My Showit + Squarespace Website Design 2 Week Process
I’m super excited to be writing this post all about my 2 week website design process!
In the beginning stages of my business as a Squarespace website designer, I had a 4 week process. Around February 2019 is when I made the official leap to 2 week websites (and 3 week branding + website). It was definitely the best decision I could have made for myself!
In this post, I’m peeling back the curtain of what the client experience is like inside my business.
Here we go...
Why I have a 2 week process
A 2 week website design process used to be unheard of, but now it’s become a lot more common. I learned of this process from Paige Brunton, who inspired me to get started on Squarespace when I originally started my business back in the summer of 2017.
There’s a few reasons I’ve stuck with it for more than a year and a half...
I’m able to dedicate my time and energy to 1 client
I found that my attention was split between two client projects, it took twice the mental energy to keep everything straight. It might sound crazy, but there’s a LOT of moving pieces that people don’t realize when it comes to building a website.
Even though I’ve taken courses and programs dedicated to streamlining client processes so that I can handle multiple projects at once, keeping my schedule to one client at a time still feels like the best fit.
I find that I now have a much better time handling projects and remember small details, which of course goes a long way in keeping the client happy.
Clients get their website fast
My clients LOVE that they get their website super fast.
Even though sometimes I book 2-3 months in advance, by the time we start, they don’t have to wait another month or two to get the finished product in their hands.
Technically, with starting on a Monday and handing over the website the following Friday, it’s more about 10 business days.
It allows the project to not fall off track
Having a quick turnaround time keeps clients on their toes. And I’m sure it saves time for them as well because they’re not reviewing items weeks apart.
There’s no dragging it out to weeks on end because almost every day of the revision week, they’re sending me their feedback.
Onboarding
It’s worth mentioning the client experience from start to finish, which is why I’m starting with onboarding new clients.
Free Consultation
I offer free 15 minute consultations via Zoom with all potential clients. This is where I get a better understanding of what the client is struggling with, the results they want from their website, and the scope of the project before I walk through my full process.
Most clients come to me with a current DIY website, so I like to hear what struggles they’ve faced in that journey so we can squash it during the website buildout.
And if there’s a certain change they want to be able to make on their own, I can note it for the launch call.
It’s important to me that we both feel comfortable moving forward, and I genuinely care about seeing people face to face who I will be working with.
The only time I might have skipped on calls in the past was for very small projects or back when I was trying to make a living on Upwork (oof).
Sign Contract + Pay Deposit
Once clients decide to move forward, they will sign an electronic contract so the terms, deliverables and expectations of the project are fully defined.
Then they pay a deposit to solidify their spot. Typically, I require 50% up front and 50% at the end before handing over the website.
I do this through Dubsado, which makes it super easy to work with international clients. Clients simply pay with a credit/debit card.
Setup in Asana
Next is the organization! Website design has so many moving pieces that it’s so difficult to keep track unless it’s all laid out and organized in a project management tool.
That’s where Asana comes in!
With Asana…
I can assign tasks to clients so they see what items I need from them
Due dates are added so there’s no confusion on timeline
It eliminates back and forth emails and a million threads because all of the communication takes place inside specific tasks
Clients can respond via email and the content will auto populate in Asana
Files are stored in one place for quick reference
Clients receive an Asana tutorial so they feel confident using it. The best part is that it’s free.
Pre-Design
There’s a few pieces to the pre-design phase before the project officially kicks off.
Design questionnaire
My clients receive an in-depth questionnaire about their business, the emotions they want their branding/website to exude, website features they love, and any login information that I need to move forward.
It’s a fairly in-depth questionnaire so that I have all the information I need to confidently move forward with my client projects.
Pinterest board
Another part of the client homework is setting up a Pinterest board. The purpose of this is so that I can visually see my clients’ design inspiration so I can use similar elements in my designs for them.
This task also comes with a video recording walking through the process.
I have my clients pin a variety of items to a secret board:
Color palettes
Fonts
Website design layouts
Patterns and textures
Images that evoke a certain emotion
This helps me gain a super clear understanding of the vibe and aesthetic that they feel aligned to.
In the beginning, I used to do this process myself. But then I realized how impactful it was for clients to share their actual inspiration instead of me taking a stab at it.
Copy
Next is copy! Most of my clients choose to write their own copy.
I know it can be a daunting project, which is why I have content planners for the home, about, services, sales (program/product), contact, and 404 pages.
This includes directions and prompts for what to write and where. There’s also a few copywriting formulas included.
Once the client finishes the copy, I go through each document and copy edit. I’ll request that my clients make changes if necessary.
However, if clients don’t want to write their own copy, I have an amazing copywriter, Becca, on standby to bring my client’s vision to life.
Photos
Another major part of the website.
I didn’t truly realize this statement until I got my own professional photos finally after 1.5 years of being full time. And let me tell you, it was a game changer!!
I request that my clients provide me with 30+ photos. If they need help with finding stock photos, I also assist with that. I know quite a few awesome free and paid options for stock photography.
Consult Call
Once all the client homework is complete - questionnaire, Pinterest board, copy, and photos - then we jump on a 30-60 minute call to walk through everything.
I ask questions that provide clarification for anything I’m not quite sure about and we walk through the vision for the client.
Mood board
Next is the mood board! This is created from the Pinterest board, and in a nutshell, it brings elements from the board and other similar elements together to provide a much more concise aesthetic.
Sometimes I provide 2 options, and there is a revision round included.
Fonts/colors/style guide
This is the last step before I start building the website! We decide on font options for headings and paragraph text, as well as the main 4-5 colors that will be used throughout the website.
I put together 3 color palette options, using inspiration from the mood board, and we refine from there.
Then, I create the style guide inside Squarespace. This lays out each of the 3 headings, paragraph text, text links, a line, and button links (small, medium, and large). I add color to show the client who it will look visually.
Week 1: Website Buildout
First I start with the homepage. This is delivered to the client on Monday. I have the client review the homepage first to confirm the direction and aesthetic is on point before building out the rest of the website. This cuts down on revisions later on.
So when potential clients ask, “how do I know you’ll create something I love?” it’s because of this process. Between the questionnaire, Pinterest board, mood board, and homepage, there’s multiple checkpoints to ensure that I’m delivering the client’s vision.
There is a revision for the homepage, and then I move onto the rest of the website. On Friday, I share the full site with a video walkthrough.
Week 2: Website Revisions
During the second half of the process, there are 4 rounds of revisions. Typically it’s 1 per day Monday through Thursday, but sometimes I’ll complete 2 in one day. It really depends on the client.
Something I’m very proud to say that I’ve had many clients ask for no (or extremely little) revisions. Nothing makes me happier than when my clients are SO happy with their website that they don’t want to change a single thing.
Launching
After revisions comes launch day, which is typically Friday. The final payment is due and I hand over any Canva/Adobe Illustrator files I may have created.
We jump on a 60 minute launch call via Zoom and this is where multiple things are taking place…
Website ownership is transferred to client
Google Analytics and Google Search Console are set up
Domain is purchased
Branded G Suite account is created
Squarespace email campaigns are connected
Instagram is authorized so the feed can be included in the footer
Website is made public 🎉🎉
I video record a walkthrough of the backend and how to make changes
I upload the website walkthrough to our Google Drive folder so they can reference it in the future!
Offboarding
I always send my clients an email at the end of the project. It includes a few things…
Client library. This includes a few videos on how to use Squarespace and Canva, a free graphic design tool. It also includes information about clients hiring me later on for additional work. I never leave my clients hangin, which is why I encourage clients to come back to me with any support in the future.
Referral info. Nothing makes me happier when clients are super thrilled with the work I’ve done and send their friends my way. Right now, my website design referral bonus is $500.
Testimonial questionnaire. I love to gather feedback on the client experience and any ways to improve.
There you have it! That’s my full design process. Have questions? Drop them below or fill out the form on my contact page :)
Ready to ditch your DIY website and uplevel your online presence so you can finally look professional, attract more aligned clients and make more sales in your business?
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