Starting a new website design and development project is always an exciting time. You likely have big dreams and high expectations for what your web designer can create for your new online presence. However, it’s important to set realistic timelines and milestones right from the start to ensure the project stays on track. Rushing through the process or underestimating the effort required at each stage can lead to frustration, poor quality output, and missed deadlines down the road.
When setting a timeline for your web design and development project, there are a few key factors to consider:
Project Scope and Complexity
The scope of your project and the complexity of your desired website will heavily influence the timeline. A basic brochure-style site with just a few pages will take much less time for your web designer to complete than a complex e-commerce site or web app. Be sure you fully understand the scale of what you want your web designer to achieve.
Content Development
Creating, gathering and organizing all the text, images, videos, and other content needed for the site also takes significant time. If content is being migrated from an old site, factor in cleanup and optimization by your web designer. For new copy, allow time for writing, revisions and approval cycles.
Design Iterations and Revisions
Even if you provide initial design direction upfront, multiple iterations of mockups with revisions will be needed from your web designer to refine the look and layout. Feedback and approval rounds on design comps add to the timeline as your web designer incorporates changes.
Technical Development and Integration
The actual development work for your website designer to turn the design into a functioning website requires adequate time, especially if custom features are being built. Complex interactivity, animations, integrations, and back-end work can lengthen the development period.
Testing and Quality Assurance
No timeline is complete without allotting time for your web designer to conduct thorough testing and bug fixing. From cross-browser checks to ensuring responsiveness, QA takes concerted effort from your web designer.
Content Migration
For sites with existing content, you’ll need to budget time upfront for your web designer to handle content migration. This includes mapping old content to new templates, reformatting, and cleanup.
Project Management
Your web designer will need adequate project management time for meetings, updates, communication, and all administrative project tasks.
Unexpected Issues
Even with the most detailed plan, unexpected issues can arise during any digital project that may cause delays. Setting some buffer timelines helps absorb these unplanned items that your web designer may encounter.
Client Reviews and Approvals
Be sure to allocate reasonable windows in your project timeline for client reviews, feedback and approvals at designated milestones set by your web designer. Rushed signoffs can jeopardize outcomes.
By carefully evaluating each of these timeline factors, you can establish realistic scheduling for your custom web design and development project. A detailed timeline gives your web designer and team clarity on expectations and goals, leading to better collaboration and project success. Of course, flexibility is still essential should scope expand down the road. With open communication and some timeline buffer, your web designer can help make your dream website become a reality right on schedule.
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