The Wolf of the Web

How Long Does It Take To Build A Website: 4 Easy Steps

How Long Does It Take To Build A Website

One of the most common questions that web designers will get asked on a regular basis by their clients or future clients is how long does it take to build a website. It is a completely reasonable question as people who have no previous experience in website design will not know how long it will take to create a website plus normally businesses need stuff completed before certain dates to meet quotas.

There are many factors that come into web design such as creating the best user experience possible for people using the website, making sure it is desktop and mobile responsive so it’s compatible on all devices, design plus layout and many more. We like to think of web design as the perfect balance of science and art as you need to create a site that not only looks good but makes sure it works.

That’s why it often can’t be rushed but that doesn’t mean that a brilliant website can’t be completed in 1-2 weeks. Timing often depends on the size of the project. If you are looking for a more complex website that requires a lot of content across 50+ pages then you may be looking at a longer time than you would for a simple five-page website that has all the basics you need for a starter business website.

If you are deciding to create your website by yourself on a website builder such as Wix or Squarespace then it might be a lot shorter but you are selling yourself extremely short when it comes to creating a website that you can scale.

The most effective and best way to create a website is reaching out to a website designer who will be able to craft and develop the perfect website saving you hassle plus money in the long-run. As a web design agency, we’ve created a bunch of websites in different time frames but there is a common path we take when creating websites that allow us to design & launch websites in an effective time-frame while producing high-quality sites.

We have decided to do a time-frame for the most common design package that we offer which is the five-page website. This is often the website we design the most which is often just home, about, services, blog, contact which is what every website should have & need.

Initial Talk (1 Hours - 3 Hours)

Now speaking about your goals to either yourself (yes, there’s nothing wrong with that!), team or a website designer should only take about 1-3 hours, in your head you should already know the goals about your website or business. 

This initial talk will help you understand what you are trying to accomplish with your business e.g. if you are a beauty salon, you will want to create a website that looks good due to the sector you are in, showcase services & past work plus have a booking system that allows potential clients & customers now to pick a time that suits you and them creating a easy system.

Once we’ve discussed the goals of our clients, we already have a plan in mind on how we are going to accomplish it.

Website Plan & Layout (1-2 Days)

Like cooking a meal, you are going to need to plan out what you’re going to do to create the dish but in this situation it’s designing & creating a website. A website plan and layout shouldn’t take more than 1 to 2 days, any longer and you are overthinking the process. 

It is best to plan & write down all the pages, features you are going to put on the website beforehand so you aren’t aimlessly crafting the website as you go along which can result in a much longer time frame and sometimes projects won’t get finished due to a lack of planning.

Website designers will be able to have a plan & layout from initial talk but this is just the case of developing the plan before you start designing.

Website Design & Creation (1-2 Weeks)

Once your plan has been developed and down for you to read. The website design phase will start to begin, when working with a website designer they will provide you with a few mockups on how your website will look and work and you can decide based on the ones that you show. Often people will just leave the website designer to decide what’s best based on their experience.

This part of the website can take 1-2 weeks or even longer obviously depending on the size of the project. Keep in mind this is a five-page website timeline we are showing. You will start to see the website fully take shape in this process.

While designing the website, it’s key that you are crafting engaging content and avoiding any frequent mistakes that you may come across in web design.

Final Review & Revisions (3 Days Max)

When a website is fully designed and looks ready to be launched. There is one more final step that needs to be taken in order for you or your client to be fully happy and that’s to make sure you do a final review and touch up on any potential revisions to improve the site before it goes live.

When creating websites, we always find there is more than likely final improvements that need to be made before it goes fully live. It’s important if you are creating a website for someone that you make sure that they are fully happy with the project as a website is often the first impression someone gets of a business or person of interest so if the website isn’t fully complete then it could leave a bad impression which is never good.

This process shouldn’t take longer than three days, you should be able to identify any problems or listen to what a client has to say and fix them in a short time frame. The only reason it may take longer if you need to drastically change the web design but other than that final revisions are normally tiny but important improvements.

Riley Williams is the creative force behind The Wolf Of The Web! With over 100+ websites built across diverse sectors. I believe in crafting eye-catching websites that not only look amazing but also generate more calls, leads, and sales for your business.