Ordering a website is a project with a clear logic and sequence of steps. This article explains what happens at each stage, what to look for, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Most entrepreneurs face the same situation: they understand that they need a website, but they don’t know where to start. The web development market is heterogeneous — there are freelancers, agencies, no-code designers, and outsourced teams. Prices for such tasks can vary by dozens of times. In this context, it’s easy to either overpay or get a result that doesn’t meet real needs.
This material is a practical step-by-step guide. It does not promote any specific contractor and does not promise a «website in three days.» The goal is to provide a clear understanding of the process from the first thought «we need a website» to the moment when it actually works and brings results.
Step 1. Determine the purpose of the site before talking to the developer
The most common mistake is to contact a developer without a clear understanding of why you need a website. It sounds trite, but in practice, most clients formulate their request something like this: «I want a website like our competitors»« or »We need something modern.”.
This is not a goal - it is a description of the appearance. The real goal is formulated differently:
- Get leads from Google organic search
- Sell products online and accept card payments
- Collect contacts of potential customers through a landing page
- Provide an online presence to confirm the reputation of the business
- Automate appointment or booking
Everything depends on the goal: the structure of the site, the technological platform, the budget, the deadlines, the necessary functionality. If the goal is SEO traffic, you need a blog and the right technical architecture. If the goal is sales, you need integration with payment systems and a convenient shopping cart. If the goal is just an «online storefront,» a simple business card site is enough.
Practical advice
Before you look for a developer, write down the answers to three questions: who your target audience is, what action you want them to take on the site, and how you will measure the result. These answers will become the basis of the terms of reference.
Step 2. Choose the type of site that suits your needs
The term "turnkey website" can mean very different products. Before looking for a contractor, it is worth understanding the basic typology.
| Site type | Who is suitable for? | Approximate volume |
|---|---|---|
| Business card website | Specialists, small business, local services | 1–5 pages |
| Landing | Product launch, advertising campaign, collection of applications | 1 long page or up to 3 screens |
| Corporate site | Medium and large businesses, companies with multiple directions | 10–50+ pages |
| Online store | Selling goods or services online | Depends on the catalog |
| Blog / media | Content marketing, SEO, audience building | Unlimited |
| Web application | SaaS, platforms, personal accounts | Individually |
It is important to understand: a business card website and a corporate website are not the same thing, even if both "tell about the company." The difference is in the scale, structure, and cost of development. You need to decide on the type before the first call with the contractor - this will save time for both parties.
Step 3. Create a technical specification or at least its basis
A Terms of Reference (TOR) is a document that describes exactly what needs to be done. It protects both the customer and the contractor. Without a TO, any dispute about the result turns into a subjective discussion.
The basic TOR for a small site includes:
- Description of business and target audience
- Site purpose and key success metrics
- List of pages and their contents
- Required functionality (feedback form, personal account, shopping cart, etc.)
- Design requirements (style, brand colors, links to example sites)
- Technical requirements (platform, hosting, language)
- Integrations with external services (CRM, analytics, payments)
- SEO and loading speed requirements
- Deadlines and budget
If you have no experience in writing a TOR, that's no problem. A good developer or agency will help you formulate it at the briefing stage. But coming without any preparation means wasting time on basic clarification of the obvious.
Pay attention
Some contractors offer to prepare the terms of reference for a separate fee before the main development begins. This is normal practice for complex projects. If the task is simple, the briefing and terms of reference are usually included in the price.
Step 4. Choose a contractor format
There are several main vendor formats in the web development market. Each has its own advantages and limitations.
Freelancer
Suitable for small and clearly limited projects: business card website, landing page, redesign. The cost is usually lower than that of agencies. Risk - higher dependence on a specific person: if a freelancer gets sick, disappears, or is overloaded with other projects, your project stops.
Web studio or agency
Has a dedicated team: project manager, designer, developer, tester. This increases the predictability of the process and reduces dependence on one person. The cost is higher. Suitable for medium and large projects where legal entity responsibility and post-launch support are important.
No-code platforms (independently)
Services like Webflow, Wix, Tilda, or Shopify allow you to build a website without coding. This is a real option for small businesses with a limited budget. Limitations: less flexibility in custom functionality, platform dependency, monthly subscription. Some agencies specialize in these platforms and offer turnkey development even within the framework of no-code tools.
Outstaff or own team
Relevant for companies that plan to constantly develop a website or web application. Suitable not for a one-time project, but for long-term work.
Step 5. Evaluate contractors against specific criteria
Choosing a contractor is one of the most important steps. Here are some specific criteria to consider:
01
Portfolio
View completed projects. It's not just about "like it or not," but whether there is experience in your niche or with similar types of tasks. Go to portfolio sites and check if they really exist.
02
Reviews and recommendations
Personal recommendations from business acquaintances are better than anonymous reviews on aggregators. If possible, talk to previous clients directly.
03
Process and communication
Pay attention to how the contractor responds on the first call or in correspondence. Does he ask clarifying questions or immediately name a price? A good contractor wants to understand the task, not just close the deal.
04
Contract and guarantees
A serious contractor concludes a contract that specifies the terms, scope of work, payment terms, and responsibilities of the parties. Refusal of the contract or «let’s just say it» is a reason to think.
05
Post-launch support
Ask what happens after the site is delivered. Is there technical support? Who handles updates? Do you get the rights to the source code and domain name?
Step 6. Understand what the cost consists of
Prices in the web development market vary widely, and this is often confusing. Let's analyze what the estimate actually consists of.
Design. Developing a unique design includes competitor analysis, concept development, preparation of mockups in a graphic editor (e.g. Figma), and adaptation for mobile devices. This is a separate and significant part of the work.
Layout and programming. Converting design into working code. The complexity depends on the functionality: a static site without a backend is much cheaper than an online store with a personal account and API integrations.
Content. Texts, photos, videos — you either provide them yourself or order them separately. A good contractor will immediately clarify who is responsible for the content.
Hosting and domain. Annual or monthly costs for website hosting and domain name registration. This is not a one-time payment, but an ongoing expense.
SEO settings. Basic technical optimization for search engines may be included in the price or charged separately.
Support and guidance. After the site is launched, it needs updates, bug fixes, and backups. Some contractors offer support packages, while others charge a separate fee.
The cheapest offer is rarely the best. A low price often means there is no contract, a template design, or that the contractor will be unavailable after launch. A smart approach is to compare not only the price, but also what is specifically included in that price.
Step 7. How the development process works
Once the contractor is selected and the contract is signed, the actual work begins. The standard process looks like this:
- Briefing and analysis. The contractor collects detailed information about the business, audience, competitors, and wishes for the site.
- Prototyping. A schematic plan of the page structure — where everything is located, what navigation is there, where the buttons and blocks are. It is approved before the start of the design.
- Design. Developing the visual appearance. Usually the main page first, then the internal pages. There are several rounds of approval.
- Development. Layout and programming. Content can be prepared in parallel.
- Testing. Testing on different devices and browsers, fixing errors, testing forms and functionality.
- Filling with content. Texts, images, videos are posted on the website.
- Launching. Transfer to live hosting, domain connection, final check.
- Transfer of access. The customer receives access to the admin panel, hosting, domain, and analytics.
Step 8. What to pay attention to when accepting a finished site
Before signing the acceptance certificate and making the final payment, check the site using a clear checklist:
- The site displays correctly on mobile devices and tablets
- All forms send notifications to your email
- Loading speed tested with Google PageSpeed Insights
- SSL certificate is connected (site opens via https://)
- Google Analytics or another analytics service installed and configured
- The site is correctly indexed by search engines (or vice versa - closed from indexing during development and open after launch)
- You have access to all accounts: hosting, domain, CMS admin panel
- There is a backup copy of the site
- All links checked - no broken ones
- Texts and images correspond to what is approved
Importantly
Make sure the domain and hosting are registered in your name or your company's name, not the developer's. This protects your rights to the site in the future.
Step 9. What happens after launch
Launching a website is not an end point, but a beginning. A website that is not updated and promoted gradually loses its position and stops bringing in traffic.
SEO promotion. Getting to the first page of Google is not a one-time action, but a systematic effort: publishing useful content, obtaining external links, technical optimizations. SEO results usually become noticeable after a few months.
Contextual advertising. Google Ads or other advertising systems can generate traffic much faster than SEO, but they require a constant budget. Without proper setup, money is spent inefficiently.
Technical support. CMS and plugins require regular updates. Out-of-date systems are at risk of hacking and security vulnerabilities.
Analytics. Regularly review your data—where visitors are coming from, what pages they view, and where they leave your site—to understand what’s working and what needs improvement.
The most common mistakes when ordering a site
Over the years of market observation, several typical mistakes that entrepreneurs make have been identified:
- «"Do as they do.". Copying a competitor without understanding your own goals and audience. You don't know if that site even works.
- Choice at the lowest price. The cheapest solution almost always means either a template without customization or a contractor who disappears after payment.
- Ignoring the mobile version. More than half of traffic in most niches comes from smartphones. A site that doesn’t look good on mobile is unacceptable.
- Lack of technical documentation. Without a clear task, it is impossible to objectively assess the result and protect your interests in a dispute.
- «"The site will still find customers.". A website alone won't attract anyone. You need promotion — SEO, advertising, or other traffic channels.
- Forget about transferring access. If the domain and hosting are with a contractor, and the relationship has deteriorated, you may lose control of your site.
Summary: 9-step process
- Determine the purpose of the site and target audience
- Choose the type of site that suits your needs
- Prepare a technical specification or its basis
- Choose the contractor format (freelancer, agency, no-code)
- Evaluate contractors by portfolio, reviews, process, and contract
- Understand what the estimate consists of
- Go through the development process: briefing → design → development → testing → launch
- Accept the site according to a clear checklist and get all access
- Provide promotion and technical support after launch
Ordering a website is a managed process with a clear logic. Entrepreneurs who understand this logic get better results for the same money than those who act randomly. Preparation takes time, but it pays off - both at the stage of choosing a contractor, at the stage of receiving the finished product, and in the long term.
