My Website Portfolio

To begin with we can talk on-line (video call), or in person (if your are local).

We will talk about you (your role, your tastes, your availability), your business or organisation, others involved and their roles (your graphic designer? or marketing person?), why you want a website (your aims and goals), your budget and timelines, high level scope, and so on.

I also want to understand your design ideas and inspirations (that might include a website you have seen and love).

This also gives you an opportunity to see if you think I'm a good fit for you, and decide if you want to proceed to the next steps.

Based on the initial scope and high-level requirements - I'll supply an initial estimate (range) and project timeline for you to review and confirm if you want to proceed.

There are two approaches we can take to the website design and development process:

Evolving scope, requirements and proto-type
or 
Detailed scope and requirements before the build begins

Evolving scope, requirements and proto-type
This is the more common and suitable approach when you are not really sure exactly what you want, need time to gather copy and assets, or want to go back and forth with a dynamic, evolving proto-type (on-line draft site you can review and ask me to change). It's a bit more "make it up as we go along".

With this approach, the scope and requirements are more fluid and dynamic. Hence, we may need to adjust and update your initial cost estimates as we progress. I'll be transparent and keep you updated and informed - and you can decide how we proceed.

Building based on detailed (and documented) Scope and Requirements
This approach involves more effort up front in preparation, before build. The more scope, detail and content we can define and document (I will create and update a project document for you), the more accurate your time/cost estimate range is likely to be.
Similarly there may be less back and forth (proto-type review, feedback, change, iterate), and less of your time required during the build stage (as I'll know more of what you want, and won't need to ask as often).

The reality of most projects is the approach lies somewhere between the two.... we will know some of the scope and the requirements in detail, and others will be developed and finalised as we move along.

I'll be the one who created and updates the project documentation. Fear not.

In some cases (eg. if you just require a small informational site) then this part of the process can be quite simple.

In other cases I'll need to understand, define and document more before I begin building.

In any case, it's highly worthwhile to at least think about (if not document in detail) things such as:
- your current situation, challenges, timing, deadlines
- existing websites and assets you have (access to them, plans for them)
- business identity, branding
- website goals and how the website fits into your business, marketing, online / social media strategy
- your design ideas and tastes (other websites you love / want to use as inspiration)
- the envisaged website structure (pages, sections of the site, menu system)
- the type and amount of content you want on the site, and where it will come from (or who will create it?)
- your products, services, offerings, prices, packages, etc.
- your business story, organisational structure, team members (if we want a Staff/About us pages)
- your functional and integration requirements (eg. with social media, with 3rd party platforms such as booking or event management systems)
- your training requirements (eg. do you want to be able to perform site maintenance and simple updates yourself?)

... and so on.

The more effort you can put into these types of things - the more efficient, painless, and on-time/budget the project is likely to be.

If and when your project scope and/or requirements change and evolve - I'll let you know any updated project time/cost estimates.
I can also work with your status update and reporting requirements (which might include things like periodic emails or on-line meetings).

The more I know (agreed scope and detailed requirements) before we begin - the less likely your time/cost estimate range will need to be updated.

I believe it is fair that I charge you no more or less than the time it really takes to delivery your website. I do this honestly and with transparency (keeping a detailed log of time spent).

If you would prefer, I can also provide a fixed price quote, or work with a "do the best you can for my exact budget amount" approach.

Prior to actually building we need to setup the underlying infrastructure, and collect and organise whatever "assets" you already have. I will help and guide you through things such as choosing and purchasing the domain (your website address) and purchasing hosting (renting the server where the website will reside, from a 3rd party hosting provider).

I can then then install WordPress, X/Pro theme, an SSL certificate (encryption to make your site "secure"),  and a range of plugins to handle the boring but necessary stuff (like security/anti-hacking, SEO optimisation, website traffic monitoring and so on), and also look at things like Google My Business and google Maps setup, your email address requirements (on the new domain), your Social Media and so on.

We will also need to start collecting and organising assets (such as text and copy, PDF files, existing sales and marketing brochures, logos, graphics, images, videos, etc.) that will be relevant to the website build.  If required we can also address requirements around creating new logos and branding specifications (graphics, colours and fonts), potentially enlisting a trusted professional graphic designer as needed (that I can project manage for you).

Website designs are initially created based on supplied design guidelines, ideas, branding, colours, fonts, assets (images, graphics, copy etc) and our agreed requirements.... and the build begins with a semi-working, draft/proto-type, on-line version of the website (eg. we will probably start with a Home page mock up). This then evolves into a more complete, and finally finished website, with more exact requirements, on-going client input and feedback, and testing.

My designs aim to be attractive, intuitive, easy to use, responsive and to create a positive user experience that helps impress and promote your organisation.

Your on-going review / feedback
During the development and build stage, the project proto-type (that is, a non-public evolving version of the website) is used and tested by you, and all feedback is built back into the project.

The nature of the tools I use allows me to quickly build a mock up / semi-functional working draft of portions of the site (eg. Home page, Header/Menu, Footer) - AND - you can login, see and play with it on-line. We can even do this in real time while having a voice or video call. For example, you might say "Can we try this....", I make the edit, and you can see immediately if you like it (or want to refine or discard it). This is often much easier than back and forth emails, calls or messages.

I (Simon) will perform "unit testing" and "integration testing".

User acceptance Testing - Expect to be involved
Before we go-live, you (or your nominated business representative) may need to be involved in some "User Acceptance Testing". This is when you proof and check the site contents and operation - ensuring it is the way you need it to be, before giving final approval for go-live.

This ensures you know what you are getting, and a quality, bug free, working product.

We can also address any training requirements needed for you to support the implementation from the moment we go-live.

We publish and launch the website - to the public!

I quickly retest to ensure all is working properly and any bugs or issues will be resolved.
I'll take care of related setup and services (such as Google search indexing, redirections to maintain any existing SEO, Social Media share images, caching, security, backups, etc).

Your launch can also be planned and executed with your other business and online activities in mind (eg. re-branding, advertising, social media posts, advertising, an event/product launch etc).

You may also choose to launch parts of the website and functionality/content in different stages, and at different times.

Future Site Enhancements 
When your needs website content or functional updates / enhancements - just contact me. We can scope, define, schedule and estimate the cost of the updates.

If you want to - you can (with some training) make simple content changes yourself.

Back End Website Software Maintenance
Again, with some training you can also update WordPress, PRO theme and any plugins we have used. Alternately I can (for a small yearly fee) take care of all this for you; with software that monitors site and server health and the need to update WordPress, Pro and plugins, and then performs the updates (while I take care of any issues, restore from backup if required etc).

Website Traffic / SEO
I can set up and link Google Analytics (GA4) to your website, so you can see the number of website visitors (and to which pages), and if desired we can explore online / digital marketing options.