A typical web design project moves through discovery, planning, wireframes, visual design, development, testing, launch, and post-launch support, with each phase ending in a clear approval so you always know what’s next.
When you work with us on website design services, we start by getting clarity on your goals (calls, bookings, quote requests), your audience, your service area (for Orlando and Central Florida businesses, that often means city and neighborhood intent), and what has to be true on launch day (forms, tracking, online scheduling, integrations, and any required pages like privacy and terms).
Discovery is where we gather access (domain, hosting, analytics), review your current site and competitors, and lock scope so the build doesn’t drift. If you want a deeper look at what we cover here, see what happens during the discovery phase of web design.
| Phase | What happens | What you provide or approve | Typical time for a small business site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Kickoff and discovery | Goals, audience, features, tech stack, access, baseline measurements, project plan | Stakeholders, logins, examples you like, success goals | 3-7 business days |
| 2) Sitemap and content plan | Page list, navigation, conversion paths, page templates needed | Final page list and menu order | 3-7 business days |
| 3) Wireframes | Low-fidelity page layouts that map sections, hierarchy, and calls to action | Layout direction before visuals | 3-10 business days |
| 4) Visual design | Typography, colors, components, page mockups, mobile views | Look and feel, usually 1-2 revision rounds | 1-3 weeks |
| 5) Development | Build in your CMS (often WordPress), templates, responsive behavior, forms, integrations | Any feature decisions, third-party approvals | 2-6 weeks |
| 6) Content entry and on-page basics | Place your copy, photos, staff bios, service area details, basic SEO fields | Final copy and images, brand assets | Often overlaps, 1-3 weeks |
| 7) QA and pre-launch checks | Browser and device testing, speed checks, accessibility-friendly patterns, broken link fixes, redirects | UAT review on a staging link | 3-10 business days |
| 8) Launch | DNS cutover, SSL, caching, analytics events, backups, monitoring | Final sign-off | 1-2 days |
| 9) Post-launch support | Bug fixes, small tweaks, training, ongoing updates and security | Feedback from real users | First 30 days, then ongoing |
Wireframes are worth calling out because they save money and time: once the layout is approved, visual design and development move faster, and you avoid late-stage “can we move everything around?” changes.
What commonly slows a project is not coding, it’s missing content and late feedback. If you want the fastest timeline, have these ready early: your service list, service area cities, unique selling points, FAQs your staff answers on the phone, pricing guidance (even if it’s ranges), team photos, logo files, and access to any scheduling or CRM tools.
After launch, most Orlando businesses benefit from basic upkeep so the site stays stable as plugins, themes, and browsers change. That’s where WordPress hosting and maintenance helps, especially if you rely on the site for lead flow and you do not want updates breaking forms or tracking.
If you’re trying to plan around a busy season (hurricane prep, summer move-in, snowbird surge, or peak referral months), we recommend starting discovery a few weeks before you need the site live so design and content do not get rushed at the end.
