If you are launching or redesigning your website, you probably want to get the project done as soon as possible. But since you can rush neither art nor perfection, how long is the web design and development going to take? Several days? Months? Years?
Don’t worry, it will never take a year to complete, but most web designers and developments agree that building a new site usually takes an average of 3 months to complete. Let’s learn more about the factors that go into this time frame.
The Website Development Timeline
Most professional web design and development groups will have a structured process for building websites and can give you a decent estimate based on what you tell them what you want during the first interview. Note that the timeline depends on your wants and needs. In other words, since every project is different, there is no way to accurately predict how long a project is going to take.
That said, typical website design and development averages at:
- 2-4 weeks for a basic website built off a template or without custom designs
- 4-16 weeks (1-4 months) for a completely customized design
Let’s look at how this breaks down.
Step 1: Analyzing Needs and Constructing a Plan (1-2 Weeks)
Once you have chosen the website design and development group you are going to work with, you will either have an email correspondence or a face-to-face interview where you talk about the website designs and functions you like, your goal launch date, and other things. During this time, the web designer and web developers will be meeting behind the scenes to discuss how they are going to build the site to your specifications.
As soon as a clear idea is formed, the next phase begins.
Step 2: First Draft of Web Design (1-3 Weeks)
The next step is where the action begins. Web designers will start to deliver mockups, or sketches of what the website will look like, based on your needs and wants, so you can approve these designs. Often, people soon realize what they do and do not like on their site. Changes are often made to the mockups, so don’t be alarmed if you are suddenly swimming in these sketches before your website starts taking shape.
Step 3: The Crucial Development Phase (1-2 Months)
Here is where magic happens. You have agreed to a design. Now, construction begins. The developer starts building the foundation of the website, and the designers work to make everything look the way you want. These two groups work together seamlessly to ensure that the aesthetics pair with the function.
This is the longest part of the process, taking anywhere to 30-50% of the project’s time to complete. Developers and designers will be fixing bugs, working through inconsistencies, smoothing out requests for changes, and much more.
Step 4: Final Review and Approval (1-2 Weeks)
Before the stamp of approval is given, your website goes through another round of edits and revisions at your request. This is your time to comb the website with a comb to make sure everything works as it should. Always report any broken functions or mistakes that you find to prevent problems from occurring after launch.
When there is nothing left to correct, the website is yours to make live!
Conclusion
If you want a website that looks great and runs free of bugs, it is going to take time. You cannot expect a decently operating website to be done in a few hours or even a few days. That said, if you are working with a professional and proactive company with a clearly defined strategy such as the one listed above, you should be able to meet your desired launch date and have a stunning website, too!
Remember to communicate with the web design and development team to ensure you get the website of your dreams as quickly as possible.
