From blank server to launch day.
Good design starts long before the first mock-up. Here is how I take a site from a fresh server to a live, tested website, in three phases.
12
steps, one specialist
Phase one · Foundation
Fast, secure groundwork before any design.
A great site starts with a good host. Speed and security are set up first, so everything built on top stays quick and safe.
Steps 01 to 06
Web host server setup
Tuned for speed and security, with DNS changes, SSL certificate, PHP version and settings, caching and email addresses, plus backups and a staging area where needed.
Install WordPress
The database is set up by hand if needed, then site settings like URL structure, comments, company info and admin users.
Security plugins
A critical first step, so your site is protected from the moment it is installed: anti-spam, firewall, login limits and more.
Install and configure Divi
Your logo, color palette, fonts and other global settings. If custom functions are needed, a child theme goes in too.
Additional plugins
Whatever your site needs, such as SEO, forms and integrations, caching, image compression and analytics tracking.
Install WooCommerce
WooCommerce plus the extras for shipping, payments, memberships, coupons and more, with a few test or real products and categories added.
Online stores
Phase two · Design
The fun part, built around you.
Your brand, your customers and your goals shape every page, starting with the structure and working out to the details.
Steps 07 to 10
Initial setup
All the pages are added without content, then the menus, blog categories and page hierarchy are mapped out.
Header and footer design
Using your colors, I design the header and footer with your logo, menus, buttons and calls to action, polished for phones.
Home page design
Your branding, calls to action, mock-up imagery and layout. The design choices made here carry through the whole site.
Inner page design
About, Contact and the rest follow, plus layouts for the blog, posts, portfolio and category pages as needed.
Phase three · Launch
Tested, tracked and out in the world.
Nothing goes live until it has been checked on every screen size, and stores get an extra round of checkout testing.
Steps 11 to 12
Store pages
Custom Cart, Shop, My Account, product category and product pages, with a child theme if custom functions are needed. Then we test, test, test.
Online stores
Go live
We launch, test everything one last time and add tracking like Google Analytics or the Meta Pixel. You make your mark in the world.