You're ready to begin on your website. Now what?
Communication is essential in the web design process. We have outlined the design process so you will know what to expect every step of the way.

 STEP 1 - Initial consultation (one hour free)

Planning and information gathering - we will meet with you and together will develop a Project Profile. This is a critical step in the process as it allows us to learn about your business, your expectations, and ultimately define the scope of the website project. Through this process, we will help you take your business and prepare it for the web environment. In most cases, this involves information gathering, background research, understanding time constraints, any anticipated maintenance needs (such as updating the site with content), establishing goals, and targeting audiences. The framework is then sketched out.

We will assess your needs, goals, and budget, and bring you a solution that will enable you to meet your objectives on the Internet.

We begin the creative process from the very first meeting; assessing your design needs, colours, corporate image, and target market.

An estimate is generated from this meeting. We will discuss the estimate with you and ensure that you are aware of what is included, which costs are fixed, and which costs may vary along the course of production.

 STEP 2 - Payment

The Contract - once we have determined the scope of the project, we draft a contract outlining everything we have discussed and will almost always be able to provide you with a quote. Once we've made sure that we've addressed all your needs, we're ready to get to work.

To begin the project, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required (for estimates under $1000 a 50% deposit is required).

The deposit is based on the total estimate of project.

Any add-ons, changes, redesigns, or any circumstances causing the price of the project to change will be billed as they accrue, or when the next payment on your project is due.

We will discuss the estimate with you and ensure that you know what is included, which costs are fixed, and which costs may vary along the course of production.

If you decide on one of our design packages and you do not require any extras such as promotion, marketing, custom graphic design, media design, hosting, or Search Engine Optimisation, you will pay only for the package price.

 STEP 3 - Information gathering

To begin the project we will need all of your current media such as stationery, cards, advertisements, and brochures.

Colours, fonts, and other important details will be discussed.

We gather all of the images required and outline any that will need to be created (see Step 4).

We will instruct you on writing your keyword list (which will be utilised by search engines) and necessary text for the site.

Using the outline of the site created in the initial meeting/s, we will begin production.

Note: This is a very important step. We design our first layout based on information provided to us. If, for some reason, you change your mind and we need to begin again, you will be required to pay for work already done.

STEP 4 - Shoot photos and create images

Websites and individual web pages sometimes require photographs, such as pictures of facilities, people, and products. If you do not already have what is needed, we can create it for you. Ask for a quote.

We also provide images from our library (from $10 - $45 per image).

Note: customised images from stock images could include one or more images. It is not the same as creation of custom images. Customised images are usually stock images adjusted to reflect your business. They are an inexpensive alternative for your website presentation.

Keeping with the overall theme of the site, photographs are optimised for the web. The images are framed, airbrushed, and manipulated for use on the website.

STEP 5 - Create initial theme

Once we have all of the ingredients needed for your website, we begin creation.

The navigation system for the site is designed as specified in the estimate.

Backgrounds, borders, and graphics are created to convey the feel of the site.

Templates are created for use by parent and subpages in the website to present a clear, clean, and uniform layout.

Client-provided text, unless we handle copywriting, is inserted into the web pages.

The site is brought to 60% completion, showing only the home and parent pages until the theme is approved, saving time and money.

STEP 6 - Review initial theme

The client reviews the initial website theme, or proof, on our password-protected servers and either approves the website or requests changes, additions, and/or redesign. Minor changes are normal and are included in the project.

Major changes and/or redesign is not included, and clients are billed for additional time spent creating new graphics, templates, and pages.

The initial theme represents the site at 60% completion. Homepage, navigation systems, and parent/secondary pages are created.

*Any add-ons, re-designs, or any circumstances causing the price of the project to change will be discussed and billed as they accrue. If the initial theme is not approved, and redesign is requested, additional time will be billed at the project's hourly rate ($35/hour).

STEP 7 - Approval of theme and next payment

After approval of the theme, we make any minor changes and complete the remaining pages of the website.

Second payment is due after approval of the layout/theme of the site.

Second payment is equal to 35% of the total project estimate plus any add-ons, changes, redesigns, or any circumstances causing the price of the project to change.

STEP 8 - Finalise website and make changes

Changes requested after review of initial layout/theme are completed.

Remaining pages and sub-pages are created, matching approved theme.

Website and databases, if applicable, are tested for both browsers. Some clients may need to reach customers who have outdated browsers and equipment. Simple versions of sites can be created and scripts automatically redirecting users can be created.

STEP 9 - Review completed website

The website is brought to 99% completion, assuming minor changes.

Client reviews the site and makes final changes. It is imperative that careful review of all of the content is conducted by the client to ensure data integrity and avoid costly and embarrassing errors. (We also offer an excellent proofreading, editing, and (limited) writing service.)

Client approves site and submits final, minor changes.

Minor changes requested by client are completed during the review process.

STEP 10 - Website published

Finalised site is approved and published to the Internet. Client must have server space in order to be found on the Internet.

For your convenience, Dum & Co offer competitive web hosting options. If you choose our hosting and elect a yearly payment option, we will set your site on servers without any charge.

Dum & Co also offer domain name registration services.

Final payment is due at time of website publishing. Final payment is equal to 40% of the total project estimate plus any additional charges accrued and not yet billed.

STEP 11 - Market your website

Site promotion - this often overlooked phase is crucial to ensuring the success of your website. Over a number of months, your website will be submitted to search engines and directories and tracked closely as part of an ongoing promotional campaign.

Dum & Co offer web marketing and search engine registration services to all of our clients.

Take full advantage of the Internet by marketing your site effectively.

Establish brand name recognition.

Get improved rankings with search engines by letting Dum & Co handle your registration with the top 17 search engines. (The top 17 search engines handle 98% of all Internet queries.)

STEP 12 - Maintenance

Your website now enters the maintenance phase. New content can be added, pages can be updated or changed ... whatever you require. Please check our maintenance packages here.

Dum & Co offer business marketing services to help your website and business succeed:

• search engine registration
• newsletter creation (HTML pages)
• newsletter software and training
• link exchange scripts installation and training
• market your business on the Internet and other media
• assess needs and analyse target market
• generate brand name recognition in selected markets
• create banner ads and place them in the most effective markets.