Our Web Design Process, Step by Step
A clear, nine-step web design process with no surprises. You know what happens next, what we need from you, and roughly when your site goes live.
Our web design process is built around one idea: no surprises. Before any work starts you get a free plan and a fixed quote. After that, every stage has a clear outcome, a sign-off point and a rough timeframe. Most custom business websites go from kick-off to launch in one to four weeks, while e-commerce and larger builds take five to twelve weeks.
Here is how a project runs when you work with our Auckland website designers, from the first conversation to life after launch.
The web design process in nine steps
Free website plan
A 20-minute call where we look at your business, your area and your competition. You get real numbers on what people search for, who ranks now, and what a new site would need to compete. It costs nothing and you are under no obligation.
Proposal and fixed quote
We send a written proposal with the pages, features and services we recommend, and a fixed price for that scope. Payment is typically a deposit to start and the balance at launch, confirmed in your quote.
Discovery, sitemap and keyword mapping
We learn how your customers choose you, then plan the site structure. Each page is mapped to the searches it should rank for, such as a service, a suburb or a common question. You sign off the sitemap before design begins.
Wireframes and design
We sketch the layout of key pages first, focusing on calls to action, click-to-call and forms. Once the structure is right, we design the look and feel around your brand. You review on real screens and give feedback.
Build
We build the approved design on a CMS you can update, usually WordPress, Shopify or Webflow, or as a hand-coded static site where speed matters most. Page speed, mobile layouts and schema markup are built in, not bolted on.
Content and SEO
Your copy goes in with titles, meta descriptions, headings and internal links planned for search. We can write the content for you or optimise what you supply. Local landing pages and your Google Business Profile details are aligned.
Testing
We test on phones, tablets and desktops across common browsers. Every form is submitted and checked, page speed is measured against Core Web Vitals, and we check accessibility basics such as contrast, headings and keyboard use.
Launch
We go live with 301 redirects from any old pages, submit your sitemap in Google Search Console, set up Google Analytics 4 and connect your Google Business Profile. Then we check everything again on the live domain.
Aftercare and growth
After launch we fix anything that crops up, show you how to edit your site, and talk through what comes next. That might be SEO, Google Ads, maintenance or automation, quoted only if it makes sense.
How long does each stage take?
Timelines depend mostly on how quickly content and feedback come together, not on how fast we can code. As a rough guide for a typical business website:
| Project type | Typical timeline | What usually drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Custom business website | 1 to 4 weeks | Content readiness and feedback speed |
| E-commerce or larger site | 5 to 12 weeks | Product data, integrations and number of pages |
For more detail on what speeds a project up or slows it down, read how long it takes to build a website.
What we need from you
The best websites come from good input. You know your customers better than anyone, and a few things from you early on make every stage faster:
- Your logo, brand colours and any existing style guide
- A list of your services and the areas you cover
- Photos of your work, team or premises if you have them
- Access to your domain, current website and Google Business Profile
- One person who can make decisions and give feedback quickly
Tip: if writing content is the bit you dread, tell us early. We can include copywriting in your quote so it does not hold up the launch.
Why SEO is part of every step
Many agencies design a site first and try to add SEO at the end. That usually means rewriting pages, restructuring menus or living with a site that never ranks. We plan keywords and structure at the sitemap stage, so the design is built around the pages that will bring in traffic.
It is the same approach we used for Auckland plasterer Above Board Interiors, where a rebuild plus ongoing SEO took organic traffic from 66 to 378 visits a month within a year. You can read the full plasterer website case study to see the process in action.
Replacing an existing website
If you already have a site with some rankings, the launch step matters more than anything. We audit your current pages, keep what works, and redirect old addresses to the right new pages. Our website redesign SEO checklist covers what we check, and the website redesign service page explains how we protect your traffic.
Start with a free plan
Every project starts the same way: a short call and an honest assessment. If you are ready, book your free website plan, or see our website packages and pricing first to get a feel for budgets.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a website?
A typical custom business website takes one to four weeks from kick-off to launch. E-commerce and larger sites usually take five to twelve weeks. The biggest factor is how quickly content and feedback come together, so having your text, photos and decisions ready makes the biggest difference to the timeline.
What do I need to provide before we start?
Your logo and any brand colours, a list of the services you offer and areas you cover, photos of your work or team if you have them, and logins for your domain and any existing website or Google Business Profile. If you do not have content written, we can write it for you as part of the quote.
How many rounds of changes do I get?
We agree the feedback rounds in your quote so expectations are clear from the start. In practice, because we sign off the sitemap and wireframes before design, most changes at the design and build stages are small refinements rather than major rework.
Will I lose my Google rankings when you replace my old website?
Not if the migration is done properly. Before launch we map every important old page to its new address and set up 301 redirects, then check Google Search Console after go-live. This protects the rankings and links your existing site has already earned.
Can I update the website myself after launch?
Yes. We build on a CMS you can update yourself, such as WordPress, Shopify or Webflow, and show you how to edit text, images and common pages. If you would rather not touch it, we can handle updates for you through our maintenance service.
The customers are out there. Let's make them ring your phone.
Tell us about your business and we'll come back within one working day with ideas, a timeline and a fixed-price quote. No obligation, no jargon.
Free 20-minute website plan · Real numbers · No obligation