We shake hands.

Small chit chat likely ensues.

Then we get down to business.

Most likely the single most productive and valuable moments of our relationship, this is where I ask the tough questions, the vague questions, the blunt questions. Fact is, the more I know up front, about you personally, your business, values, goals, [I could go on...] the easier and faster I can grant your wildest web wishes.

I need to understand your business. What helps you succeed, what kills business, what your customers need and what they hate.

Then I get to be the creepy guy with dark sunglasses and a bowler hat checking out all of your competition to see how they are doing things, and how you can out-shine them.

Then I will outline a plan of attack, site map, keywords, site functions and abilties.

This is the part where I get to sit in front of my shiny MacBook Pro with music blaring and caffinated beverages surrounding me.

And the magic begins...

Ok. So no magic. Don't worry, it's a common misconception.

This is actually where I begin trying to flesh out my design concepts. And slowly, I weed out the losing ideas and polish the winners. While not as 'cool' as the 'flash of brilliance on a napkin' that you see in the movies, it is a tried and true method employed by designers all over the globe.

Development.

My favorite part of the process.

This is the nuts and bolts of the project. The engine, transmission, and seat-warmers. While design catches the eye, function is still king. A well planned website, easy to navigate, full of needed information and easy on the eyes will be the true reason your customers come back time and time again.

We've all been there. You visit a site and from the moment you arive you are sucked into a new world with shiny buttons and deep graphics. "Wow!" we say, "This is some sweet website! This company must be awesome!".

Then we click one of those 'shiny buttons'...and nothing happens.

Fail.

Does this reflect on the company? You bet your screw-top head that it does! So I test your site under different conditions, different times, using different browsers to ensure that all of your customers find a smooth and pleasant experience on your new website.

Oh, it's the big day.

Just like Johnny's first day of school, we've completed the preparations, packed his lunch with his apple bran muffin into his Radio Flyer lunchbox.

Now we sit back and watch it unfold.