This is a common question we hear from clients. And it’s one of the most important questions. The answer is that it will take a while because you don’t want to rush the project.
The time it takes to build your site depends on various factors. For instance, the more complex the site, the longer it will take to build. For example, an ecommerce site that has hundreds of products will take time to build it properly.
Most people want their website done as soon as possible; that’s natural. However, it can take time. Think of weeks or months, rather than days. There’s a lot that goes into building your site.
In this article we’ll review some of the common reasons it can take a while to build a site.
Contacting the Designer
When contacting designers, it’s never a good idea to say you need the site fast. Most designers will turn you down flat. The reason is that they understand the time needed to work through the project from start to finish, and all the steps in between.
Instead, explain you need a website and the purpose for the site, then they will tell you how they would create it, and provide a timeframe for the project. It’s always a good idea to call several designers and ask what their timeframe is for the project. Then you can use this information to choose a designer based on this, as well as other factors.
Watch out for designers that quickly accept your project without asking many questions. This is a huge red flag. The best designers are those who ask you many questions about your project, so they can have a better idea of what you need, and if they’re able to deliver or not. Here, also expect a professional, experienced web designer to overestimate the time needed to complete you project.
When it comes to designing a site, there’s really no standard amount of time. It depends on the individual designer/company, their workload, the complexity of your project.
Determining the Site’s Goals and Creating a Plan
When you’re working with a designer, they will begin the website creation process by helping you determine the goal of your site. Your site needs a purpose. This is the part of the process where you determine what elements are needed on the site, what information needs to be included, and more.
As you and the designer work together, they provide guidance and insights on things that will and will not work on your site. This process can take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks.
The Work Starts on the Site’s Design
Now you and the designer have a project plan they can get to work on our site. The designer(s) will take your needs and ideas and make these into concepts, which are called mockups. These are sketches that show you want the site will look like.
This is the time when you may want to make changes, and that’s as it should be. Changes are easiest to take care of during this phase, instead of waiting for the development phase.
It’s always a good idea to see mockups for every page of your site. This way, you’ll know exactly what they’ll look like now, rather than being surprised with a major issue down the line.
This process can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks. This is the time to be active with the designer; you’ll need to request changes as well as asking questions.
The Development Phase
Now the developer will begin to build your actual site. This is when everything you and the designer have worked on together goes from being a concept to reality. This is an exciting time! The developer(s) gets to work and starts building the site.
Development takes a while. You can always count on setbacks and problems popping up in the project. Plus, there may be issues that need to be fixed or changed. Developers can get sick and more. In addition, remember that professional developers may overestimate the amount of time needed to develop the site. This is to compensate for any problems during this phase, as well as give them some space when they need to sort out any issues.
This is another phase where it’s important to stay in contact with your developer. Most professionals do keep their clients updated on the progress of the projects, and other issues. But do your part, too, to stay in contact during this time.
This is the phase where it’s necessary to block out time in your schedule to review the work. You need to take a proactive part when it comes to reviewing and testing your site.
The development phase can take up to 1-2 months.
The Final Review
Before your website can be officially launched, it will need to go through a final review process. This is where revisions take place. This is where you need to review every part of the website to make sure it looks and performs as it should. Be sure to closely review your mockups, as well, to find anything that may be missing, not placed correctly, and more.
Don’t be too surprised if corrections are needed. This is normal, especially if you’re dealing with a large, complex website. And if corrections are needed, it’s not because the developer(s) were not skilled. It’s just part of the process of building a website
This phase usually takes about 1-2 weeks.
Summing It Up
From start to finish, it can take a minimum of 14 weeks to create a complex website. And this could take longer. This is true for sites that are larger or involve intricate functionality. It takes times to build an excellent website.
For smaller brochure website you can expect the process to take from 2-4 weeks.
You can speed up the process by preparing information before contacting the web designer/developer. The more preparation you do before you work with designer/develop, the faster your project may go. It can help to review websites and determine what you like/don’t like about each site. Determine the features that may be a good fit for you site. Then create a list of elements you’d like for your own site.
It’s also helpful to come up with a list of goals for your site. Then consider if the site needs to meet any industry or government compliance requirements.
Even determining the number of website pages that are needed can help speed up the process. Don’t forget to determine the goals of these pages, too.
Finally, once you find a designer/developer, then make time to stay in touch and have those essential conversations that determine the outcome of your site. Good communication is another element that’s important to creating an amazing website.
