Website Design Timeline - How Long Should It Take to Build or Redesign?

Embarking on the journey of creating a new website design or undertaking the redesign of your current website is a pivotal moment for any business. It's a process that blends creativity with technicality and vision with functionality. At BANG! Web Site Design, we understand that the timeline for website development can be a pressing concern for our clients.



The duration of creating websites can vary significantly based on numerous factors, including the complexity of the design, the number of internal page designs, and the extent of client involvement. In this blog, we'll delve into what goes into a website design timeline and how we ensure that every project not only meets but exceeds expectations.

Our internal team structure here at BANG! is broken up into design, development, and content development teams which will be referenced below.

Also note that the days, and weeks estimated per phase assume you, our client, works with us by providing the information we ask for and showing up to meetings during the website design process.
 
 

The Initial Stages: Discovery and Project’s Initial Planning

Discovery Phase: Laying the Groundwork - 1 to 2 Weeks Depending on Client Availability

The discovery phase marks the inception of the site development process, serving as the bedrock upon which the entire project is built. During this critical period, our team of designers and developers engage in deep discussions with you to meticulously outline the goals and vision for your website. This collaborative effort is pivotal in aligning the development team's direction with the client's expectations, ensuring that every facet of the website, from its aesthetic appeal to its functionality, resonates with the target audience. By investing time in this foundational stage, we lay a solid groundwork that informs the entire process, setting a clear path for the subsequent stages of your website's creation.

We may even provide you a website questionnaire as a Word document to fill out.

This initial phase is not just about gathering information; it's an opportunity for our dev team to establish a rapport with clients, fostering a partnership that facilitates open communication throughout the development time. The insights gleaned from client feedback, combined with the expertise of our designers, create a synergistic environment where innovative ideas flourish. The discovery phase ensures that the website development journey is embarked upon with a shared vision with clear objectives of your project goals, significantly enhancing the likelihood of achieving a final product that not only meets but exceeds client expectations, setting the stage for a successful and impactful online presence.
 
 

Keyword Research: How & What Do Your Customers Search For? - Days to 1 Week

During this phase of your project we use tools to query Google in your target market to discover what keyword phrases your prospective customers use to search for your product or service. We arrange this in a spreadsheet and rank the keyword phrases from most heavily searched to rarely.

Depending on the expertise of the web design company you've chosen, they may skip this step which is a huge mistake. It's much more cost effective to do "SEO First Web Design" than try to tack it on later.

A lot of website builds we do every year, clients are rightly concerned with where they will rank on Google. Armed with this keyword research data we can move onto the next phase and assign keyword phrases to the sitemap.
 
 

Planning Phase: Sitemap / Blueprint - Days

With keyword research in hand and as the development phase unfolds, our skilled design team dives into the intricate process of transforming the initial concepts into a tangible digital reality. This stage is where the sitemap or blueprint of your website begins to take shape, turning the pages outlined in the estimate to a organizational chart like visual representation of the structure of the pages. The creation of a sitemap provides a visual skeleton of your website, offering a visual understanding of your project for both the design team and the client. It's a simple process, but one to be sure to complete.


 
 

Planning Phase: Complex Projects add Wireframes - 1 to 2 Weeks

On complex projects with interactive elements we'll wireframe important pages to make sure we've got the page flow correct and all site visitor interaction is accounted for. It adds time to the project but saves dollars when developers can move forward knowing they are building what's needed vs guessing. It results in fewer changes during the process, saving hours and therefore dollars.

Note: Because most projects aren't complex enough to require wireframes, the total time for the website design timeline omits this 1-2 week period. 


 

Design Phase: Bringing Ideas to Life - Days to a Week

At the core of crafting an exceptional website we take the websites structure as outlined in the "blueprint" and transition from the sitemap to actual HTML pages. Each page gets assigned a URL with care to optimize ease of use for the site visitor and optimal SEO rankings by Google. At this point we move from functional blueprint to web pages.

Transitioning from sitemap or wireframes to fully functional pages, the real work has begun and this development phase encompasses the entire process of bringing the website to life. This stage is critical in the website development timeline, as it lays down the essential foundations upon which the success of the entire project is built.


 

Content Creation: Copywriting, Photography & Video production - 2 to 4 Weeks Concurrent with Design

Content creation can often happen concurrently with the design process saving the entire process from taking an extra month. Great content breathes life into the website, infusing each page with content that's not only engaging but also valuable to the site's visitors. Our website copywriter works in tandem with you to make sure that your "voice" and messaging stays on target for your brand and will appeal to your target demographic. Every piece of content, from blog posts to service descriptions, is optimized for both the user and search engines. This synergy between content and design is what transforms a functional site into a successful website, one that resonates with its audience and ranks well in search results. As we edge closer to the launch date, the focus on crafting high-quality content and intuitive designs becomes even more pronounced, ensuring that the final product not only meets but exceeds the expectations set forth in the initial briefs, marking the culmination of hard work and dedication to excellence.
 

Design and Development: The Heart of the Process

Homepage Design and Page Layout - 1 to 2 Weeks or Less

Creating a good website at the lowest cost involves using the BANG! CMS and design system to create an appealing page layout. Our Phoenix based web design company focuses on the essential foundations of the site, ensuring that the structure established and look of the homepage resonates with the brand personality and meets the user experience standards. This stage of the process may require several design tweaks but is crucial for the success of your project. Time spent in this phase depends on client approval of the homepage design. For most of our client's we nail the design the 1st time. Some clients will require additional time for design changes.

 

Internal Page Designs and Content Creation - Days to weeks Depending on the Number of Pages

Internal page designs and content insertion are next. From service pages, about us, locations served, etc., our team dedicates time to crafting each internal page, ensuring they serve their purpose effectively. How we handle hero images on secondary pages, and supporting images, layout of internal pages to the interactive elements that will engage your targeted audience all get attention.

Content creation has already been handled with the same level of care, focusing on providing valuable information and optimizing for search engines. We now take edited and approved Word documents and transfer the copy to the final web page.

The intricacies of internal page designs go beyond mere aesthetics; they encapsulate the essence of a successful website, guiding visitors through a journey that aligns with the project's objectives outlined in the creative and technical briefs. Our approach to designing these pages involves a deep dive into the functionality and purpose of each section of the site, from informative content pages to interactive lead capture forms. This phase of development is critical, as it ensures that every part of the site contributes to a cohesive user experience, driving engagement and fulfilling the specific needs of the audience. The development time invested in refining these internal pages is crucial, as it directly impacts the effectiveness of the entire site, setting the stage for a successful launch that meets all project requirements.

This phase demands a lot of time and attention to detail as it sets the tone for much of the end user experience. Our design team dedicates themselves to a design that not only aligns with your brand's personality but also enhances the usability of the site.

This includes the integration of content, the implementation of design elements, and the optimization of user experience across all devices. Our developers work hand-in-hand with the design team to ensure that throughout this phase, the focus remains on creating a website that not only looks visually stunning but also performs exceptionally, ensuring that the final product not only meets but exceeds the expectations set during the discovery phase.

From the color palette to the typography, graphics and photos, every element is chosen with care to ensure consistency across all pages, including crucial landing pages or lead capture pages. This meticulous approach to design ensures that the project requirements are met with precision, paving the way for a successful launch. The iterative nature of this stage allows for the refinement of the design, ensuring that each element of the page layout contributes to a seamless user journey.
 
 

User Experience Design

Prioritizing the User Experience - Days to Weeks

User experience is at the forefront of our design philosophy. We strive to create websites that are not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and accessible on all devices, especially mobile phones. This involves a collaborative project approach, incorporating feedback from the client and end users to refine and enhance the website's usability.
 

Custom Programming > Days to Months, Some of it Concurrent

Depending on the complexity of the website the development team may work concurrently with the design team to build any custom applications required for the project. For instance do we need to integrate with Google maps to provide distance measuring? Or perhaps we are integrating with 3rd party APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for the processing of credit cards.

Note: Not every project will require custom programming and we've left it out of the timeline total in this example.



As the design crystallizes and moves closer to the final version, the development team begins the process of beta testing, rigorously evaluating each aspect of the site to ensure optimal performance. This phase is integral to the development time, as it allows for the identification and resolution of any potential issues before the official launch date. The insights gained from the beta testing phase feedback into the design stage, informing any necessary design tweaks to enhance functionality and user experience. This iterative loop between design, development, and testing is what makes this phase the heart of the process, ensuring that the final website not only looks great but also performs flawlessly, meeting the high standards set forth in the creative brief and fulfilling the project's objectives. Beta testing is especially important to make sure any custom programming is working as expected and any error checking of data input is handled gracefully.
 
 

SEO Optimization

Making Your Site Search Engine Friendly - Days to 1 Week

Optimization and technical SEO plays an important role in the website development process. From the initial planning stages to the final website check, we ensure that every element of your site is optimized for search engines. This includes everything from image optimization to improve the the site's speed and performance to title and meta description tags, ensuring your site ranks well in search results.



The journey to making a website search engine friendly is intricate, involving a myriad of optimization techniques that span the entire web development stage. Our web design company leverages internal design resources to meticulously review each aspect of your site, from code efficiency to mobile responsiveness, and ensuring that it adheres to the latest SEO standards. This optimization process is particularly crucial for large sites, where the complexity and scale of the project demand a longer time commitment and a more thorough review process. By aligning our design work with the goals outlined in the creative brief, we ensure that the optimization efforts not only enhance the site's search engine visibility but also improve the overall user experience, making it a win-win for both the site owners and their audience.

Moreover, for projects of significant importance, such as the launch of a large site or a major redesign, the optimization phase becomes even more critical. It's during this time that our team dives deep into the technical aspects of the site, ensuring that every page, image, and piece of content is fully optimized. This attention to detail during the design or redesign process can save countless hours in future revisions and technical SEO work, and ensures that the site performs well from the outset. The collaborative effort between our designing team, devs, and SEO specialists during this web development stage is key to creating a site that not only meets but exceeds the project's objectives, setting a solid foundation for the site's long-term success in the competitive digital landscape.

 

The Final Stages: Testing and Launch

Beta Testing and QA - 1 to 2 Weeks

Before the official launch, extensive QA testing is conducted to iron out any little bugs and ensure the website operates seamlessly. This stage is crucial for delivering the highest quality website to our clients, ensuring a successful start-up in the digital world.

As we approach the culmination of the website dev process, the beta testing and QA phase becomes the focal point, especially for large projects that demand flawless execution. Our dedicated team members meticulously comb through each page, feature, and function of the client’s website, ensuring that every element performs as intended. This rigorous testing phase is not just about identifying and fixing bugs; it's about validating that the main features of your site align with the project's vision and objectives. It's a period where the theoretical meets the practical, and the envisioned digital experience is put to the test in real-world scenarios. This comprehensive approach guarantees that when the website goes live, it not only reflects the high standards of our design company but also surpasses the expectations of our clients and their target audience.

The significance of this final review process cannot be understated, particularly for important projects that represent a significant investment for our clients. It's during this stage that the collaborative efforts of our team truly shine, as developers, design team, and project managers work in unison to polish the client's website to perfection. The feedback loop between our team and the client is vital, ensuring that any adjustments made during beta testing are in line with the client's vision and the website's intended purpose. By dedicating the necessary time and resources to this critical phase, we ensure that the launch of the website marks the beginning of a successful and impactful online presence, setting a solid foundation for our client's digital endeavors.
 
 

Redirect Old URLs to New - Less than a Day

On a redesign project, where a current website will be replaces with a new one, if there are any changes to the site structure and URLs we would redirect the old URL to the new with a 301 permanent redirect. This tells Google and other search engines that any links to the old site should be replaced with the new ones. It also ensures the transition from the existing site to the new one is seamless for previous site visitors who may have bookmarked a page.

 

Launching Your New Site - Less than a Day

The launch of your new site marks the culmination of hard work and collaboration. It's a moment of celebration but also the beginning of a new phase of digital marketing and ongoing optimization to ensure the continued success and growth of your online presence.

Go live for the new site is somewhat anti-climatic. As DNS updates and propagates across the Internet, site visitors will see the new updated site vs the old. DNS propagation generally takes a few hours, but can take up to two days for everyone to receive the new IP address for the site.
 
 

How Long Should It Take to Design or Redesign A Website?

So to answer the question, of a website design timeline, how long should it take to design or redesign a website, you'll see that it varies from a few weeks to many months.

If we have a well organized client that shows up to all the meetings and is responsive to our requests, on a small website you may be looking at a 6 week timeline. Larger projects can take 12 weeks or longer depending on complexity and how much custom programming may be required.

Variables include the size of the project and how quickly the client responds to requests for information and approvals at the appropriate times.

If someone is quoting you a shorter timeline than this, ask them for their list of what will be done. Chances are they are leaving out several steps and short changing you during the design or redesign process.

Other factors include weighting on Speed, Quality, & Cost. If it absolutely has to be completed quickly, quality is going to suffer and cost is going to go up.

If quality and cost are more important, it's going to take longer to complete, but you are more likely to be happy with the quality and cost.
 
 

Why Choose BANG!

At BANG!, we go beyond the typical website build. Our expertise in the world of web design, combined with a deep understanding of digital marketing strategies, sets us apart as a web design agency that delivers results. We believe in creating websites that serve as a cornerstone for your business's online presence, driving web traffic and converting visitors into loyal customers. Choosing the right web design company is crucial, and in choosing BANG!, you can rest assured that your website project is in capable hands and destined for success.

The timeline for website design and development can vary widely, but with BANG!, every stage of the process is handled with utmost care and professionalism. From the discovery phase to the final launch, we ensure that your website not only meets but exceeds your expectations, setting a solid foundation for your business's digital future.

Want to learn more? Call us at (602) 427-5626 or fill out the contact form below.