The Design Process

How exactly do you go about getting a new website?

What are the steps and how long will it take?

 

Step 1 - Get in touch

The first step in any process is to reach out and get in touch with the people who can help you. In this case you can simply call us on 01228 406376 or use our contact form to send us an email. When we receive this we'll give you as much information as possible and arrange a meeting where we can discuss your precise requirements in more depth.

 

Step 2 - Meet up

In a world where so much business is conducted over the internet we still find the best way forward is to meet face-to-face so that we get a better understanding of your school's needs and you get a better understanding of our approach to design. We will come to school at a time that suits you and we are always more than happy to discuss the various options with whatever interested parties you wish.

 

Step 3 - Green light

At this point we begin the actual design process. We create a unique website for school and develop it within the secure client area of our website. When the first draft is complete we send you details of how to see it and how you can access our client area. What you see online is exactly how the site looks and works as if it was live, but only you can see this.

 

Step 4 - The tailor fit

During this stage of the process we adjust the draft, increase the number of pages as more information is ready to be added to it, and gradually take the design from the first stages towards the finishing stages. We always stress that you can have unlimited changes because we feel it is so important that school has the website they want. This phase is one of the most exciting as you see your website take shape and draw closer to the final version.

 

Step 5 - Going live

There are several 'behind the scenes' technical steps that need to be accomplished smoothly and correctly to ensure that everything goes perfectly at this stage. The last thing you want is for there to be a mistake that stops school's email access or takes the website offline completely. We always select the optimal time of the day and week for the site to go live and ensure that everyone involved in the process (such as CLEO) are all working to the same instructions and timescales. Our attention to detail and experience ensures that this step never goes wrong. At the end of this step we contact you to confirm that the new site is live.

 

Step 6 - Training & handholding

It's usually only after the site has gone live that we visit school to train staff on how to use the Content Management System (CMS) for updating the site. Prior to training should anything need updating we take care of that quickly and efficiently. Only after the training has been delivered do we start the clock on the one month handholding period. In this time if anything goes wrong with updating the site, or if anything needs changing we take care of it. We generally encourage all staff trained on the CMS system to try and make as many mistakes as possible during this time. It's the best way to learn and become confident in its use knowing that we can easily put right any mistakes.

 

Step 7 - Ongoing support

After the handholding period has ended our support and assistance continues. We are always available to add or remove things from the site, advise about any future changes, and generally assist with any future issues. We also understand that problems can sometimes require immediate solutions, especially when faced with an impending inspection, so we always aim to support school as quickly and effectively as possible. In emergency situations we prioritise this support accordingly. We believe strongly in the importance of support and customer service continuously throughout our relationship with school.

 

To find out how we can help your school, take the first step and contact us today.