Development Process

We firmly believe that the secret to success on the web is about understanding what your target audience is looking for. We also know from experience that no one person has all the required skills to develop a good website. That is why we have information architects, usability experts, graphic designers, software developers, copywriters and online marketers whose expertise we use at key stages of the development process. Throughout the project, you will have a single point of contact - your Project Manager, who will ensure it all runs smoothly and lets you know in advance what will be needed from you.

Information Architecture

We are differerent: many web design companies will start with graphic design. We think this is wrong - its analogous to painting your walls before deciding how many rooms you need!

Our information architecture process is based on a clear understanding of your target market, and what keywords they use to find companies like yours. This is called "keyword research".

Content is King

Based on the keywords, our Information Architect defines a content inventory - this ensures there is textual content around the phrases your potential customers use. We have copywriters with a good understanding of search engine marketing techniques to help make the message both user friendly and search engine friendly. We can also work with your copywriters if you wish.

Usability, Layout & Flow

Once content has been agreed, we can start to define the layout and navigation for the site. Our Information Architect uses wireframe diagrams to define the layout of your site. It is only once these are agreed that we set to work designing the site.

Web Design

Some Graphic Designers do not transfer their skills well to web design. Our Web Designers are not just Graphic Designers: they have worked with the web for years and know what works and what doesn't work when it comes to designing a usable website. They have a good knowledge of user-centred design and work alongside the Information Architect and Project Manager to make sure things work right, and are easy to use and navigate.

Web Development

Many "Web Design" companies are run by graphic designers who do not always have the right skillset to undertake the programming required to build a functional website. Our developers are graduate level Software Engineers, who code in HTML, XHTML, CSS, ASP.Net, PHP, Javascript, XML and understand database design. These skills complement our design abilities to make sites that both look good and function well.

Testing

Our sites are built to web standards, following software development methodologies. We test our sites on all the major browsers, and our code is also search engine friendly which makes a big difference to getting your site into the search results in Google and the other search engines.

Hosting & Domains

We host many sites for our clients and can help you through the process of setting up and managing your domain names and web sites. Our sites are actively supported to ensure maximum availability. They are hosted in London's Docklands in leading data centres connected to the major internet backbones.

For larger sites we can help you find a dedicated server provider with appropriate service level agreements.
Read more about hosting and domains

Online Marketing

Once your site is live, we can help you with your online marketing efforts. We have easy to use email marketing systems to enable you to market your site to your mailing lists.

Our Search Engine Marketing Consultants can advise on the best strategy to get your site to the widest target audience using our Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques.

Support

We are here to support you in your online efforts. We typically charge for support on a "pay as you go" basis, however we can be retained for ongoing support activities based on the amount of support you need.

We have online support system that allows you to raise and track issues via our website, and also a free phone support number and dedicated email address.