Website Design Process: From Discovery to Launch
A transparent look at the methodology behind high-converting digital experiences.
The Reality: Most clients think they need a 'beautiful website'. What they actually need is a strategic digital asset that generates leads, ranks on search engines, and converts visitors into customers—all of which requires a transparent process and strategy.
TL;DR: The Complete Website Design Journey
Building a successful website takes 1-16 weeks depending on complexity. The process involves four phases: Discovery & Strategy, Design & Prototyping, Development & Integration, and Launch & Optimization. Unlike traditional agencies, I prioritize conversion-focused copywriting and SEO from day one—not as afterthoughts.
Phase 1: Discovery & Strategy (The Blueprint)
The Goal: Align your business objectives with what your target audience actually needs.
This phase prevents building the wrong thing or building the right thing wrong. Here's how we avoid both.
Key Activities:
- Stakeholder Workshops
- Strategic conversations about your revenue goals, target markets, and competitive positioning. We define what specific actions you want visitors to take and what business outcomes define success.
- Competitor Analysis
- I analyze what's actually driving conversions in your industry. Which CTAs get clicks? What messaging resonates? Where are the gaps we can exploit to differentiate you?
- User Persona Mapping
- Detailed profiles of your ideal customers. A B2B software buyer behaves completely differently than a consumer shopper. Understanding these personas shapes your site's navigation, language, and content structure.
- Sitemap & Information Architecture
- This determines page hierarchy and how pages connect through internal links. Good architecture creates intuitive navigation for humans while giving search engines and AI chatbots clear content relationships.
- Content Strategy
- I plan conversion-focused copy during discovery, not after design. Every page gets a predetermined purpose (inform, convert, nurture) and clear messaging hierarchy. When copy and design develop together, they reinforce each other.
Deliverable: Discovery document with user personas, competitive analysis, approved sitemap, content strategy, and project roadmap with milestones.
Phase 2: Design & Prototyping (The Visuals)
The Goal: Transform strategy into a visual language that guides users toward conversion.
Design is visual problem-solving. Every color, font choice, and spacing decision either helps or hinders your visitor's journey to becoming a customer.
The Process
- Wireframing (Structure First)
- Low-fidelity layouts that map out page structure and content placement. These answer: Where should CTAs be positioned? How many clicks to convert? Is the information hierarchy clear? We make structural decisions first, then layer on aesthetics.
- Visual Design (The Polish)
- High-fidelity design including:
- Moodboards: Reference images and style examples that establish visual direction.
- Typography Systems: Font selections balancing readability with brand personality.
- Strategic Color Palettes: Colors chosen for brand alignment, accessibility standards, and conversion psychology.
- Component Design: Buttons, cards, forms designed once and used consistently.
2026 Design Principles:
- Mobile-first approach: Design for small screens first (60%+ of traffic is mobile).
- Micro-animations: Subtle movements that guide attention without slowing performance.
- Accessibility-first: Proper contrast, readable fonts, semantic structure.
- Performance-optimized visuals: Modern formats (WebP/AVIF) and lazy loading.
Deliverable: High-fidelity designs for all pages, design system documentation, and development-ready assets.
Phase 3: Development & Integration (The Build)
The Goal: Transform approved designs into a blazing-fast, SEO-optimized website.
Tech Stack & Why It Matters:
Next.js (React Framework) — Solves critical problems:
- Server-side rendering: Pages load instantly—users see content immediately.
- Built-in SEO optimization: Dynamic meta tags and automatic sitemaps for better rankings.
- Automatic image optimization: Images compressed and served in modern formats (crucial for Google's speed benchmarks).
- Clean, maintainable code: Clean, maintainable code: Features built faster, issues fixed quicker.
Deployment on Vercel/Netlify — Provides:
- Global CDN: Site loads fast whether someone's in New York or Tokyo.
- Automatic HTTPS and security: Enterprise-level protection.
- Automatic image optimization: Images compressed and served in modern formats (crucial for Google's speed benchmarks).
- Zero-downtime deployments: Updates happen invisibly.
Focus Areas During Development:
Mobile Responsiveness:
Built mobile and desktop design together using CSS Grid and Flexbox. Adapts beautifully to any screen size.
SEO Optimization — Built into the foundation:
- Semantic HTML5 with proper heading hierarchy.
- Schema.org structured data (helps AI agents understand and recommend your content).
- Optimized meta tags, Open Graph images, XML sitemaps.
- Clean URL structure and strategic internal linking.
Performance Engineering — Speed impacts rankings and conversions:
- Lazy loading and code splitting.
- Optimized font loading and caching.
- Target: Lighthouse scores above 90.
Accessibility Implementation:
WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, keyboard navigation, screen reader optimization, proper contrast ratios.
Timeline: 2-10 days for landing pages to 4-8 weeks for complex business websites.
Phase 4: Launch & Optimization (The Deployment)
The Goal: Deploy with confidence, then continuously improve based on real user data.
Pre-Launch Quality Assurance:
- Cross-browser and device testing.
- Performance benchmarking and Core Web Vitals testing.
- Every form, link, and button verified.
- SEO pre-flight (meta tags, sitemap, analytics setup).
The Launch Process:
- Soft Launch to Staging — Deploy to a private testing environment for your final review and approval before going public.
- DNS Configuration — Set up your domain properly to ensure your site switches over without any downtime or broken links.
- Production Deployment — Make your site live to the world with monitoring systems in place to catch any issues immediately.
- Post-Launch Monitoring — Active monitoring for 48-72 hours to ensure everything performs as expected under real traffic.
The "Transparent" Edge: Launch is Just the Beginning
Your first launch is an educated hypothesis. Real optimization happens with actual user data.
Post-Launch Activities:
- Analytics Review: Traffic patterns, user flows, conversion funnels.
- Heatmap Analysis: Where users click, scroll, and what they ignore.
- A/B Testing: Testing headlines, CTAs, and layouts to find what converts better.
- Performance Monitoring: Ongoing speed optimization.
- Content Updates: Refining based on search trends and feedback.
This is why I offer ongoing maintenance. Your website should evolve with your business, not sit static.
The Timeline Matrix
| Project Type | Complexity | Timeline (based on my project) | Starting Price (for my services) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing Page | Single-purpose page with clear CTA and conversion focus. | 1-2 Weeks | $900 |
| Promotional Site | 3-5 pages with brand storytelling and animation. | 3-5 Weeks | $1,200 |
| Business Website | 10+ pages with blog, services, and SEO foundation. | 4-6 Weeks | $1,500-$2,000 |
| Custom Web App | Complex UX, database integration, user authentication. | Depends | Custom Quote |
Timeline Variables: Content readiness, revision rounds, third-party integrations, custom functionality, and client feedback turnaround time.
Why Transparency Matters: The "Mansiv Method"
I share my complete process and pricing publicly because I treat clients as partners, not transactions.
The benefits:
- No Surprise Costs
- You know upfront what you're paying for and why. If scope changes, we discuss it before proceeding.
- Better Outcomes
- When you understand the strategy behind decisions, you provide better feedback. Informed clients create stronger results.
- Long-Term Partnership
- Transparency builds trust for productive relationships beyond the initial build.
- Educated Decision-Making
- Understanding the differences helps you choose the right solution for your needs and budget.
What Makes My Process Different?
- SEO & Copywriting Aren't Afterthoughts
- I integrate conversion-focused copy and search optimization from discovery. Your site doesn't just look professional—it ranks well and converts visitors.
- Built for Speed & Performance
- Next.js ensures fast loading anywhere. Speed impacts both SEO rankings and user retention.
- AI-Ready Structure
- Proper semantic HTML and structured data ensure AI chatbots like ChatGPT can understand and recommend your content.
- Ongoing Support & Evolution
- Monthly maintenance keeps your site secure, fast, and up-to-date with evolving standards.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Start Your Project → Book a 15-minute call to discuss your specific goals and timeline.
Questions about the process? Reach out via email or Instagram.