Did you know that 88% of buyers search for product information before buying it online or in-store? That’s why a great website, isn’t just important, it’s vital.

Do you need a new or updated website but aren’t sure how long it takes to design a website? Read on.

We’ll cover the basic steps of the web design process and tell you exactly how long this could take for your business.

The Basic Steps to Design a Website

There are four basic steps for the web design process. The web design timeline may change depending on the person or agency you choose to do the work.

However, understanding the main steps will help you get a sense of how long it takes to design a website.

Step 1: Discovering Needs and Making a Plan

The first step to designing a website is to understand what you need for your site.

You need to know exactly what you want your website to look like. You can get a jump start on this process by looking at other sites and taking screenshots of ones that appeal to you.

You need to also know what elements your new site will need to have such as a blog, an appointment scheduling tool, images of completed projects, and so on.

This step will go a lot faster if you come to the website designer ready with all this stuff figured out. Next, you will collaborate on a plan to make it happen.

This is the stage where your experienced designer can give you suggestions and ideas that align with what you are looking for. Usually, this step will take one or two weeks and involve several rounds of back-and-forth communications.

Step 2: Starting on Design

Now that you have a plan, the developer or agency will provide you with mockups of how each page of your website could look. You will see the layout, the element each page will have, and even how the site will look on a mobile device.

Your site won’t be fully functioning at this point. Yet you will get a basic understanding of how it’ll look and function.

This is your chance to get a good visual idea of the possibilities. At this point, you may want to make changes to the design. Do not rush through this step!

It’s important to carefully examine every part of the mockup. If you approve the design and fail to identify a serious issue, you could fall back to square one. During this stage, it’s normal to go back and forth a bit in order to tweak the designs to perfection.

Step 3: Development Phase

On the web design timeline, this is the stage that will likely take the longest. Your web designer will take all the information you’ve given and will turn that into a working website.

Be prepared for this stage to include setbacks. You might decide to change a key part of your website, or there might be hiccups on the developer’s end.

Good developers will keep you updated on the progress. But you can also reach out to get a status update as needed.

Ideally, you should set up determined dates for check-ins during the initial meeting so everyone is clear on this ongoing communication.

Step 4: Final Review

The next step is for the working website to come to your team for a final round of revisions. Your designer will send you a preview link to your site.

This is your chance to take a fine-tooth comb to your site. You’ll check to see how each part looks and works. Usually, some minor tweaks are needed at this stage, especially if your website is complex.

Be sure to pay close attention to the navigation, responsiveness, elements as well as appearance of the theme of your website.

Make sure you test the site out from a mobile device. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites over those that aren’t.

And don’t forget to proofread your content. A beautiful design is wonderful, but you don’t want to have typos polluting your site.

Let your designer know about any final adjustments. Once your designer makes these, review the website one last time. Then, once your sign off on the site, it’s ready to launch!

Step 5: Launch Time!

Once you’ve approved your site, you get to press publish and share it with the world. Congratulations!

You now have a responsive, modern, updated website that you can be proud of.

So, How Long Does It Take to Design a Website?

Now that you have a good sense of the main steps in the process, you can see why the timeline will vary from one project to another.

It takes time to launch a great website!

Most website projects take at least 6-8 weeks from start to launch. Of course, for large or complex projects, the timeline can go beyond six months.

Sure, you might be able to find a developer to make you a website faster. But that isn’t a good thing. Your project will have the best outcome when it includes a timeline that is reasonable, realistic, and achievable.

Be Realistic About How Long It Takes to Design a Website

There you go. Now you have a good sense of the steps it’ll take to design a website. Though timelines can vary, these estimates can help you understand what to expect during the process.

Remember, speediness is important but it shouldn’t eclipse quality.

At Cowlick Studios, we’ll take care of your website from start to finish. Book a time to chat with us about your project.