Sam Gonzalez, LLC. Logo

Website Design and Development Process

My process focuses on you, your business, and your users...

My process is designed to be transparent and collaborative, so you can be confident that your website is being designed and developed with your specific needs and goals in mind. I take the time to understand your business, your audience, and your goals, so I can create a website that is tailored to your unique needs.

I believe that a well-designed website is more than just a pretty interface, it's a powerful tool to connect with your audience, increase conversions, and drive business growth.
Whether you're looking for a simple brochure website or a complex e-commerce platform, I have the expertise and experience to deliver a website that exceeds your expectations. Take a look at my process and see how I can help you create a website that will help your business thrive.

My Process

1. Complete Website Project Questionnaire

Use my Website Project Questionnaire to provide information about your business, target audience, website goals, desired features, design preferences, and budget. I will use this information to create a detailed project plan and determine the resources required to complete the project. By completing this questionnaire, we will both have a clear understanding of your project needs and expectations for your new website.

2. Free Consultation and Custom Proposal

I will set up a 30-minute introductory call with you to discuss your website project in more detail. During the call, we will both assess whether we are a good fit as partners. I am fully committed to your success and look forward to discussing your needs during our free consultation. After the call, I will provide you with a custom proposal that includes your project goals, schedule, project terms, and transparent pricing options for you to consider.

3. Mood Board and Mockups

After we agree to begin the project, I will immediately start creating a mood board to reflect your brand's tone and visual style. This mood board will serve as the foundation for the overall UI design of your website. With your business goals and user needs in mind, I will create multiple mockups to guide the direction of the website's user experience and design. I am dedicated to ensuring your satisfaction and excitement with our design strategy, so I offer unlimited revisions during the mockup phase to strive for perfection.

4. Copy and Graphics

After finalizing the design strategy, we will simultaneously start the Copy and Graphics phase and the Development phase. This phase includes crafting the website's copy and graphics, whether it be by utilizing existing content, sourcing stock images, or creating new custom content for the project.

5. Development and SEO

Simultaneously with the Copy and Graphics phase, the Development phase initiates the technical side of web design, including the setup of the content management system (CMS), custom theme development, and website analytics. I will maintain regular communication with you throughout the development process, providing updates and design reviews for feedback and revisions. Additionally, I will ensure that all pages are optimized for search engines using SEO best practices.

6. Deployment and Training

Before launching your new website to the public, I will conduct performance and reliability tests, including load, responsiveness, and speed tests, and ensure that the website is optimized for mobile devices. After the launch, I provide customized training to help you become proficient in managing the WordPress back-end. This training is essential to empower you with the knowledge to independently manage your website in the future.

7. Website Maintenance

Regular back-end management is essential to keep a WordPress website running smoothly. To ease the burden, I offer an optional monthly maintenance subscription. This includes monitoring for any issues or downtime and performing regular maintenance tasks such as updating plugins, updating WordPress and cleaning spam. Clients with a maintenance subscription also have the added benefit of small updates and other page optimization as needed even after the completion of the project.
WordPress Logo

Improve your user experience with a custom, advanced WordPress website

WordPress is the best choice for a new website for several reasons. With over 1.4 billion websites online, WordPress powers more than 455 million of them. WordPress is a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) that allows businesses to achieve a high-quality user experience with a custom, advanced site. It has a user-friendly interface for easy content management, SEO, and analytics tracking.

FAQ: Website Build

Why should I build my website from scratch instead of using a premade theme?
Other website design agencies use premade WordPress themes to cut costs and speed up development. However, this approach can limit customization, resulting in a generic website that does not meet the specific needs of your business. Premade themes may also be less optimized for search engines and mobile devices, negatively impacting the website's performance.

Businesses should be aware of these limitations when choosing a website design partner. It is important to consider the specific needs and goals of the business, rather than just the cost and speed of development. By partnering with me, you will receive a completely custom website that is tailored to your business goals.
Why is WordPress better than Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc?
Customizability: WordPress is an open-source platform which means that it is highly customizable. With a large community of developers and users, WordPress offers endless options for customization, from themes and plugins to custom code. This allows for a website that can be tailored to a business' specific needs and goals. In contrast, website builders like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc have limited options for customization and may not be able to accommodate more advanced customizations.

Scalability: WordPress is highly scalable, which means that as your business grows, your website can grow with it. WordPress allows you to easily add new features or functionalities as your needs change, making it a great option for businesses that anticipate growth. Website builders like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc, are more limited in terms of scalability and may not be able to accommodate the same level of growth.

SEO: WordPress is built with best practices for SEO, such as clean code, fast load time, and mobile responsiveness. It also has a variety of SEO plugins available, which makes it easy to optimize your website for the search engines. Website builders like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc, don't offer the same level of SEO functionality and it's more difficult to optimize your website for the search engines.

Ease of Use:
WordPress has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for businesses to update their content, manage their SEO, and track their website analytics. Website builders like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc, may have a simpler interface, but they are still limited in terms of functionality and flexibility.

Security: WordPress is updated regularly to ensure that your website is protected against any potential threats. Website builders like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc have limited security features, and it's the user's responsibility to keep the website secure.

Ownership:
With WordPress, you own your website, your content, and all the data. With website builders such as Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly, you don't own the website completely, you are renting the space to build it.
Can you help me set up my domain and hosting?
Yes, I can help you set up your domain and hosting. There are many providers to choose from, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, HostGator, Bluehost, and Dreamhost, among many others. Each provider offers different plans and pricing options, and I can help you research and choose the best option for your needs.
Do you offer unlimited design changes and revisions?
Yes, but only during the mockup phase. Once we agree on the initial mockups, I allow up to 2 revisions per page.
Can you help me generate content for my website?
Yes, I can help you generate content for your website. In addition to the website design and development, I also provide additional services such as copywriting, on-location photography, graphic and social media assets, and other content generation assistance. This ensures that your website is not only visually appealing but also has high-quality and engaging content that effectively communicates your message and helps to achieve your business goals.
How will you optimize my website for search engines?

I will optimize your site for search engines by implementing various on-page and off-page optimization techniques, such as:

  1. Conducting keyword research to identify the most relevant and high-performing keywords for your business.

  2. Optimizing the title tags, meta tags, and header tags to ensure that they are relevant and informative for both users and search engines.

  3. Creating high-quality, keyword-rich content that is optimized for both users and search engines.

  4. Building internal and external links to improve the authority and trust of your website.

  5. Implementing structured data to make it easier for search engines to understand your website's content and hierarchy.

  6. Optimizing your website's images, videos, and other multimedia to improve load time and user experience.

  7. Monitoring your website's analytics and making adjustments as needed to improve performance and rankings.

  8. Ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly, fast loading and responsive in order to meet the industry standards.

  9. Submitting your website to relevant directories and search engines to increase visibility.

It's important to note that SEO is a ongoing process and it takes time to see the results, but by implementing these techniques, your website will be well-positioned to rank well in search engine results pages.

FAQ: Project Logistics

What do you charge for a new website?
Pricing for a new website can vary based on the specific project needs and required functionality. However, I offer fixed-price packages that are tailored to your budget and project goals. I understand that budget is an important factor, especially for small businesses, and I am always budget-conscious and willing to work within your budget constraints to provide the best possible solution for your needs.
How long will it take to finish my website project?
The time it takes to complete a website can vary depending on the complexity of the project, the size of the website, and your specific needs and requirements. However, I will provide a detailed project plan with a timeline for completion once the project is agreed upon.

On average, a simple website with a few pages and basic functionality can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but more complex websites with custom functionality and design can take up to a few months to complete. It's important to keep in mind that the timeline also depends on the speed of feedback and approvals from the client side.
Will my current website stay live during the development process?
Yes, your current website will remain unaffected until we are ready to launch. As a standard practice, I will build the website on my own server until we reach final acceptance. This allows me to work on the development process without affecting the live website, and also gives you a chance to review the website and make any necessary changes before it goes live. This way, it ensures that the final website will be fully tested and ready for launch when it's time to go live.
Will I be able to manage and update my website on my own?
Yes, WordPress has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for you to update and manage your website on your own. Additionally, I offer website training to help you master the basics of the WordPress back-end. This training will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to independently manage your website in the future. I will ensure that you have a good understanding of the back-end of your website, including how to update pages, add new pages, add images, and use the various features and functionalities that your website has.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's create a strong online presence that you're proud of!

Complete Website Project Questionnaire
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