If you’re planning a new website, you probably want to know two things: what’s involved and how long will it take. The honest answer to the second question is: it depends almost entirely on content. Yours specifically.
I’ve been managing web design projects for businesses in Kingston, London and Surrey since 2008. Here’s what the web design process actually looks like and what makes the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that doesn’t.
Before We Start: Content
This needs to be said before anything else: a custom build is built around your content. That’s the whole point of it.
I’m not dropping your text into pre-made boxes. I’m designing and building pages around what you actually have to say and show. Which means I need to know what content is coming from the very first conversation. And I need it delivered as the project moves forward.
A bespoke kitchen company with twelve distinct styles needs pages structured very differently to one with four. I can work with what’s available and slot more in as it arrives. But if content stops coming, the build stops moving. This can happen at any stage, not just at the end.
What I need from you throughout the project:
- Written copy. Either have it ready or brief a copywriter at the same time you brief me. The information about your business has to come from you.
- Images and photography. Know what you have and what you still need. If a shoot is required, book it early.
- Product and service details. Descriptions, specifications, pricing, case studies. Anything that goes on the site needs to exist before it can be built in.
If you have a launch date in mind, work backwards from it. Content is almost always what determines whether you hit it.
Stage 1: Discovery and Planning
At the start of the web design process, before anything gets designed or built, I need to understand your business properly. Not just what you do but where you’re going.
In our initial consultation we’ll talk through:
- What your business does and who your clients are
- How people currently find you and how you want to be found
- Where your business is heading in the next six to twelve months
- What you need the website to actually do
That last point matters more than most people realise. A website that needs to rank locally for specialist services has completely different requirements to one that just needs to showcase work. Getting this right at the start means the site is structured correctly from day one.
From here I build a sitemap: a map of every page on the site, how they’re organised and how they link together. This is where SEO planning happens. If you want to be found on Google for specific services in specific locations, that gets mapped out before a single page is designed.
How long: One to two weeks.
Stage 2: Mockups and Design
Once the sitemap is agreed I create mockups: visual designs showing how the site will look and feel before anything is built. You’ll see exactly how your pages will be laid out, how content will be presented and how users will move through the site.
This is where you give feedback. Most clients go through one or two rounds of revisions at this stage. The point is that nothing gets built until you’re happy with the direction.
This stage of the web design process also involves thinking about copy. If certain pages need to be structured in a particular way for usability or SEO, I’ll flag that early and we’ll discuss it. I won’t rewrite your content without your input but I will tell you if something needs to change and why.
I work from scratch. No templates, no purchased themes. Everything is designed around your actual content and your actual business.
How long: Two to three weeks.
Stage 3: Build
Once design is signed off I build the site. Pages are coded properly, forms are set up, everything is linked together and the technical foundations are put in place: SEO structure, schema markup, page speed optimisation and mobile responsiveness.
This is also where the internal linking happens. Pages don’t just exist in isolation. They’re connected in a way that makes sense for both users and search engines.
How long: Two to four weeks depending on complexity.
Stage 4: Final Content and Review
With the build complete, final content goes in. This is the stage during the web design process that most often determines whether a launch date is hit. If copy is still being written or images haven’t arrived, this stage waits.
Once everything is in I review the whole site, checking that content reads well, pages are optimised correctly and everything functions as it should across devices. If anything needs adjusting we do it here before the site goes live.
How long: One to two weeks with content ready. Longer if content is still outstanding.
Stage 5: Launch
Final technical checks, domain connected, sitemap submitted to Google and the site goes live.
I don’t hand over a finished site and disappear. Launch is the start of your site’s working life not the end of the project.
How long: One week.
What Happens After Launch
This is where most web designers go quiet. It’s where I stay involved.
Your site needs ongoing attention to keep working properly. WordPress updates, security monitoring, backups and performance checks. Without these, sites get hacked, slow down or break when plugins conflict.
Beyond maintenance, your site should evolve with your business. New services, new case studies, new landing pages for local SEO. A site that doesn’t grow becomes outdated quickly.
I offer monthly maintenance and support packages for exactly this. From basic maintenance at £150 a month through to full support including content updates and new pages at £700 a month. You can see what’s included in each package here.
Realistic Timelines
A typical project from first consultation to launch runs eight to twelve weeks. A project where the client arrives with content ready, clear on their goals and responsive to questions will launch at the shorter end. One where content takes time to gather or decisions take time to make will take longer.
If you have a specific date you need to launch by, tell me at the start. We’ll work backwards from it and be straight about whether it’s achievable.
The Questions Worth Answering Before You Brief Anyone
How will people find your website? If the answer is Google, your site needs to be built for local search from day one. This affects structure, content and budget.
Where is your business going in the next year? A new service, a new location, a rebrand. If these are coming, plan for them now rather than rebuilding six months after launch.
What does success look like? More enquiries, more bookings, better clients. Being specific about this at the start of the web design process means the site can be built to deliver it.
If you’d like to talk through your project, book a free consultation and we’ll work out exactly what you need and how long it will realistically take.