Having a website built: how the process works

Anyone having a website built mainly wants to know what to expect. What happens when, what is expected of you and when will the site go live? Every agency works differently. In this article you can read how we approach a website project, from the first conversation to the period after launch, and where the process usually slows down.

How does having a website built with us begin?

It begins with a conversation in which we mainly ask questions. What should the website achieve, who is it for and what is going wrong now? We want to know not only what you want, but also why. The answer to that question determines what we build.

We usually hold that conversation by video, sometimes on location in Nijmegen. We work for clients in the Netherlands and beyond, so working together remotely is business as usual for us. After the conversation we know enough to make a first estimate of scope, approach and planning.

What is in the proposal?

The proposal describes what we will make, how we will approach it, how long it will take and what it will cost. Not a thick document, but a clear overview on which you can base a decision.

We split large projects into phases. We work out the first phase in concrete terms and estimate later phases. That way you keep flexibility without things becoming noncommittal. The proposal is also a starting point for the conversation: questions and changes are part of it. You should know exactly what you are getting before you give your approval.

Why do larger projects start with research?

For larger projects, a research phase prevents us from building the wrong website. We look at your current site, at what works and what does not. We look at competitors, talk to people in your team and map out how visitors find you and what they are looking for.

The result is not a report that ends up in a drawer, but a set of choices that steers the rest of the project. Which pages are most important, which message needs to land and how do visitors navigate? For a compact company website, a good intake conversation is often enough. For more complex projects we schedule this step separately, with research and analysis as the basis.

How does the design process work?

We design the structure first and only then the look. We capture the structure in a wireframe: which pages there are, how they relate to each other and what goes where. Without colours or imagery, so the discussion is about content and order.

Once the structure is in place, the visual design follows. Your brand identity translated to the screen: typography, colour, imagery and atmosphere. If you do not yet have a brand identity, we work with partners for that. We first design a few key pages, such as the homepage and a service page. Once that direction is right, the rest follows. You view the design in Figma, give feedback and we incorporate it in agreed revision rounds.

What happens during the build?

After the design is approved, we build the site, and you follow along during the build. For websites, Webflow is our foundation; we are a Webflow Premium Partner and build most sites with Webflow development. If the project needs functionality that goes beyond a website, we choose the technology that suits it.

Responsive building, a solid SEO foundation and speed are not extras but standard. During the build you have access to a test environment. You can see how it is progressing and respond along the way, so the delivery holds no surprises.

Who takes care of the content?

Content is text, imagery and video, and it is the most underestimated factor in the planning. Sometimes you supply everything yourself, sometimes we help with copy and arrange imagery through partners. We agree on that in advance.

We place content in the CMS, optimise images and check that everything is correct. We also schedule fixed moments by which content must be in. If it comes later, the planning shifts accordingly. That is not a penalty, it is simply how a project works.

How do we test before launch?

Before launch we test everything that can break: links, forms, display on different screens and loading speed. In addition, you test the content. Are the texts, phone numbers and opening hours correct? You cannot outsource that check, because nobody knows your business better than you.

We fix errors. New wishes that come up during testing are discussed separately. That way the launch stays achievable and nothing is lost: the idea goes on the list for a next step.

How does the website go live?

We plan the launch together, at a moment with room to respond. Not on a Friday afternoon and not in your busiest week. We put the site live, connect the domain and check that everything works in production, including redirects from old URLs if you are coming from another platform.

In the days after launch we keep an extra close eye on the site. If anything comes up, we fix it straight away.

What happens after launch?

After launch, management begins, because a website is never really finished. In the first weeks, small things always come up, such as a text that needs to be slightly different. After that you choose how you want to proceed: manage it yourself, call us in when you need something, or make structural arrangements. What that involves is explained in our article on website maintenance after launch and on the page about maintenance and security.

How long does it take to have a website built?

The lead time depends mainly on scope, complexity and how quickly decisions are made. A compact company website goes live sooner than an extensive site with integrations or an application with its own logic. The proposal always includes a planning per phase.

That planning is lead time, not working time. It includes waiting time for feedback, content and approval. The faster you respond, the shorter the project.

What do we need from you?

A good project is a collaboration, and for that we need four things from you. Clarity about what you want to achieve. Feedback at the agreed moments. Content on time. And someone who can make decisions.

The best projects are those where the client is involved and trusts us at the same time. Involved enough to give input, trusting enough to let us do our job. Want to know what this looks like for your website? Get in touch and we will schedule a first conversation.