How We Do It: Proven Process + Good People
Rest Easy. We have done this many, many times. We’ve seen all kinds of websites, heard all kinds of ideas and worked with all kinds of businesses. Website design and development may sound easy, but really isn’t. Every project, big or small, requires the following – whether you fully document everything or simply think about each step. The larger the website and the more complex the functionality, the more critical it is to concisely define the business rules, audiences, process flows, content requirements (owners, types, imagery, etc), creative layout and technical design. Of course, larger projects typically have more stakeholders which demand more checkpoints, communication and project management. But the bottom line is that EVERY successful website development project requires the following (to varying degrees):
- Business Requirements Discussion(s) and Brainstorming
- Project Management
- Creative Considerations & Design
- Content Creation (Copywriting, Images)
- Technical Considerations & Design
- Approvals
- Development
- Testing (by both Beacon and Customer)
- Implementation
- Post Implementation Cleanup
Of course, many website projects must also include:
- Security
- Hosting
- Marketing
- Interface/Integration
Now that you know the steps, or areas of attention, you then need to consider the people that are involved with each step. Most of our projects require AT LEAST a Project Manager/Analyst, Creative Designer and Web Developer. Just as you don’t want your painters serving as the general contractor when building a house, you don’t want your creative designer serving as the PM (or vice versa!). Granted, many of our resources can wear multiple hats, but any (or all) of the following resources can be engaged in a single project, depending on the scope:
- Project Manager
- Website Developer
- Creative Designer
- Web Application Developer
- Software Engineer
- Database Administrator
- Copywriter
- Web Marketing Specialist
- System Administrator
- Network Administrator
- Tester
We have found over the years that projects run much more smoothly when we start with a standard framework (or project plan), then customize it for each project based on the scope in terms of the steps and resources. In other words, Beacon brings in the right qualified resources at the right time throughout the project to meet the scope and budget of your specific project. Beacon’s Project Manager also serves as a guide to take you and your staff through the entire process.
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