website. This will help the developer get a deeper understanding of what the client aims to achieve. A website designer can hold a meeting with the client or serve them with a questionnaire via mail. Phone calls are also an option that helps the developer gain the scope of the project.

Planning and Creation of Site Map

This sitemap is a representation of what the website will look like on paper. The developer is able to create relationships between different areas of the website. The client gets a feel of how the website will look through the sitemap. A mockup is created for a more visual experience that defines how the user interface will look like.

Design Stage

Here, a graphical design of the page layouts is created. Though not functional, the design will show the exact layout of the pages. Different sections within a page, buttons, and bars are all included in the design. The client gets to review the whole design and give feedback. Various suggestions given will determine whether the process will move to the fourth stage.

Content Writing

It is important that the client provides content before the coding begins so as to meet deadlines. In this stage, the written information that goes into the website is created. This is inspired by the goals the client wishes to achieve with visitors. Other details like font are also decided here. Copywriting for Websites can take a sweet deal of time. It is prudent to have the content ready even as the developer carries on with the process.

 Actual Coding

The real work begins here. The developer finally gets to put all the details collected during the web design and website development process. Different concepts of the site are put together and breathed to life via written code. Search Engine Optimization and CMS plug-in additions also take place.

Testing, Review, and Handing Over

This is one of the most crucial stages in the whole web design and website development process. It’s like a final edit to ensure all contents are running as should. The developer tests for functionality, correct spelling and grammar, and broken links. This is also the stage at which code validation takes place. It is the web designer’s job to make sure everything is running smoothly just before handover. If everything is okay then the website is launched and handed over to the client.

Maintenance, Support, and After-Sale Services

As a service-based profession, the handing over doesn’t spell the completion of the job. It is not always happily ever after, this is why designers still go on with offering assistance by regularly carrying out maintenance checks on the website.

These are all the major stages involved in the web design and web development stage.