Making a great website takes a lot of time and planning. In other to accomplish this, one needs to follow seven steps or guidelines. For the developer to manage his/her time wisely, a timeline must be developed using the Gantt Chart (Svetlana, 2015). If the steps listed in this discussion are appropriately followed the end product will be a good website.

A Gantt chart is a form of a bar chart that illustrates the project schedule displaying timeframe and milestones, defined by dictionary.com. Once this is completed, the developer has a timeline that he/she can use to output a good website.

1) Information Gathering

The first and most important step in creating a website is gathering information. Finding the website’s purpose, main objective, and target audience will need thorough investigation. When done properly, the developer will be able to choose the features and technology required to create a fantastic website. The planning stage, the following step in the development process, is now accessible to the developer.

2) Planning

The information obtained in the first stage of development was used by the developer in this step to create the site’s general layout. The sitemap is an outline of the website’s structure that is created after a wireframe design is created to show the client what the finished product will look like. The sitemap displays the connections between each page on the website as well as the connections between the home page and the remainder of the website. The wireframe serves as an example of the site’s mockup layout and how the information will be presented in the final product. This step will also include choosing the technology that will be utilized to create the site.

3)Design

After the process has reached this point, a website prototype is made using visuals to show the site’s visual design, pictures, and sample content. The prototype will also be able to show how some of the website’s features work. After the customer has provided feedback, the prototype is subsequently presented to him or her for final approval before moving into production.

4) Content Writing and Assembly

The optimum time to begin producing content for a website is typically when it is still being designed. At this point, it is crucial to put down all the information the website wants to share with its audience.

5) Coding

With the aid of HTML, CSS, Javascript, and any other tools necessary to complete the task, the developer now begins to transform the website mockup design into a finished product. In most cases, the homepage is the first part of the website to be produced, and the rest of the pages are added by following the sitemap. A finished product that is completely functioning has all the necessary features, visuals, and textual content.

6) Testing, Review, and Launch

This step is very standard, and its significance of it is made clear in the section. Following site coding, all features and pages are evaluated to ensure they work as intended. System flaws are identified and repaired. Typographical and grammatical problems are fixed after a review of the website’s contents. Upon completion of testing and inspection, the website is moved from the development server to the production server. The website is prepared for launch once it has been moved to the production server.

7) Maintenance

The stage or phase of the process is an ongoing process to make sure that the final product is functioning correctly. Keep in mind when developing a website, keep in mind that it is more of a service than a product. Always be ready to improve and solve problems encountered by the users. It would keep the website up to date, and less prone to security threats.

Conclusion

The aim, main objective, and intended audience of the website must be established by enough research. Make any necessary adjustments to the pages’ organization, relationship structure, and interconnections. Before writing the website’s content for its audience, a mockup or prototype design should be made and presented to the customer to see whether any revisions are required. After completing those first stages, the developer may begin developing the website itself and test it to ensure that all of its features perform as planned. The website is moved from the development server to the production server and made publicly accessible. The website will undergo maintenance to stay current, correct issues, and enhance the user experience. A quality website will result if all of these are done correctly.