What to expect as a CRT Client –
CRT is currently working on a new website for a client. Since this site is not yet public (we will update when this changes), we won’t disclose too much about it.
(Update: The new site is live )
Generally we will get images and copy and once in awhile a design guide from the client. Not this time. As far as I can remember, this is our first site where we have been given pretty much all the responsibility, for everything. This included the design guide, product photos, copy, etc. We did have two, little restrictions, that were mostly self imposed; We would use the same Word Press theme the old site used and the logo had to be close to the old one because the company already had a pretty big market foot print. No big deal. This process made us wonder, do companies know what to expect going through this process? Have they ever had a site done using a process?
So for companies considering a new website, this is how it gets done at CRT.
Step one: The Design Guide.
If you company doesn’t have one, it should. A design guide ensures that your company maintains a consistent look and identity in the public’s eye. A design guide locks down exactly what your logo looks like and any allowed variations. It defines your company colors, the font you use for ads, brochures and promotional material. Really good design guides even attempt to define the “vibe” of your company. For instance, your company’s products appeal to a certain segment of the population, and they have a certain set of social norms, i.e. the music they listen to, the cloths they wear, the people they follow on social media, the food they eat, the words they use. A really good design guide will identify these and spell them out in ways that let everyone know the company’s vibe or verve. Once the design guide is complete and the client has signed off on it, we move to step two.
Step two: Site Design
Using the design guide, we put together a frame work, a wire frame if you will, of the site. This is basically a way to visualize the structure and flow of the site. It helps everyone remember what they want included in the site and helps everyone draw up a list of the content that will be needed.
Step three: Data, Copy, Media
The wire frame from step two will have provided a list of all the elements needed to start building the site. This is where CRT provides the advantage. We provide very high quality copy, media, and data systems. For instance, product photography:
Videos by CRT & Associates, Inc.
We also write high quality copy, and can, when needed, include mountains of data in your site using MySQL and PHP in custom, dynamic pages.
Step three usually consumes most of the time in a project.
Step four: Put it All Together
Once creation of all the data, media and copy is completed, we build the suite. We do this allowing all stake holders to monitor the process at every step.
Final Step: Make it Live and Monitor for Search Engine Optimization
Once your site is live, we continue to monitor it to make sure it is performing. Using Google Analytics we monitor the progress of your site and report back to you. We will also continue to make suggestions for improvements to the site and other actions you can take to improve your business’s digital footprint.