Many companies are concerned about timelines when developing a website. Nearly every business wants the shortest possible schedule so the site can launch quickly. From a development perspective, however, a shorter timeline is not always better. The schedule can be reduced substantially only when the preparation and development work are well organized, allowing the project to be completed successfully. So what factors affect the timeline forwebsite development in Beijing?
Early-Stage Website Planning
Before development begins, the company and its website development partner need to confirm detailed requirements, functionality, visual style, and the materials to be provided. If this preparation can be completed quickly, development can start sooner. If materials and decisions are delayed, the development company must communicate with the client repeatedly before it can create an appropriate website plan based on confirmed information.
Different Development Approaches
There are currently two common approaches: template-based and custom website development. A template site takes relatively little time—typically one or two days—because its framework and design style are fixed and only the content and images need to be uploaded. A custom website takes longer because it involves research, planning, custom design, custom development, and testing. Each phase should be tailored to the company's characteristics.
Different Website Requirements
This discussion focuses on custom development, since requirements have less impact on template sites. A custom website is developed around the company's industry characteristics and target audience. The client can therefore request a particular hierarchy, layout, structure, visual design, and feature set, after which the website development company provides a professional solution. The more requirements the client has, the longer the site will take to build.
Speed of Client Review
Once the website plan is confirmed, the development company creates design mockups for the client to review. If communication was thorough early in the engagement, the initial draft is more likely to receive strong approval, with only minor revisions required. If early communication was insufficient, reaching agreement can be difficult and the website development timeline may be delayed substantially.
Materials Provided by the Client
The website domain must complete the required registration process, which takes about 20 days. Some companies do not provide the registration information promptly, so the site may be finished while approval is still pending and therefore cannot go live. Content materials must also be supplied after development so the home page can be completed.
Pre-Launch Testing Speed
After production is complete, the website must be tested and debugged before launch. Testing primarily checks for defects and verifies browser compatibility during operation. Any issues must be debugged or revised until they are resolved.
These are the main factors that affect website development timelines in Beijing. When estimating how long a website will take to complete, consider each of the areas above.
