You’ve decided you need a professional website. But now you’re sitting there wondering what on earth you’ve signed up for.
Will you be bombarded with technical questions you can’t answer? How many meetings will there be? What if you hate the first design? What if you have no idea what you want?
These worries are completely normal. Almost every client I work with comes to me with some version of them.
So let me walk you through exactly what happens. No jargon, no surprises — just the real process from start to finish.
The discovery call: where it all starts
Before any design work begins, we’ll have a conversation.
This isn’t a sales pitch. This is me getting to know your business, what you do, who you serve, and what you want your website to achieve. I’ll ask questions like:
- What services do you offer?
- Who are your ideal customers?
- What sets you apart from competitors?
- What do you want visitors to do on your site?
- Do you have existing branding (logo, colours, imagery)?
You don’t need to have all the answers. If you’re not sure who your target audience is or what makes you different, that’s fine. We’ll work it out together.
What should you bring to this call? Nothing formal. Just show up ready to talk about your business. If you have a logo or brand colours, that’s helpful. If you’ve seen websites you like (or hate), mention them. But there’s no prep work required.
At the end of the call, if we’re a good fit, I’ll send you a proposal outlining the scope, timeline, and cost.
Research phase: understanding your world
Once you say “yes,” I don’t jump straight into design. I start with research.
This phase is where I dig into your industry, your competitors, and your audience. I’ll look at what other businesses in your space are doing with their websites. Not to copy them, but to understand what works, what doesn’t, and where you can stand out.
I’ll also explore your brand. If you have existing branding, I’ll work with it. If you’re starting from scratch, we’ll talk about the look and feel you’re going for. Do you want to come across as polished and corporate, or warm and down-to-earth? There’s no wrong answer, as long as it matches who you are.
This phase usually takes a week or two. You won’t need to do much here beyond answering the occasional question.
Design phase: what your site will look like
This is where things get visual.
I’ll create mockups of your website. These are design files that show you what your site will look like: colours, fonts, layout, imagery, the works. Think of them as blueprints.
You’ll see the homepage first, and depending on the project scope, key inner pages like About, Services, or Contact.
Here’s the part that worries people: what if you don’t like it?
That’s completely fine. Expected, honestly. The first mockup is a starting point, not a finished product. I’ll ask for your feedback, and I want the real version — not “it’s great!” when it isn’t. If something feels off, tell me. If you love most of it but want different colours or a different image, say so.
We go through feedback rounds together. I make changes, you review, we refine until you’re happy. You are never bothering me by asking for changes. That’s literally what this phase is for.
How many rounds of feedback? Usually two or three. Some clients know what they want and approve quickly. Others need more time to sit with it. Both are fine. We keep going until you’re satisfied.
Build phase: turning designs into a working website
Once the design is approved, I move to development.
This is where I take those mockups and turn them into a functional website. I’ll build it on WordPress using the Divi theme, which gives you flexibility and control down the line.
During this phase, I’ll:
- Set up the structure (pages, navigation, contact forms)
- Add your content (text, images, videos)
- Make it mobile-responsive (so it looks good on phones and tablets)
- Test everything (links, forms, loading speed)
If you have content ready (like photos or copy), that’s great. If not, I can help guide you on what’s needed, or we can use placeholder content and fill it in later.
You’ll get preview links so you can see the site as it comes together. If something doesn’t look right or you want to change wording, let me know. We’re still iterating here.
Launch and after: going live and staying supported
When the site is ready, we launch.
I’ll handle the technical bits: connecting your domain, setting up hosting (if needed), configuring SEO basics, and making sure everything works smoothly.
Before you take the reins, I’ll give you a walkthrough. I’ll show you how to update content, add blog posts, change images, and manage your contact forms. You won’t need a computer science degree. If you can use Word or Facebook, you can manage your WordPress site.
And after launch? I’m not disappearing. If you have questions, run into issues, or want to add new features down the line, I’m here. Many clients work with me on ongoing maintenance, where I handle updates and tweaks so they don’t have to worry about the technical side.
What makes this process work
The clients I love working with most aren’t the ones who know exactly what they want. They’re the ones who show up honestly — who tell me when something’s not right, who share the website they’ve always admired, who ask the question they’re worried sounds silly.
You know your business better than I ever will. I know design and how to turn a website into something that actually brings in customers. When those two things come together, the results are genuinely good.
If you’re not tech-savvy, that’s not a problem — I’ll explain everything in plain English. If you’re worried about cost or timeline, tell me. If you love something or hate something, say so. I can’t read minds, but I can absolutely work with honest feedback.
The timeline question everyone asks
“How long does this take?”
It depends on the project, but a typical small business website takes 6 to 8 weeks from start to launch. That includes research, design, feedback rounds, development, and testing.
Some projects move faster if you have content ready and quick feedback turnaround. Some take longer if we’re building something complex or you need more time to review and approve.
I’ll give you a timeline in the proposal, and I’ll keep you updated throughout. If things shift, I’ll let you know.
What if you don’t know what you want?
This is the concern I hear most often. “I know I need a website, but I don’t know what I want it to look like.”
That’s what the research and design phases are for. You don’t need to arrive with a detailed vision. You don’t need to know the difference between a hero section and a call-to-action button.
You just need to know your business. I’ll take care of translating that into a website that works.
If you’ve seen websites you like, share them. If you have a colour you love or an image that captures your vibe, show me. But if you’re starting from a blank slate, we’ll build from there together.
Ready to get started?
The process isn’t scary. It’s a conversation that turns into a design that turns into a website.
You’ll be involved every step of the way, but you won’t be doing it alone. I handle the technical side. You show up and talk about your business.
If you’re ready to start, book a discovery call and we’ll go from there.
