Our Web Design Process: 6 Steps From Plan to Launch

The M16 web design process has six stages: Discover, Define, Design, Develop, Deploy and Drive Growth. Each stage has clear deliverables and approvals, so your website launches on time, reflects your brand and is built to rank in search and convert visitors into leads from day one.

Most website projects go wrong before a single pixel is designed: unclear goals, missing content and late surprises. Our process front-loads strategy and planning, because proper planning prevents poor performance.

We learn your business, customers, competitors and goals through stakeholder interviews, analytics review, an SEO and content audit of your current site, and competitive research.

Deliverables: discovery summary, goals and KPIs, technical requirements and a list of existing pages and rankings to protect.

We turn discovery into a plan: sitemap, page-level keyword targets, user journeys, content plan and functional requirements. For redesigns, we map every old URL to its new home so you keep your search equity.

Deliverables: sitemap, wireframes, content and SEO plan, project timeline. See our guide to wireframe tools.

Our designers create custom page designs that express your brand and guide visitors toward action. We design mobile-first, follow accessibility best practices and review each layout with you before development.

Deliverables: homepage and key template designs, mobile layouts, design system for colors, type and components.

We build on WordPress with clean, fast code, SEO-ready structure, schema markup and integrations with your CRM, forms and analytics. Content is loaded and optimized for both search engines and AI answer engines.

Deliverables: staging site, integrations, on-page SEO, performance optimization for Core Web Vitals.

Before launch we run quality assurance across browsers and devices, test forms and tracking, implement redirects and submit sitemaps. Launch day is planned and monitored so nothing is left to chance.

Deliverables: launch checklist, redirect map, analytics and conversion tracking verified, training for your team.

Launch is the starting line. We monitor rankings, traffic and conversions, fix issues quickly and keep improving through SEO services, conversion optimization and ongoing managed WordPress hosting and care.

Deliverables: post-launch report, optimization roadmap, ongoing support options.

How long does the web design process take?

Timelines depend on page count, custom functionality, integrations and how ready your content is. Most projects take a few months from discovery to launch, and we set a firm timeline with milestones during the Define stage.

What do I need to provide for a website project?

Access to your current site and analytics, brand assets, input on goals and audience, and timely feedback at each approval point. We can write or refine content for you as part of the project.

Will a redesign hurt my SEO?

Not when it is planned correctly. We audit existing rankings, map old URLs to new ones with 301 redirects, preserve valuable content and monitor rankings after launch.

Do you build websites on WordPress?

Yes. We build custom WordPress websites that are fast, secure and easy for your team to update, with SEO and AEO built into the foundation.

What happens after my website launches?

We monitor performance, fix issues and offer ongoing SEO, conversion optimization, hosting and care plans so your site keeps improving. Explore our web design services.

Related services: digital marketing services, PPC management, content marketing, AI strategy consulting.