Website Designs

1. You and your organisation

 

Successful website design begins with a rich dialogue between the customer and the designer. At ForestPath we believe it is essential to spend time getting to know you and your organisation in order that we can create the quality website you deserve.

 

We need to know what services or products you provide, the image you want to present on the internet, who you want to attract to your website and of course, what the content will be?

 

Our understanding of your organisation helps us to work with you to create a structure for the site, suggest features which can enhance your website and ideas of how best to arrange the content.

 

 

2. Design

There are three main elements to the design of a website

1. The look and feel, created by the
   • Graphics
   • Layout
   • Colour scheme
2. Navigation which must be
   • Intuitive
   • Simple to use
3. Content which consists of
   • Text
   • Images
   • Links to other websites
   • Features such as photo galleries, Content Management System sections, online forms etc.

 

Using your existing colour scheme and logo* and knowing how the site will be organised and structured we create a design. We share this design with you and make minor adjustments as required.

 

This design then becomes the template for the whole site. This is a unique template, unique to you and your website. The template is the basis for all the pages in your website.

 

*We can also design a logo for you or, if your existing one is looking a little tired, we can redesign it.

 

3. Content

 

We organise and style the content you provide. We also suggest text revisions and adjustments to improve the site's effectiveness and also to add elements of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). SEO helps to improve your site's ratings with search engines and move you nearer to page one in the search results.

 

Some of your content will be photographs either taken by us or that you have sent to us. Where appropriate, we reduce and enhance the photographs so that they are visually more effective and appear quicker on the page.

 

CMS (Content Management Systems) are used extensively on the internet. CMS allows you to manage the content in designated areas of your website by using an online editor. This means that you can edit and update areas of your website within your web browser from any computer, anywhere in the world! ForestPath can build CMS sections into your website and also provide training on how to use this facility.

 

There are many features that can be added to your site, most commonly photograph galleries, slideshows and blogs. At ForestPath we are always looking for new and innovative ways to enhance the websites that we design. If there's a feature you want on your site, then ask!

 

 

4. Build your website

 

With the content you provide we begin to build your website starting with the main sections of the site. We then roll out the pages for each section and continue by adding the content.

 

As the pages take shape we almost always make adjustments to the layout and styling so that there is balance and consistency across the site. And of course, to make sure it looks good and gives the user the best possible browsing experience.

 

We test your website on our server as we develop it. You can watch how progress is going in your web browser using the username and password we give you. We will always let you know when we have uploaded the latest changes and additions to your website.

 

Using the test version on our server allows you to check the content bit by bit rather than all at once when the site is almost complete. It can also make editing content that much easier using the phone or VOIP as we can both be looking at the same page and discuss and often implement changes in real time.

 

5. Final checks

 

First impressions are so important in life. The same is true on the internet so before we can go live we check through the site for errors, typos and anything that looks plain wrong. We also ask you to make a final check of the content.

 

A lot happens behind the scenes as a website is being created, most of which is unseen but essential in giving the user a positive experience when they visit your website. One of our final checks is to be sure that your site functions correctly in all commonly used web browsers.

 

When both you and ForestPath are happy that the final checks are complete and you give us the go ahead, we are ready for the final step...

 

6. Go Live

 

This is the moment we have all been waiting for. We upload your new website to your web server and "Hey Presto", your website is LIVE on the internet!

 

and then...

 

And then you need to make changes to your website. This is where our continuing support comes in.

 

Website Maintenance*

 

We find that many of our customers ask us to carry out routine updates for them on a fairly regular basis. Then, if the need arises, they request that we make major alterations to their site.

 

Some of our customers prefer to contact us as and when they need updates and others choose to buy maintenance time in advance on a yearly basis. Buying maintenance time in advance can be a cheaper option.

 

For more information or to request a quotation, please contact ForestPath.

 

	Action	When
Routine updates	Different images Changes/additions to existing text	Regularly
Major alterations	Add new features Add new section Changes to menus Re-structure site	When needed

 

* Website Maintenance is only available for websites that we have designed and built.