Kick Off
The Powderkeg website build process begins with a kickoff meeting at our office. At this meeting, you’ll meet members of the Powderkeg team and share with us your goals for your new website. We’ll talk about your brand, what your users are looking for, and more. We’ll also discuss how website visitors will navigate around your new site and what features will best showcase your business. Time frames for the project will also be set, so you’ll know what to expect.
Research & Organization
Drawing on the information and guidance we receive from our client during the Kickoff meeting, along with our own expertise, we begin to organize the groundwork for the project. This oftentimes includes reviewing the client’s existing branding, as well as looking externally at other related organizations in their industry. To help keep the project organized and communication channels open, we also set our clients up on project management software with our team.
Design
This is where the excitement begins! Our ADDY–award–winning design team will make a custom website design for your business – we never use templates. During the design phase, you’ll start seeing color palettes and design elements based on the site map and wireframes. Typically, you’ll receive a proof of the home page and a few content pages to review and sign off on before our developers start building your site.
Development
The development phase is one of the more labor intensive parts of the process, but it’s also the key to a successful website. Our professional web development team transforms the newly approved designs into a working website that your customers will love and keep coming back to. While browsers and viewing devices continue to evolve at a rapid pace, the Powderkeg team provides a solid foundation to maximize the lifespan of your site. Once the site is built, we’ll put it on a protected server where you can take it for a test drive.
Testing
Before we launch your website, our team thoroughly tests all of its features. Our testing list is long and includes key items such as form validation testing, browser compatibility checks and ecommerce purchase testing (if applicable). We also re–test your website after launch to make sure everything is working in the live environment.
Launch
We are as excited as you are on the day of your new website’s launch! Beforehand, we’ll help you choose a hosting provider and will establish the tasks required to ensure a successful transition to your new site. Most of the sites Powderkeg creates include a content management system (CMS), so it’s likely yours will too. Our team will train you to manage and update your site yourself using your new CMS. We’ll always be here, however, anytime you need help or want to add some new features to your site!
Support
Woo-hoo! Your new website is up and running! Now let us help support you and keep your online marketing initiatives going smoothly. We have dedicated resources, including a dedicated phone number and email inbox, for handling on-going support requests from our clients. We pride ourselves in being able to fix issues quickly and provide speedy turnaround on changes to existing websites.