PLANNING, DESIGN, BUILD & LAUNCH
New websites
I plan, design and build new websites for small businesses and organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand, bringing content, structure, design and technical work together from the first ideas through to launch.
What is a new website project?
A new website project begins without an existing site forming the basis of the work.
This may be because you are starting a new business or organisation, creating a website for a new project or service, or building the first proper website for something that has previously relied on social media, directories or word of mouth.
The work starts by understanding what the website needs to do, who it is for and what information or features it needs to include. From there, the pages, content, design and technical foundation can be planned together.
If you already have a website that needs to be assessed, migrated or replaced, that is usually a website rebuild.
This may be because you are starting a new business or organisation, creating a website for a new project or service, or building the first proper website for something that has previously relied on social media, directories or word of mouth.
The work starts by understanding what the website needs to do, who it is for and what information or features it needs to include. From there, the pages, content, design and technical foundation can be planned together.
If you already have a website that needs to be assessed, migrated or replaced, that is usually a website rebuild.
Working out what the website needs to do
A useful website starts with a clear understanding of its job.
For a business, that may mean explaining services clearly and making it easy for people to enquire. For an organisation, it may mean sharing resources, supporting members, promoting events or helping people access important information.
A website may also need to handle:
bookings or registrations
memberships or subscriptions
enquiries and contact forms
portfolios or project examples
articles, news or resources
donations or payments
ecommerce
information that needs to be updated regularly
The right pages and features depend on what people need from the website and what the business or organisation needs it to achieve.
For a business, that may mean explaining services clearly and making it easy for people to enquire. For an organisation, it may mean sharing resources, supporting members, promoting events or helping people access important information.
A website may also need to handle:
bookings or registrations
memberships or subscriptions
enquiries and contact forms
portfolios or project examples
articles, news or resources
donations or payments
ecommerce
information that needs to be updated regularly
The right pages and features depend on what people need from the website and what the business or organisation needs it to achieve.
Planning the pages and content
Once the purpose is clear, the next step is deciding what information belongs on the website and how people should move through it.
This includes planning the main pages, navigation and pathways through the site. It also means deciding what content is needed to explain the work properly, answer common questions and help people take the next step.
Depending on the project, that content may include:
services, programmes or products
information about the business or organisation
frequently asked questions
examples of work or completed projects
testimonials and other useful proof
articles, resources or documents
contact details and enquiry options
photography, illustrations or video
Content and structure need to be planned together. Good design cannot make up for missing information, and strong content is harder to use when it is organised poorly.
This includes planning the main pages, navigation and pathways through the site. It also means deciding what content is needed to explain the work properly, answer common questions and help people take the next step.
Depending on the project, that content may include:
services, programmes or products
information about the business or organisation
frequently asked questions
examples of work or completed projects
testimonials and other useful proof
articles, resources or documents
contact details and enquiry options
photography, illustrations or video
Content and structure need to be planned together. Good design cannot make up for missing information, and strong content is harder to use when it is organised poorly.
Choosing the right foundation
A new website also needs a suitable technical foundation.
That includes practical decisions about the domain name, hosting, business email, content management and any systems the website needs to connect with.
The right platform depends on the project. A simple service website has different requirements from an online shop, membership site or resource library. It also matters who will update the website, how often the content will change and how much ongoing management is practical.
I work through those requirements before recommending a platform. The aim is not to use the most complicated system available, but to choose one that supports the website properly and remains manageable after launch.
That includes practical decisions about the domain name, hosting, business email, content management and any systems the website needs to connect with.
The right platform depends on the project. A simple service website has different requirements from an online shop, membership site or resource library. It also matters who will update the website, how often the content will change and how much ongoing management is practical.
I work through those requirements before recommending a platform. The aim is not to use the most complicated system available, but to choose one that supports the website properly and remains manageable after launch.
Building the website properly from the beginning
Modern website work involves more than arranging text and images on a page.
The site needs to work across different screen sizes, load reliably and provide a clear experience for the people using it. Accessibility, performance, search visibility and maintainability should shape the project from the beginning rather than being added at the end.
That includes:
responsive layouts for desktop, tablet and mobile
clear page and heading structures
accessible navigation and content
sensible image sizes and loading
useful page titles and descriptions
SEO and AEO foundations
structured data where appropriate
reliable forms and integrations
systems that can be maintained over time
Nobody can guarantee how Google, ChatGPT or another system will present a website. What can be done is to build it clearly, provide useful information and make the content easier for people and machines to understand.
The site needs to work across different screen sizes, load reliably and provide a clear experience for the people using it. Accessibility, performance, search visibility and maintainability should shape the project from the beginning rather than being added at the end.
That includes:
responsive layouts for desktop, tablet and mobile
clear page and heading structures
accessible navigation and content
sensible image sizes and loading
useful page titles and descriptions
SEO and AEO foundations
structured data where appropriate
reliable forms and integrations
systems that can be maintained over time
Nobody can guarantee how Google, ChatGPT or another system will present a website. What can be done is to build it clearly, provide useful information and make the content easier for people and machines to understand.
Testing, launch and what happens next
Before launch, the important pages, links, forms and features need to be tested.
That includes checking the website across different screen sizes, reviewing the content, connecting the domain and making sure the main actions work as expected. Analytics, search tools and other services can also be connected where they are useful.
Once the website is ready, it is launched on its live domain. I then show you how it works and how to manage the parts you are responsible for.
After launch, you can look after the website yourself or use one of my optional Website Care plans for ongoing support, monitoring and small updates.
That includes checking the website across different screen sizes, reviewing the content, connecting the domain and making sure the main actions work as expected. Analytics, search tools and other services can also be connected where they are useful.
Once the website is ready, it is launched on its live domain. I then show you how it works and how to manage the parts you are responsible for.
After launch, you can look after the website yourself or use one of my optional Website Care plans for ongoing support, monitoring and small updates.
New website or website rebuild?
New websites and website rebuilds involve much of the same work, but they begin from different places.
A new website starts with the needs of the business, organisation or project. Its structure, content and technical foundation are established without an existing website shaping the decisions.
A website rebuild begins with an existing site that needs to be reviewed. Its useful content, URLs, search value, platform and technical setup may all need to be considered before the replacement is built.
Some older or very limited websites sit somewhere between the two. The label matters less than understanding what work is actually required.
You can read more about website rebuilds or explore the wider approach to website design and build.
A new website starts with the needs of the business, organisation or project. Its structure, content and technical foundation are established without an existing website shaping the decisions.
A website rebuild begins with an existing site that needs to be reviewed. Its useful content, URLs, search value, platform and technical setup may all need to be considered before the replacement is built.
Some older or very limited websites sit somewhere between the two. The label matters less than understanding what work is actually required.
You can read more about website rebuilds or explore the wider approach to website design and build.
Learn more about my website services
Explore the different ways I can help with your website.
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