It'd be great if we could snap our fingers and get your site launched, but it's a a little bit more involved than that. We're still waiting for the finger snap thing to work, but until then, we're developing other plans. Here's what the design process looks like with SIMPLY CREATIVE WEB DESIGN.

While each client has different needs and plans, there are a few basic steps to the web-design process to keep us all on track. We had 12 steps, but apparently that's got some kind of copyright, so we narrowed it down to five instead.

Step #1 - Planning & Brainstorming

Once the formalities are complete in adding you to the SIMPLY CREATIVE WEB DESIGN family (signed contract and 50% retainer paid), we'll begin the fun part of the web-design process. Your online world is a clean slate ready to be shaped and molded to fit you like a glove. We'll sit down together and brainstorm your site to make sure that we're on the same page before moving forward. It's at this stage that we'll work on things like site mapping, layouts, design elements, and color schemes.

During this time we'll also do some brainstorming about your domain name if you do not already own your own domain. In addition, we'll discuss search engine optimization keywords and build a basic plan for the search enginge optimization included in your contract.

Once we've got a good idea of how your site is going to flesh out, we'll move on to the next steps of actually beginning the tangable design of your site. As we move forward in the design stages, you've got homework! Once the site mapping is completed and you know what pages will be on your web site then it's up to you to write the content for those pages. We are here to help possible, but it's your business and your the expert, so we prefer that the details come from you...

Step #2 - Design & Development

From here, we'll work on some mock-ups without all the bells and whistles. You'll get to see the look of the site but during this phase some little things will not work, i.e. scrollovers, links, etc... This is your chance to tell us what you like and don't like about the examples given. From there we'll narrow it down to one final design choice and move forward. During this feedback stage of design and development, give it to us straight - it will help in the end. From this point forward, any major changes (layout, color schemes, major graphic changes, etc...) made to the design of your site may result in additional fees beyond the scope of your design contract.

Step #3 - Implementation & Approval

When you've given us the green light from the Design & Development stage, we'll begin the actual coding of your site on your server space. At this time an "Under Construction" page will be listed on your homepage and we'll send you links to follow the construction as it happens. During this process you can always provide critiques for small design details. You'll have the opprotunity for one final approval at the end of this stage.

Once the implementation of your site has been completed, your site will be fully functional and all pages will be ready for your content! Here is where your homework is due... Don't worry, there won't be any pop quizzes. Once we reach this point in the process the remaining outstanding balance will be due. This payment is due even if you do not yet have all of your content ready to launch your site.

Step #4 - Ready, Set, Launch!

Ok, we're at the big day! Design completed, check. Content completed, check. Final approval, check. Let's get the show on the road. Once all our ducks are in a row and each page has been filled with full content, we'll remove the "Under Construction" page and you'll be open for business online!

Please note that during the launch stage of the design process you'll have two weeks once your site is live to acknowledge any errors or glitches. Any changes from that point forward will need to be made during your monthly content update or may be subject to additional fees beyond the scope of your design contract.

Step #5 - Marketing & Submission

The site is live, you've looked at it 300 times in the last three days and all of your family has surfed it as well. What could possibly be left to do? Right now, for you, nothing. Sit back, enjoy the site, and start adding it to your promotional items such as business cards, flyers, and pens.

From here, we'll do some final behind the scenes housekeeping and then submit your site to Google, Yahoo, & MSN for them to add to their search indexes. This process can take up to a month to complete. Once the major search engines have crawled through the content on your site, they'll begin to add you to their search results for relevant keyword searches.

When this all takes place, the design side of your contract will be completed. You'll get an "innitial" page rank in the major three search engines. This is where we'll first see your site show up when we search for your chosen keywords. Typically this will be within the first three pages (top 30 results) and are often times even higher. From here we can discuss further search engine optimization work if you would like to climb the rankings even further.