The Calloway Web Design Process

There are 3 major components to a website, whether you're in Houston, or anywhere in the world.

1. Domain Name: Your name is crucial to the success of your website, so you want to have one that is easy to understand, and easy to remember. One of the largest mistakes made by many people when choosing a domain name is abbreviations. Although we want our domain to represent our company, you want a name that means something. I prefer to use GoDaddy.com for domain names, and can make the purchase for you, or you can do it. I don't see the point in charging you $70 per year or more for your domain name, when the actual charge is less than $15. Although some web design companies in Houston don't share my thoughts on this.
2. Website Hosting: Hosting is basically space on a network connected computer that holds the files for your website. This is a specialized piece of equipment that allows 24/7 access to your information. I can provide hosting.
3. Website Files: The pages of your website. The pages, photos, and any scripts that are needed.

Each of these items work together to make your  website work for you.

The web design process I use:

1. Phone call or email: On the first contact, I will basically listen to what you have to say about the website you envision. I try to understand a little about your company, the look you want, and most importantly what you want from the website. At this point, depending on your location, we will set up a meeting to talk, and so I can look around a bit (if needed).
2. I will recommend a page count for your website, taking into consideration what you want from your website, and the information you want to share.
3. I will develop a "demo" website for you that will generally encompass our conversations. At this point, I set up a space on one of my servers and email you an address where the demo is set up. You check the design from wherever is convenient for you, and give me some feedback.
4. Once we hit on a web design you like, and ONLY after we find one you like, it's time to write a check. Until this point, I don't collect any money. Once you approve the "look" of your website, I collect 1/2 of my web design fee.
5. After the approval and the first payment is made, I turn the demo graphic into a website, and create a "coming soon" page. I then set up the server space, build the template pages, set the links, purchase (or redirect) the domain name, and contact you again for text.
6. I generally don't write the text for the web pages, although I do make changes as necessary to highlight key words and  phrases that are important to the search engines. I do send out prompts for you and your staff that help the process.
7. I take all of your text, and start filling the pages. Filling your website pages includes the front end (what you see) as well as the back end that you don't see. The back end is half of the equation for successful search engine response.
8. Once all of the website pages are filled, I email you once again for your final approval.  You will look over the pages, send me corrections, additions, changes, and those are made.
9. If the website needs photos, you may either send them to me, or I am able to bring out the equipment necessary to take the photos for you.
10. Once everything is checked out, and you approve your website, I remove the "coming soon" page, and you go live.

All in all, it's a fairly simple process, with most of the website design work going on while you're doing your job. Contact after the first meeting is primarily by email, to keep it simple, and my focus is to get your website built with as little distraction to you as possible. In my 10 + years of doing this, I've only had 2 clients that dropped off mid-stream, so it's a pretty good system for building websites.