BranchingOutMedia

The following is a list of twenty items that we came up with that will help you plan and achieve a successful website launch. We have launched over 70 websites to date and these tips are gleaned from years of experience. Learn from my mistakes and research, follow each step and you will be on your way to becoming part of the world wide web.

1. Find a reputable web design firm
Do the homework here and you will save yourself many headaches down the road. Make the effort to do some background checking. Call some references. Call the better business bureau. Are they incorporated?
2. Find an available domain name
We have a powerful domain search tool to help you identify the domain name that is perfect for your online project.
3. Register the domain name
Do not let anyone register your domain name for you. It is vital that you register this in your name only!
4. Setup webhosting account
We offer webhosting both shared and dedicated servers. We will take care of everythhing needed to get your site up and running: setting up your email accounts, setting up the domain name so your site will come up when it is entered into a browser. In general taking care of one of the most confusing parts of the web development process. Contact us about our hosting plans. Setup your account here
5. Modify name server information for the domain name to point to webhost
Your web designer should do this for you. If you have to do it yourself, log into domain name account and modify the nameservers for the domain name.
6. Setup email accounts
Again, your web designer should do this for you. Send them a list of email accounts you need and they will do the rest. While you are at it, go ahead and sign up for Cloumark spam eliminator. This is the best program we have found, and we have tried at least a dozen that did not work.
7. Setup temporary homepage
Use your logo, or just use text to put a “coming soon” page up with your email address so people can still contact you while your site is being worked on.
8. Design logo
Work with your web design firm for this. We have helped many companies with creating their brand and identity. Do not ignore the importance of a good logo. It is the foundation of your entire business.
9. Design homepage layout
Work with the web design firm to get the look and feel you want for your business
10. Design inner page layout
Will be based on the homepage colors and layout
11. Convert photoshop layouts into html, css and web-optimized images
12. Develop any backend database and programming
13. Identify keyword phrases for the website
There are several tools out there to identify keyword phrases that are relevant to your business AND are bringing in the number of searches per month that makes sense.
14. Write text using keyword phrases and gather images for inner pages
This is about half the work of a website: getting the content together. Copywriters can dramatically reduce the amount of work that you will have to do. Your web designer can also pull together some stock photography that is available for purchase.
15. Combine content with programming and templates
16. Test test test
We can’t stress this one enough. You think you found all the errors, but look again. You will be happy you did.
17. Soft launch for friends and family to test
Get your friends and family to start working for you!
18. Hard launch to general public
This is where all the hard work pays off
19. Continue to add more content to website
After you launch, it never ends. Websites are living breathing things and you have to feed it at least monthly.
20. Search engine submission and reciprocal link exhchanges
Your web designer can help you in deciphering this part of the play.

By following these 20 steps exactly, we can assure you that your website project will go off without any problems. Give us a call if you have any questions and would like us to help you.

Phase 1: PLAN
Planning is an essential step when it comes to successfully launching your website. During this phase, we, collectively, map out the specifics of your project. This includes creating a site map and outline as well as taking care of logistics (such as your domain name, webhosting, and credit card processing, etc). We also collaborate with you to determine the art direction, or overall look and feel, of your project.

Phase 2: ORGANIZE
The gathering of content includes obtaining items such as logos, artwork, photos, copy, and site content from you. We ask that you fill out

Phase 3: DESIGN
The design team will now review all of the materials collected during Phase 2 and will transform them into a visual masterpiece: a mock up of your site. We design the necessary elements in the following order: logo, identity materials, homepage, inner page template(s) and additional custom graphics. If stock images are required, the design team will search for them using the information provided in the art direction form.

We always complete one design piece before moving on to the next, to give the opportunity for efficient design integration. Each stage of the design phase is submitted to the client for review and approval. Any changes that need to be made, as dictated during the client revision process, will be altered and resubmitted for client approval before the project moves forward. Please be aware that once a design is approved, any additional changes made to that design will be subject to a redesign fee. It is necessary for client communications to be upheld during this phase in order for the design process to move forward as efficiently as possible.

Phase 4: DEVELOP
Now, you just have to sit back and relax while our programming geniuses transform the mockups into working, functional pages. This phase cannot be completed until all content has been submitted, because it is during this phase that all the content will be dropped into the site. Images will be converted into HTML and backend programming will take place. The site will be placed on a beta server and is available for client feedback at this time.

Phase 5: TEST
Testing is conducted by the entire Branching out Media team, in order to assure that each section of the site is functioning properly. Any issues discovered during the testing process will be addressed. As soon as the site passes testing, it is presented to you, the client for final approval. This phase allows for any further issues with the site to be fixed before live launch.

Phase 6: SOFT LAUNCH
Now that the site is designed, programmed, tested, and approved, send it out to a select group of user such as your friends and family. This is the final testing phase before doing the public launch.

Phase 7: HARD LAUNCH
After all testing and debugging, the site goes live and is visible to the public. Congratulations!

We use WordPress as our default web design platform

We offer an ideal solution for bloggers: Custom WordPress Themes Design. We know WordPress and we know how to make it look great without breaking the bank.

Why WordPress?

WordPress is the best blogging solution on the web today and is fast becoming the best CMS solution on the market. Thanks to its open-source engine, WordPress gained widespread popularity throughout the world. Every day a community of more than 1000 contributors is working on improvements to WordPress platform.

WordPress API allows creating unlimited plugins to extend the impressive standard functionality even more. Anyone can download and install WordPress platform and start creating posts almost immediately.
Why Custom WordPress Theme?

Custom WordPress theme from Branching out Media allows you to reach unprecedented level of personalization of your blog. Specific ideas, sketches and company branding will be carefully analyzed by our designers and implemented in your new theme. We will work with you closely and give our suggestion to ensure that the new theme meets all usability standards and is well perceived by your target audience.

If you are a pro blogger or a business owner, Branching out Media will help you develop monetising strategies and layout the theme accordingly. In the new world of web marketing, SEO is very important to the success of the blog, therefore we deliver all our custom themes W3C validated and ready for SEO.

Finally, custom WordPress theme guarantees that no other website will share the look and feel of your blog. We do not use any templates and do not resell custom themes so your blog will stay as one in a kind.
Why Branching out Media?

We are creating custom WordPress themes since 2008 and have implemented a wide array of clients including professional bloggers, government officials, non profits and private enterprises of various sizes. Our vast expertise allows us to not only design a beautiful theme, but also ensure that it reflects your brand and is appreciated by the site visitors.

We are not tools – we offer our opinion and give guidance, so our clients never have to face the project challenges alone. We develop a project through a refined process that involves customer reviews at every level from prototype design to final installation, so the customer is always engaged.

We are engaged with WordPress community and follow WordPress news and releases so our customers are always offered the latest and greatest. If we cannot find a widget or a plugin, be sure that we have enough skill to develop a bespoke solution.