What are the steps involved in creating a website?
Among the web development projects that remain essential for establishing an online presence, creating a website is a top priority.
Here is a guide outlining the steps to create a website in 2022, giving you a clear overview of each part of the process.
From the initial setup
until its launch, you will know enough to stay on track and ensure you embark on a correctly planned project.
So, what are the steps to create a website?
Follow the guide and take notes.
Defining the type of site and its objectives
For custom website creation, you need to ask yourself about your web objectives and the resulting needs. Define your budget, identify your target audience, and analyze your online market. This will allow you to choose the type of site you want to develop:
- A showcase site redesign,
- an e-commerce site,
- a blog,
- a forum, etc.
By determining the type of website you need, you will know which tools are required, such as a content management system (CMS).
Finding a domain name
The domain name is your address on the internet. Just as your mailing address helps people find you, your domain name allows your clients and contacts to find your website.
A well-chosen domain name will contribute to better visibility for your website. Besides allowing for more efficient indexing by search engines, it will be easier for users to remember.
Choosing a hosting solution
Regardless of the type of site you choose, you will need to select a hosting solution.
Web hosting consists of providing websites with space to store their data on secure servers.
This allows the site to be online constantly and therefore accessible to users at all times. Several web hosting solutions are possible, such as:
- shared hosting,
- dedicated servers,
- and VPS (Virtual Private Servers).
You will choose your hosting plan based on the type of site you plan to develop.
For example, an e-commerce site needs more storage space than a showcase site to display numerous products and all the associated content.
Another example: a site with a large audience may need a dedicated server.
You can approach a hosting provider yourself or entrust the task to the web agency already in charge of your website development, which will usually bill you an annual hosting fee.
Writing a specification document
Writing a specification document for your website is an essential step in your website creation project.
Ensuring it is complete and correctly written will facilitate the smooth running of your development venture, and you will be certain to receive a final product that closely meets your expectations.
The specifications will include the objective of your website as well as its functionalities and behavior. The more precise it is, the easier the communication with your development team will be. You will also be sure to receive the most accurate quote possible.
Obtaining quotes
The goal of writing the specification document is precisely to be able to submit it to several providers and have the opportunity to compare different proposals. You will then know the cost of your website.
The quote will take the form of a document stating everything the provider commits to.
In the event of an agreement between both parties, you will sign and return the quote, which will serve as proof of your commitment.
Writing the content
Among the steps to create a website is content writing.
Your main mission will be to offer content that is first judged as high-quality by search engines, which will then suggest it to users. Google, for example, invites you to ensure that:
- your content is original,
- your pages inspire trust,
- your content is relevant (answers user queries),
- your content is quickly and easily accessible on all devices,
To learn more, you can consult Google’s search essentials for webmasters.
Creating the sitemap
Now that your content is ready and has been delivered, your provider can create the map for your future site.
This involves drawing up a site architecture indicating the form the site will take, its structure or, in other words, its skeleton.
The web designer, having received the site content, will be able to classify, index, and group it in the best possible way.
Once this plan is developed, it will be possible to determine the number of pages and their position based on their importance.
Designing graphic mockups
With the sitemap in hand and thanks to the specifications in the brief, your provider will be able to develop the site’s design and visual appearance.
If the company’s graphic charter already exists, it will be integrated into the site and taken into account for the rest of the design.
Otherwise, the first step will be to create a visual identity for your website. This includes colors, logo, typography, etc.
Generally, several proposals are made to the client, including: logos, font choices, colors…
Website creation
This is the most important of the steps in creating your website. First, your provider will move on to the integration of your site’s pages.
The designed mockups will now be translated into pages that can be interpreted by web browsers. This is called front-end development.
Secondly, your developer will power your site. This is the back-end part of the development.
Your HTML pages are static and now need a database and dynamization.
The goal is to be able to manage your pages via a content management system and enable more advanced interactions: publishing content, ordering online, managing a customer account, etc.
SEO and visibility
After testing, your website is finally live. The development project has ended, but your business journey is just beginning.
It’s no longer about the steps of creating the website. Now, it’s about getting people to talk about your website. Several options are available to you:
- organic search (SEO),
- paid advertising (SEA),
- emailing campaigns,
- social media advertising campaigns, etc.
Also, note that a website requires maintenance. Don’t hesitate to discuss maintenance with your provider to see what they can offer you.
Your goal is to keep your site at its peak with modifications, additions, fixes, etc.
Choose a trusted partner with Aventique
Aventique is a web and mobile development agency that has been offering its services since 2012, whether in WordPress development or custom development with PHP Laravel, for example.
Relying on experienced teams, mastering the latest technologies, and accustomed to complex projects, our agency aims to be a reliable partner for all your projects, whether they involve website design or mobile applications.
Whether you want to outsource your development project or are looking for IT profiles to integrate into your teams, we always have a solution for you. All that’s left is to send us a message ⬇️
