Production of a Graf web site in details

Websites construction, steps by steps :

— BEFORE WE BEGIN ... WE PLANNED! —

As architects and ergonomists are asked to plan in detail a building before it’s construction, the proper planning of a website is paramount to build the best web tool for your business.

— IMPORTANT —

Graf determines that the planning stage is the most important for defining the quality and ultimate usefulness of your website for you and your users.
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A good initial analysis will always make a good website, easy to assemble for the builder (without additional costs of modifications along the way) and unpleasant surprises for the website owner.

Once the website construction is launch, any changes requested in the pre-established features or ergonomics may result in substantial additional costs compared to the original contract.

— More than 20 years of experience... Here's our advice —

It's always better to carefully plan your website on paper before embarking on hasty construction.
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A well-planned website will be easier to produce and become a quality web tool for its owner.
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What can appear as small changes in the design or functionalities in middle construction can bring costly overcharge to the initial budget.

 

Graf takes the time to understand your business and your needs.

Graf needs to understand the nature of your business or organization to help and advise you to build a high-end web tool that will exceed your expectations..

Typical questions before building a website:

• Who are you, what are the products or services that are the basis of your business?
• Define who is your audience and current clientele and your preferred target consumer base?
• What are your strengths, areas for improvement or not well-known possibilities?
• What makes you different from the competition and who is your competition?
• Define the expectations today and in the future that you have with your website and your business?
• What are the driving elements and sections needed in your website?
• What key actions do you expect from your web audience? — e.g.: receive information, contact by email or telephone, make an appointment, register to your website, show up at your location, buy your products or services online, other interactions...
• What are the media and channels you currently use or have used for your marketing and evaluation of their efficiencies?
• ...

THE 7 STEPS OF BUILDING A WEBSITE

Step 1 — Quick evaluation

— Cost: this step and always free.
— Execution time : ± 5 days.
Note : in rare cases of extremely complex websites, the execution time may be different.

Once we have a general idea of your needs and functions needed for your website, we make a quick assessment of the cost and construction time.
Graf needs to understand and establish with you an overview of the functionalities for your future website. We also need to know the scope and type of content you want to insert.

Typical Questions for Needs and a rapid cost assessment: :

• Do you have ideas about the elements and strengths of your home page and general design?
  — Note: you can also include websites examples of competitor or that catch your attention…
• How many languages will be needed to reach your audience and which ones?
• Do you need translators and proofreaders to ensure the correct language for your audience?
• Establish the structure of the menus/sections that will form your website, and what types of content will be needed to present them?
• What are the important functionalities needed to present your content and interact with your audience?
  — e.g.; e-commerce, forms, newsletter system and user management, community building, forums and ticket system, on-line support (chat/video) or other interaction with your users, portfolio, galleries, etc.
• What are your expectations for social marketing and its integration with your website? (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.)
• Do you have a reserved domain name? e.g.; your-name.ca, your-name.com...
• Do you have a logo and a graphic charter with high resolution accompanying documents?
• Do you have a royalty-free professional photo bank about your company or other media (videos, printed material, electronic documents ...)
• ...

— RAPID EVALUATION —
Once this information acquired, Graf gives you an approximation of the cost and the time needed for construction.
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If you are satisfied, we can go to step 2 

Step 2 — Detailed Functionalities Analysis

— Cost: this step is always free for simple websites (if equivalent to less than 6 hours of work)
(Then $ 45/ hour for complicated websites (6h +)
— Execution time : ± 8 business days, more for complicated websites

Graf will make a precise functionality and ergonomic analysis to determine EXACTLY what you want and what you need. Graf will put all its knowledge at your service to maximize the functionality and impact of your web presence.

This analysis is produced in tandem with you, ensuring Graf that we understand your requests and allows you to see EXACTLY the work ahead and what you will receive..

NO BAD SURPRISES!

The functionality and ergonomics analysis become a tangible document (email and/or PDF) and the basis of the final contract and pricing by Graf.
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This document EXACTLY includes what the website will contain, the structure and type of content, the functionalities as well as the ergonomics and general design (especially the Home page).
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The document becomes our specifications during construction and lets you know, from the start, exactly what your website will contain.

— Method for analysis of functionalities and ergonomics —
By experience, it can be done efficiently, without wasting time, by a simple email exchange.

— 1 —
Graf builds a detailed starter document (1.0) according to our previous discussions on the structure and functionalities of your future website, and send it to you by email.

— 2—
You can now verify that Graf understood correctly your expectations. You can annotate this document, to guide Graf in the right directions or ask questions, and send it back to us.

—3 —
Upon reception of the document, Graf takes your notes into account, and each time sends you a new and more precise document (1.1, 1.2, .. etc.) that will try to answer all our questions.

— 4 —
That done, we now have a tangible document containing all the information Graf needs to build your website. Also, you have in detail, what should be delivered.

Note : Graf makes websites for international organizations without ever meeting the website owners and this method proved to be efficient. Verbal meetings, for this type of precise planning, miss the level of structure of a planned written document..

If trips are necessary for this step, it will be our pleasure to come and see you. (trips at $ 65/hr)
- Preliminary meeting for the project are always free within a 100km radius

The analysis of functionalities and ergonomics becomes a final document that is handed to you and becomes the basis of the final construction contract..
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We move to step 3: Graphic model.

Step 3 — Graphic model, visual presentation

— Cost: free for the first presentation and simple website (equivalent to 6 working hours)
— Execution time : about 3 to 5 business days or more for complicated websites
(45h/hour for a second presentation and complicated websites that requires a precise vision of internal sections)

A graphic model of the visual and general design (Home page...) of the website is established with you in accordance with your current corporate image.
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This model is given to you for approval and transformed if necessary.
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When the graphic model is accepted, we move to step 4, the final contract.

— © ATTENTION COPYRIGHT GRAF © —
The two documents provided to you by Graf, (Functionalities Analysis & Graphic Model) are protected by copyright, which does not allow you to use these documents without the written approval of Graf 
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This same copyright does not allow you to transfer these documents to a third party. These documents are the intellectual property of Graf.

Étape 4  — Detailed contract

— Cost: free for most websites (equivalent to 6 working hours)
— Execution time : about 3 to 5 business days or more for complicated websites
(45h / hour for complicated websites that requires a more elaborate contract)

A contract is established (based and including the Analysis of the functionalities and the graphic model (visual presentation) containing in detail all the facets of your website, deadlines, exact costs, payments and modalities, hosting and services Graf, etc. 
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This contract is signed by both parties.

This contract becomes Graf's specifications and allows you to have an exact idea about what will be delivered.
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A clear plan for Graf and insurance for you!

Step 5 — Construction of the website

The base and general structure of the website are developed on our local servers.
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Once well advanced, the website and installed on the servers of its future hosting service.
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This allows us (and you) to start checking codes and testing the functionalities.

At this time, the site is not accessible to visitors, but accessible online. We provide you with temporary access keys.
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This system allows you to see modifications in real-time and allows you to intervene quickly for questions, instructions or changes.

Step 6 — Last verification of codes and content

The code is tested and optimized on various platforms (Windows, Mac with various browsers (Explorer, Firefox, Safari), tablets and mobile phones).
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All functionalities are inserted and tested, material and content are added.

Step 7 — Finalization and opening of the site to the public

The site is installed, optimized on the live servers (SEF, SEO, Security, etc.).
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Codes and functions are tested. A first security copy is taken.

The site is officially launched and open to the public!

See what is included with the Graf Continuous Support Service

Minimum base cost: $ 280 / year

With this Graf service, you have the peace of mind that your website will remain secure and optimized. The internal components (Joomla and added components) will remain up-to-date, secure and efficient..
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Also, thanks to the Graf security copy system, you are certain that a complete and up-to-date copy of your site is always available in case of major problems.

Also, by subscribing to this service, Graf you guarantee a preferential hourly rate for all your other needs, both at the level of your website, or for all other graphic or marketing services offered by Graf.

Although this cost does not represent the real time we spend on your website, it allows Graf to ensure that your site always appears to your visitors as professional and of high quality. This is not only important for your organization but also represents the portfolio that Graf presents to its customers.

It's simple, your success is our success!

Services included in this price :

• Quick access to a professional for all questions about your website or your web presence and this 24h / 24h / 7 days week. We will share with you all our knowledge of marketing and web technologies.
• Installation of an integrated security and website monitoring  system (Firewall) - Note: this professional system, paid for by Graf, is always installed on all websites made or taken in hand by Graf. This system permanently records and sends to Graf a report on any intrusion attempts, the health of the site and system, and the status of internal component updates. Graf acts on all these points to enhance security or update.
  
• Installation of an Integrated Backup System - Note: This professional system is always installed on all websites made or taken in hands by Graf. Graf will make backup copies of your website on important changes that will be available online (private Dropbox) to download for your archives. These copies are rigorously tested on our servers and can allow you to rebuild your site quickly without having deep technical knowledge) ... Usage: before and after big changes. To make sure you always have a recent functional backup.
• Using this backup system, a copy (up-to-date) of your website is installed on the local Graf servers and synchronized with your live website. This able us to test updates or any important changes on our local copy without any risk for your website.
• Updates to internal components and Joomla (especially for security updates) - Graf receives notifications that your system requests an update - Checks that these updates are compatible with your system (without problems ) on its local server and updates the site online. For important systems (Joomla, others), a backup copy can be created before and/or after the update, for better security.
• Optimization and verification of the codes and errors generated by the site and monitoring of the performance of the site.
• Performance in Search Engines (SEO, SEF) - Graf monitors that access to search engines goes smoothly and your site continues to be compliant and helps you improve your search engine ranking. 
• Access to Graf educational material, help videos and guides on all important topics to maintain and promote your website (SEO, Marketing, Analytics, etc. ...)
• The Graf eNewsletter provides you with news, tips and tricks and other relevant information.
• Guaranteed Graf work costs on your site, SEO, maintenance, graphics, marketing at $45/hr, and $35/hr if work and recursive.
• and much more ...