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There are times when people say, I can get a website for $500 or whatever amount some fly-by-night operation quotes them – why do you charge more? We are not order takers, trying to be the fast food of website design and development. That type of website development is detrimental to the long-term success of the client and to us as professionals!
Whenever someone hires us to develop their website, they are not only paying for our design and coding skills, but also for our industry experience. In any industry, experts don’t work for minimum wage, which is what you get from a $250, $500, or even $1000 website designer.
Our team of professionals is knowledgeable about the time and effort it takes to construct a structurally sound website. It goes without saying that after over 25 years in the industry, we do not work for minimum wage.
The first step in developing a website that is tailored to your company and industry is gathering information. Several factors have to be taken into account in order for your website to serve the visitors of your company and industry best.
It is usually the most important phase of the project, because it involves us getting to know your company, you, what your goals are for your new website, the purpose of your site, who your target audience is, and what type of content they expect to find.
During this stage, our team gathers all the content for the website from the client, if the client isn’t paying our team to create it. As a matter of fact, we don’t begin any website project without content in hand!
If our client doesn’t know where to begin with content creation and doesn’t want us to create it for them, we offer consulting services to guide them through the process.
Our goal is to keep you happy with our work and avoid unnecessary delays due to miscommunication. In order to better understand your end users and what they are looking for in a website, we conduct solid research. This allows us to save you time and money in the long run.
If you aren’t willing to work through this discovery process with us, and simply want to dictate how your site looks and functions, then you might as well find a Craigslist website developer who will build you a cheap website and reap the (terrible) benefits of their work.
For your website to produce the results you want, it is imperative we get to know your company, as well as your goals and expectations, so we can develop a website that functions for you. This is our promise to you as your Community Technology Partner.
By combining the information that we have gathered in the first step, we can begin putting together a plan for your website. To begin, we develop a site map that is a guide to the content and navigation of your site.
In this phase, it is important to keep your website’s end user in mind when creating the site map. This is who you will be targeting your website to, so it is important to customize the site for them.
Additionally, we will offer critical reasoning about why or why not something should be included in your website’s design. Clients often want to have all the bells and whistles on their website, but they fail to realize that bogging it down with all those fancy sliders and heavy scripts could hurt SEO, damage their page load times, or harm conversion and bounce rates. Just because something can be done doesn’t necessarily mean it should be done on each and every website. The goal is to determine what your site actually needs to be functional and user friendly.
Your preconceived notions of how a website should work might not always be the best ones to accomplish the goals you have set for your website. We bring years of experience to the table here. You can rely on us to guide you in the process of understanding why a website should be designed in a certain way to satisfy visitors and, in turn, increase your sales.
We will also explore the best method of deploying your site, whether it be a static HTML website or a comprehensive CMS (content management system) that you can update yourself, what contact forms are required, and what additional features you wish to incorporate.
We will always begin by considering your target audience before designing and programming your site based on the plan we have developed above.
Our team will develop the framework for your site, including navigation, home pages, blogs if needed, and interior pages. This will serve as a template for the content of your website. At this phase, you will also implement elements like a content management system, forms, and shopping carts.
You shouldn’t be fooled by website developers who tell you they can take a free or $69 WordPress template and customize it for you for a few hundred dollars. Our sites may sometimes use themes as a starting point, but most of the time they are highly customized by the time the entire site is finished, bearing little resemblance to their original designs by the time the entire site is completed.
As a starter framework, we never use “free” or “budget” themes. We only allow highly rated and reputable theme works in our arsenal, so that the developers can update them for security when necessary, and if something goes wrong, we have full support from the original developer, which isn’t the case with a free or budget theme.
Designing a website properly requires an understanding of how to write valid HTML5, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and PHP, that complies to current web standards, what responsive design is and how to design for it, and how to make your site as functional and accessible as possible for the largest audience.
It’s best to leave your website developer as soon as possible if he or she doesn’t understand what all of that means. Even though we’re not trying to be “ugly,” anyone who knows a bit about computers can change the text and images in a premade theme. However, designing a website that doesn’t resemble everyone else’s “budget” website or a cookie cutter theme requires some skill. Additionally, the website must be structured correctly to ensure proper SEO.
Remember, our designers aren’t just developers. In addition to being graphic designers, they are also trained in color theory, typography, and creative thinking, and possess years of experience in design. On top of our technical knowledge for website development, we have over 25 years of direct experience with these skill-sets.
During this phase, the final site is moved to a live server and its functionality is tested.
During our testing phase, we ensure that all forms and scripts work and test for last minute compatibility issues, which includes viewing the site on different browsers and devices to ensure that it is optimized to be viewed properly on the most recent browser versions.
With an existing website, we ensure that page redirects are in place and set things so you lose very little SEO due to the change of domain.
After the site has been approved, we’ll make it live and you’ll be up and running fast!Â
Whether you choose one of our website packages or a custom design, you will always receive top-of-the-line hosting and monthly website care plans to make sure your software is always up-to-date and secure from potential hackers. Our care plans also include monthely to daily backups in case the worst should happen.
TAF's approach to website design is focused on quality, expertise, and long-term success. We don't just create websites; we leverage our industry experience, design skills, and coding expertise to deliver websites that are structurally sound, effective, and tailored to your business needs, ensuring lasting success for both you and us as professionals.
Research is a crucial first step in our website development process at TAF. It allows us to understand your company, goals, target audience, and content expectations, ensuring that your website is strategically designed to meet the needs of your industry and serve your visitors effectively.
TAF's planning phase involves creating a detailed site map that guides the content and navigation of your website. We prioritize the end user experience, offering critical insights on what features and design elements are essential for functionality, user-friendliness, and SEO optimization, helping you avoid unnecessary complexities that can hinder your website's performance.
TAF's design and development process go beyond customization; we focus on creating unique, highly functional websites tailored to your brand and audience. Unlike budget developers who often use generic templates, we ensure that every aspect of your website, from code to design elements, aligns with your goals and delivers an exceptional user experience.
During testing, TAF ensures the functionality, compatibility, and performance of your website across different browsers and devices. We conduct rigorous testing to ensure that forms, scripts, SEO elements, and page redirects work seamlessly, providing a smooth transition to a live site with minimal disruptions and maximum SEO retention.
TAF ensures seamless deployment and delivery of websites by moving the final site to a live server after rigorous testing and approval. We prioritize top-of-the-line hosting and monthly website care plans to keep your software updated and secure, including regular backups for added peace of mind.
TAF distinguishes itself from fast-food website development by prioritizing quality, expertise, and long-term success. We don't compromise on design, functionality, or user experience, ensuring that each website we create is a valuable asset for your business.
TAF leverages over 25 years of industry experience in website design and development. Our team combines design skills, coding expertise, and in-depth knowledge of current web standards to create websites that are not only visually appealing but also structurally sound, functional, and optimized for success.
TAF offers customized website design solutions that go beyond templates and generic designs. We focus on understanding your brand, audience, and goals to create a unique and tailored website that reflects your identity, engages your visitors, and drives results.
TAF prioritizes ongoing website care and maintenance post-launch to ensure security, performance, and optimal user experience. Our monthly care plans include regular updates, security measures, and backups, providing continuous support and protection against potential threats or issues.
As part of our service to our clients, we aim to educate them on online marketing strategies as a whole. Which is why a TAF Solutions we focus on finding where you are on the path and providing what tools you need to succeed at that point on the path and beyond.
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