The"PainFree Creative Process™" for Website Development. is similar to the creative process for Videos and Presentations, with a few specialized twists:

Step 1: Content
They say "content is king." The first and most important step is determining the content. If starting from scratch, you provide what we need in a simple outline of what you wish to communicate.  If you have a Website, the existing content serves as a base.  From there we'll work together to form the statement of the "single most important concept" that you want your visitors to remember. At this stage we'll discuss budget constraints so the next step can be realistic. 

Client answers simple questions regarding content, audience and proposed use.

Step 2: Treatment & Budget
From your outline, Single Most Important Concept, budget guidelines, and other materials you may provide, we will generate a "Treatment." This is a short synopsis of how the content is going to be "treated." This includes what parts of the content will go into each Web page, and approximately how the navigation will be handled.

Client reviews Treatment, provides suggestions, and approves final "blueprint" of the project.

Coupled with the treatment will be a Budget. Both treatment and budget can be refined based on your further input to achieve a proposed project that will meet your needs within your budget. At the end of this process, a contract is signed and initial payment is received.

Step 3: Design
Beginning with a sketch, and after you do some homework about styles you like, we start designing what the user interface will look like. Commensurate with copy writing, the design process optimizes the framework’s function to produce an easy-to-use and attractive entrance to your content.

Step 4: Writing
From the Treatment, the final text of the content is written. You preview the text right in the Web interface as it evolves. We may use pre-written content from your other collateral material, but as it evolves in context of the Web interface, your text may be re-written and adjusted to make it more search engine and hyperlink friendly. Client reviews script at several stages, provides approval, and coordinates plans for necessary image acquisition

Step 5: The DotNetNuke Framework
A PainFree Website™ is actually created on the Web server itself. At this point we install the site's DotNetNuke® Framework on our dedicated server (unless otherwise noted) and establish a temporary URL so that we can work on it, and you can observe the progress.

Step 6: Acquisition
This step involves acquiring all the visual and audio assets we need for production. This may involve location photography or videography, studio work, graphic production or acquiring stock photos. You may be involved setting up sites to be photographed finding historical images or coordinating participants.

Client provides access to necessary sites and people for image acquisition; supplies other material needed; approves graphics created

Step 7: Approval
The entire process is open for viewing, hidden behind the special approval login. You will be required to approve at several stages to confirm we’re all on track. You may also release the site to a limited set of users to perform a beta test. Adjustments can be made based on the feedback you receive.

Client reviews several drafts of the edited product, making suggestions and giving approvals.

Step 8: Fulfillment
When the time comes that the site is approved, one simple change is all it takes to make the site “live.” After it’s online we provide several other items before its all ready:

• Manual – You’ll get a manual on how to make changes to your site
• Training – We’ll spend several hours getting you acquainted with your new site’s features and how to use them
• Help – Free technical support is offered for the first month following delivery.

Time Frame & Budget
Delivery depends upon the complexity of the Treatment and the budget. A project can come together in a matter of days, weeks or months. The biggest variable in Website development is the amount of copy in the site. Complexity of design and advanced programming features will also require more time to deliver. Obviously, projects with tighter time frames will take precedence. Or as they say, the impossible just costs a little more.

Speaking of budget, we're committed to work within any reasonable budget. We will work with you to develop a treatment that will meet your communication needs within your budget. Modest projects or blockbusters, you can be assured of the same excellent results. What's a reasonable budget? Click here for more on that.

Options
Of course to save money there are various options you can take advantage of, including:

• Writing the Website text
• Providing new, stock or archive photos or footage for the entire project
• Providing project-ready graphics to spec

If you have those capabilities on staff, we can work together and save budget dollars.

Applies to: PainFree Web Services™