Phase 1: Discovery and Strategy (Week 1-2)
This is where quality rebuilds separate from cheap ones. Cheap providers skip this entirely and jump straight to design.
Strategic Planning Session
What happens:
– Deep-dive workshop (2-3 hours) covering:
– Your business goals and growth objectives
– Target audience and ideal customer profile
– Competitive market analysis
– Current website performance and pain points
– Key metrics and success criteria
– Brand positioning and differentiation
Deliverables:
– Strategic brief document
– Target audience personas
– Competitive analysis summary
– Success metrics definition
Why it matters: Strategy drives every decision. Without it, you’re designing based on opinions, not objectives.
Content Audit
What happens:
– Review all existing website content
– Identify what to keep, improve, or discard
– Determine content gaps
– Plan new content requirements
Deliverables:
– Content inventory spreadsheet
– Gap analysis
– Content creation requirements
Keyword Research
What happens:
– Research what your prospects actually search
– Identify target keywords by page
– Analyze search volume and competition
– Map keywords to content strategy
Deliverables:
– Keyword research report
– Keyword mapping by page
– Content recommendations based on search data
Why it matters: You can’t rank for terms you don’t target. Research ensures you’re optimizing for terms that actually drive business.
Sitemap and Information Architecture
What happens:
– Plan complete site structure
– Define page hierarchy and navigation
– Map user journeys
– Plan conversion paths
Deliverables:
– Visual sitemap
– Navigation structure
– User journey maps
Real example from Sydney: A consulting firm wanted 6 pages. Strategic planning revealed they needed 35 pages to cover services properly and rank competitively. Without discovery, they would have built the wrong website.
Phase 2: Design (Week 3-5)
This is the visual and experiential phase. How will your website look and feel?
Wireframing
What happens:
– Create low-fidelity layout mockups
– Plan content placement and hierarchy
– Define conversion paths and CTA positions
– Establish responsive behavior (desktop/tablet/mobile)
Deliverables:
– Wireframes for key page templates
– Responsive layout specifications
Why it matters: Wireframes let us perfect structure before investing in visual design.
Visual Design
What happens:
– Design homepage and key templates
– Establish visual brand system
– Select typography, colors, imagery style
– Create design system and component library
Process:
– Initial concepts (typically 2-3 directions)
– Client feedback and revision
– Final design refinement
– Design system documentation
Deliverables:
– Homepage design mockup
– Key template designs (service page, blog post, etc.)
– Design system documentation
– Style guide
Revision rounds: Professional projects include 2-3 revision rounds. More revisions suggest unclear initial requirements or scope creep.
Design Review and Approval
What happens:
– Present complete design system
– Walk through all page templates
– Demonstrate responsive behavior
– Address any concerns or adjustments
Critical: Design must be approved before development begins. Changes after development starts are expensive and delay launch.
Phase 3: Content Creation (Week 3-7, overlapping with design)
Content can happen parallel to design. While designers work, content is being created.
Content Strategy
What happens:
– Outline every page
– Define key messages and positioning
– Plan trust signals and social proof placement
– Map calls-to-action
Deliverables:
– Content outlines for all pages
– Messaging framework
– SEO optimization guidelines
Content Writing
What happens:
– Professional copywriting for all pages
– SEO optimization
– Clear calls-to-action
– Benefit-focused messaging
Options:
– We write everything (typical for full-service)
– You provide content, we edit and optimize
– Hybrid: We write core pages, you handle some blog content
Deliverables:
– Complete website copy for all pages
– Meta titles and descriptions
– Image specifications and alt text
– CTA copy
Reality check: Quality content takes time. Budget 2-4 weeks for professional copywriting depending on page count.
Content Review and Revision
What happens:
– Client reviews all copy
– Provides feedback and corrections
– Final approval before development
Revision rounds: Typically 1-2 rounds. Endless revisions suggest unclear initial direction.
Phase 4: Development (Week 6-9)
This is where design becomes functional website.
Technical Foundation
What happens:
– Environment setup (development, staging, production)
– CMS installation and configuration (typically WordPress)
– Security implementation
– Performance optimization
– Mobile responsiveness
– Browser testing
Page Building
What happens:
– Build all page templates
– Implement all pages
– Integrate content
– Optimize images
– Set up forms and functionality
Functionality Development
What happens:
– Contact forms with proper validation
– Integration with email/CRM
– Search functionality
– Blog system
– Any custom features required
SEO Implementation
What happens:
– On-page SEO optimization
– Technical SEO setup
– Schema markup implementation
– XML sitemap creation
– Redirect mapping from old site
– Search Console and Analytics setup
Quality Assurance Testing
What happens:
– Functionality testing (all forms, links, features work)
– Responsive testing (desktop, tablet, mobile)
– Browser testing (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
– Performance testing (page speed optimization)
– SEO audit
– Security testing
– Content proofreading
Deliverables:
– Fully functional staging website
– QA test report
– Issues identified and resolved
Phase 5: Client Review and Training (Week 10)
Before launch, you need to review everything and learn how to manage the site.
Client Review
What happens:
– Present complete staging site
– Walk through all pages and functionality
– Demonstrate responsive behavior
– Review on client’s devices
– Identify any needed adjustments
Typical feedback: Minor content tweaks, copy adjustments, small functionality refinements
Red flag: Major structural changes at this stage suggest poor communication earlier.
Content Management Training
What happens:
– One-on-one training session (typically 1-2 hours)
– Learn to add/edit pages
– Learn to publish blog posts
– Learn to update images
– Learn to manage forms
– Learn to review analytics
Deliverables:
– Training session recording
– Written documentation
– Quick reference guides
Goal: You should be able to handle 80% of routine updates yourself.
Phase 6: Launch (Week 11)
The moment of truth. This should be anti-climactic if everything before was done right.
Pre-Launch Checklist
Final verification:
– All content proofread and approved
– All functionality tested and working
– Forms sending correctly
– Analytics and tracking configured
– Redirects from old site mapped
– DNS and hosting configured
– SSL certificate active
– Backups configured
Launch Process
What happens:
– Backup old website
– Deploy new website to live server
– Update DNS if needed
– Verify everything works on live site
– Submit sitemap to Google
– Monitor for any issues
Timeline: Typically 2-4 hours for deployment and verification.
Post-Launch Monitoring
What happens:
– Monitor for 24-48 hours after launch
– Check for any errors or issues
– Verify forms and functionality
– Check performance and loading
– Fix any issues immediately
Phase 7: Post-Launch Support (Week 12+)
Launch isn’t the end–it’s the beginning.
Initial Support Period
What happens (typically 30 days):
– Bug fixes if any issues arise
– Minor content adjustments
– Performance monitoring
– Quick questions and support
This is included in project cost for quality providers.
Training Follow-Up
What happens:
– Answer questions that arose during first use
– Additional training if needed
– Troubleshooting help
Ongoing Maintenance (Optional)
What’s typically offered:
– Monthly security updates
– Performance monitoring
– Content updates
– Technical support
– Analytics reporting
– Continuous optimization
Cost: Typically $100-$300/month depending on scope.
Timeline Expectations
Standard Timeline (8-12 weeks)
Week 1-2: Discovery and strategy
Week 3-5: Design
Week 3-7: Content (parallel to design)
Week 6-9: Development
Week 10: Client review and training
Week 11: Launch
Week 12: Monitoring and support
Expedited Timeline (6-8 weeks)
Possible but requires:
– Faster client feedback turnaround
– Content provided by client
– Simplified design approach
– Higher budget for dedicated resources
Compromise: Some optimization depth traded for speed.
Extended Timeline (12-16+ weeks)
Common when:
– Complex custom functionality required
– Large content volume (100+ pages)
– Multiple stakeholder approvals needed
– Slow client feedback turnaround
What Distinguishes Quality Partners
Quality Partners Do:
- Comprehensive discovery before designing
- Strategic planning based on business goals
- Multiple revision rounds built into process
- Thorough testing before launch
- Training and documentation for self-management
- Post-launch support included
- Clear communication throughout
- Project management keeping things on track
Cheap Providers Skip:
- Strategy (jump straight to design)
- Proper content planning
- Thorough testing
- Training
- Post-launch support
- Project management
You get what you pay for. Cheap providers cut corners on process.
Red Flags During the Process
Warning signs of problems:
- No discovery or strategy phase
- Skipped wireframing (jumped straight to design)
- Unlimited revisions promised (suggests unclear scope)
- Poor communication or slow responses
- Missing deadlines without explanation
- No testing phase
- No training offered
- “Launch and disappear” approach
These signal either inexperience or deliberately cheap process.
Your Role in the Process
Client responsibilities:
- Provide timely feedback (don’t let feedback sit for weeks)
- Gather necessary content (team photos, credentials, etc.)
- Make decisions when needed
- Review deliverables thoroughly before approval
- Attend scheduled meetings (discovery, reviews, training)
- Communicate clearly about requirements and concerns
Slow client feedback is the #1 cause of timeline delays.
The Sites By Design Process
Our process follows this exact framework:
- Strategic discovery understanding your business and goals
- Comprehensive planning before design
- Professional design and development
- Thorough testing before launch
- Complete training for self-management
- 30-day post-launch support included
We don’t rush projects to completion. We execute systematically to deliver quality results on predictable timelines.
Timeline: 8-12 weeks for most Sydney business websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the process be faster than 8 weeks?
Yes, but with compromises. Faster typically means less strategy depth, simpler design, client-provided content, or higher cost for dedicated resources. For most businesses, 8-12 weeks balances quality and timeline.
What if I need changes after launch?
Minor tweaks during the 30-day support period are included. Larger changes or additions are billed separately or handled under maintenance agreement. Scope should be clearly defined before launch.
Can I see the site before it’s done?
Yes. You’ll review wireframes, designs, and staging site before launch. No surprises. Regular check-ins throughout process ensure alignment.
What if I don’t like the design?
Quality process includes 2-3 revision rounds to refine design based on feedback. Design should be approved before development. If design is fundamentally wrong, it suggests poor discovery or communication earlier.
Do I need to provide content or do you write it?
Options: we write everything, you provide and we optimize, or hybrid. Writing adds 2-3 weeks but ensures professional, SEO-optimized copy.
What happens if we miss deadlines?
Timeline shifts accordingly. Most delays are feedback delays. Clear expectations and deadlines keep projects on track.
Is hosting and maintenance included?
Hosting is typically separate ($30-$100/month). Ongoing maintenance is optional ($100-$300/month). 30-day post-launch support is included in project cost.
