In order to succeed, websites need careful planning and design. bdp is committed to taking the time to understand your business and meeting your needs.

Combine extensive planning and design with the integration of your corporate brand and the result is a high quality, professionally designed site which is appropriate to your needs.

Document the objectives of your new website

why do you need the website?

who will use the site? You, customers, employees, registered users?

Complete an organisation profile

who you are and what you do

history of the business and your product

key business objectives - listed in rough order of importance

who is your market/audience/user demographic?

what is your corporate identity - logo, font, colours. Provide copies of any existing print materials

marketing - how is your business/product currently marketed?

Your website requirements

domain name registration - is a site name currently registered?

website hosting - don’t be talked into expensive or excessive hosting packages

approximate no. of pages - useful to draw a diagram to map it out

approximate number of images

will there be downloadable order forms or other printable documents?

ecommerce requirements (additional site security = higher cost)

pdf files - will the documents be provided by you, or by web designer?

content management - see below

will the site require Search Engine Optimisation

advertising - are you prepared to pay for online listings?

Ongoing support & maintenance

Maintenance can often be the most expensive and most overlooked aspect when planning a website.

A website is only useful if the content is relevant and current. One of the advantages of a website is the ability to update marketing material and content as required. It is significantly cheaper to update a web page than it is to re-print 10,000 brochures. You need to consider how often you would like to update your site and what type of changes will be made. Having a web timeline with dates and content for updates is essential no matter which option you take.

Outlined below are some website maintenance options:

Content Management

Client maintains the website content themselves.

Factors to consider are: ability to stick to deadlines, security issues, software compatibility, hardware requirements, staff computer skills (need for and costs associated with software training, what happens if the staff member leaves?). The overall cost may be high if software, hardware and skills need to be continually maintained.

Support contract

An agreed fixed amount is paid each month/quarter for entitlement to manual changes. This method has the advantage of fixed costs, and it requires less internal commitment than Content Management.

Factors to consider: deadlines/timeline - can and how are they to be met, how are changes communicated to the web designer. This option can be expensive, especially if you have no experience in website management.

Pay as you go

Individual changes/updates/additions are paid for as you require them, usually by the hour - rates range from $75 - $200 an hour . This can be the cheapest and most flexible option, especially if your website only requires minimum updates.