This is the standard process we use to plan, design, and produce a web site with you.
1. Information Exchange: Our first step is usually to ask that you fill out our online Project Information Form. This form helps you to gather together the basic information we need to start working out what type of website we can produce for you. Sometimes further communication by phone, email, or in person is necessary to clarify the scope and nature of the work to be done and to answer questions you may have.
2. Proposal with Cost Estimate: When we feel we know enough, we’ll figure and write up a brief Proposal for the work to be done, including a firm estimate.
4. Signing of Agreement: Assuming the Proposal is satisfactory, we sign a standard contract with a description of your specific website. The 1st installment payment is due at this time, before work begins.
5. We Set Up the Basic Site – You Gather Content. We set up your new hosting account, create a database, and install the WordPress script, and begin setting up the website. Graphic content – your logo and any other images you would like to feature – must be gathered before most work can begin on the site. Your text content needs to be written and ready before any pages can be created.
6. Design/Customization Process. We proceed to build your site. Depending upon whether you choose the No-Frills Site, Theme Site, or Custom Site, this part of the process is either simple or considerably more involved. The 2nd installment payment is due when the visual design process is mostly complete, at an approximate halfway point in the project.
7. Inputting site content: AyersVirtual will input your text and graphic content on the Home page and (on all but No-Frill Sites) up to 5 additional pages. You’ll be able to create any additional pages yourself via the WordPress Dashboard.
8. Testing, Tweaking and Polishing: We then go through every page of the site, proofreading, testing on different computers, operating systems, browsers and monitors, fixing any errors and polishing everything.
9. Site Launch: When all is ready, we make the site live and available to the public. The final installment payment is due and payable at the time site “goes live”. At this time, we’ll help you get up-to-speed on using the WordPress Dashboard to make changes to the site on your own.
10. Hosting and Maintenance: The $395 fee you pay for Yearly Hosting and Maintenance includes (a) one full year of quality Linux web hosting, (b) regular backups of your site, (c) regular script updates, important for the security and stability of your site, and (d) basic support for the normal functioning and use of the site. About a month before the year is up, we’ll invoice you for the next year.
11. Changes and Additions: You will be able to add, edit and delete pages and posts on your own, but there may be changes that are bigger or more complicated requiring a web developer’s attention. You can contact us at any time to discuss or request changes and additions to the site. This work is charged at our regular rate of $70/hour.
