Need a new website design? Here's a step-by-step guide of how to go about planning, designing, and launching a new or redesigned online presence.

1. 9 STEPS TO FOLLOW
NEED A WEBSITE DESIGN?

2. 1.
DEVELOP A BUDGET

3. BUDGET
HOW MUCH CAN YOU SPEND?
This will dictate what type of website
you can create.
And who you hire to create it.
Depending on their complexity, non
eCommerce custom WordPress sites
can cost less than $10,000.
Recommend the WordPress platform
because it’s easy to use and update.

4. 2,
PUT TOGETHER A TEAM

5. TEAM
WHO DO YOU INCLUDE?
A marketing expert, writer, web
designer, programmer, and others in
your organization who can provide
meaningful input and feedback.
If you’re a small company or
independent consultant, you may
have to hire someone to put together
the team and manage the project.

6. 3.
DO A CONTENT AUDIT

7. CONTENT AUDIT
WHAT DO YOU KEEP?
Have the marketing expert or writer
look at every page on your website
and do a fresh evaluation of whether
the content is still useful and relevant
to your target audience.
That person should develop a
Content Outline, which you give to
the web designer.

8. 4.
DEVELOP A CREATIVE
BRIEF

9. CREATIVE BRIEF
WHAT’S IT GONNA LOOK LIKE?
The Creative Brief is the roadmap that
the web designer uses to create the
design concept for your new website.
Have the marketing expert on your
team fill it out and ask all the team
members to review and comment
before giving it to the web designer.
Most important part of the Creative
Brief? A list of websites you like and
why you like them.

10. 5.
REVIEW & REFINE DESIGN
CONCEPTS

11. REVIEW & REFINE
WHICH ONE IS THE WINNER?
After your web designer has
developed 2-3 design concepts, your
team reviews and discusses which
ones most resonate.
Sometimes there’s not a clear winner
and it’s back to the drawing board.
Usually there is one that can be
tweaked and taken to the next level.

12. 6.
WRITE & EDIT CONTENT

13. CONTENT
WHEN CAN YOU START WRITING?
Based on the Content Outline, this
can actually be done while the design
concepts are being reviewed and
refined.
Keep copy short and tight.
Give it a voice that reflects your
company or organization.

14. 7.
APPROVE THE DESIGN
CONCEPT & CONTENT

15. DESIGN CONCEPT & CONTENT APPROVAL
IS FINAL EVER REALLY FINAL?
Your team should sign off on the
design concept. Give them the
chance to offer feedback on the
content, too.
Present to the board or other
committees only after the team has
fully vetted it. Based on their reaction,
more tweaks may be needed.

16. 8.
BUILD & TEST THE SITE

17. BUILD & TEST
HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?
The web designer and programmer
do the bulk of this work.
Your team periodically reviews pages
or addresses issues that arise.
Depending on the complexity of the
site, this could take 2-4 months.

18. 9.
LAUNCH & PROMOTE THE
SITE

19. LAUNCH & PROMOTE
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Launching is as easy as pressing the
“Go” button.
But you have to be ready to promote
it.
Have email campaigns and social
media shares ready to go. Talking
points. Presentations. Blog posts. Get
employees and partners to share on
their social networks.

20. DO YOU NEED A
NEW BRAND
IDENTITY OR
MARKETING
PLAN?

21. DON’T TACKLE A
WEBSITE
REDESIGN UNTIL
YOU GET THOSE
DUCKS IN ORDER.
(6-8 months)

22. sara@saramarberry.com
linkedin.com/in/saramarberry
slideshare.net/saramarberry
Want to know more?
Contact me.