When people see a finished website, they usually admire the design, the colours, or how smoothly it works. But behind every professional website lies a journey – one that starts with a simple conversation and ends with a live project ready to serve its purpose. As a freelance WordPress web designer working with global clients, I have realised that the most important part of this journey is the process itself.
Recently, I worked on a project for a US-based client who wanted a custom WordPress website for their business. Let me share my step-by-step approach, so you get an insider’s view of how a project moves from a brief to the final launch.
1. Understanding the Client’s Brief
Every successful project starts with listening. The client reached out with a requirement for a business website that should be simple, professional, and built to attract customers in their niche market.
Instead of jumping directly into design, I asked a series of questions:
-
Who is your target audience?
-
What is the primary goal of the website – information, sales, or leads?
-
Do you have existing branding guidelines or do we need to create them?
-
Are there any websites you admire in terms of look and feel?
This stage is where most freelancers either win or lose trust. By understanding not just what the client wants but also why they want it, I set a strong foundation for the project.
2. Research and Planning
Once the brief was clear, I spent time studying the industry, the competition, and the target audience in the US market. This research helped me identify design trends that resonate with users there.
For example, minimal and clean designs are often appreciated in professional US-based business websites. At this point, I also prepared a sitemap and a rough content structure. Planning saves a lot of time later and avoids unnecessary revisions.
3. Wireframing and Design Mock-ups
Before jumping into WordPress, I always prepare wireframes or low-fidelity layouts. This helps clients visualise the flow without being distracted by colours or images.
Once the wireframes were approved, I moved to design mock-ups. For this client, I suggested a modern layout with strong typography and a colour palette matching their brand identity. I also ensured that the design supported responsiveness, because mobile-first is no longer a trend, it is a necessity.
4. Development in WordPress
After the design approval, the real fun begins. I set up a staging environment so the client could see the work in progress.
My process includes:
-
Setting up WordPress with a clean, lightweight theme.
-
Building custom sections with Elementor (or Gutenberg if requested).
-
Ensuring speed optimisation by using caching and image compression.
-
Making the site SEO-friendly with proper heading structure, metadata, and clean URLs.
At this stage, constant communication with the client is key. I kept updating them on the progress, and they could test each section as it was built.
5. Content Integration and Final Touches
A website without the right content is just an empty frame. Once the structure was ready, I integrated the client’s content – text, images, and videos. In some places, I suggested improvements for better readability and conversion.
Final touches included:
-
Adding call-to-action buttons in strategic places.
-
Testing the site on multiple devices and browsers.
-
Setting up basic security measures like SSL and plugins for protection.
6. Testing and Client Feedback
Before launch, I conducted a thorough testing phase. This included checking loading speed, responsiveness, and even small details like link redirections.
The client was also involved here – they tested the site from their end and provided feedback. Since the process was collaborative from the start, there were no major surprises, only minor tweaks.
7. Launch and Handover
The most satisfying moment is hitting the “launch” button. Once the site went live, I made sure everything was running smoothly. I also provided the client with a basic guide on how to manage their website, update content, and keep it secure.
I believe a project does not end with delivery; it ends when the client feels confident in using their new website.
Product Schema
{% if template.name == 'product' %}
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org/",
"@type": "Product",
"name": "{{ product.title }}",
{%- if product.featured_media -%}
{%- assign media_size = product.featured_media.preview_image.width | append: 'x' -%}
"image": [
{{ product.featured_media | img_url: media_size | prepend: "https:" | json }}
],
{%- endif -%}
"description": {{ product.description | strip_html | json }},
"sku": "{{ current_variant.sku }}",
"mpn": "{{ current_variant.barcode }}",
"brand": {
"@type": "Brand",
"name": "District A Design"
},
"review": {
"@type": "Review",
"reviewRating": {
"@type": "Rating",
"ratingValue": "5",
"bestRating": "5"
},
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Example site"
}
},
"aggregateRating": {
"@type": "AggregateRating",
"ratingValue": "5",
"reviewCount": "5"
},
"offers": {
"@type": "Offer",
"url" : {{ shop.url | append: variant.url | json }},
"priceCurrency" : {{ cart.currency.iso_code | json }},
"price" : {{ current_variant.price | divided_by: 100.00 | json }},
"priceValidUntil": "{{ 'now' | date: '%s' | plus: 31536000 | date: '%Y-%m-%d' | uri_encode | replace:'+','%20' }}",
"itemCondition": "https://schema.org/NewCondition",
"availability" : "http://schema.org/{% if product.available %}InStock{% else %}OutOfStock{% endif %}"
}
}
</script>
{% endif %}
BreadcrumbList Schema
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"itemListElement": [{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": "https://Examplesite.com/"
},{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "{{ product.title }}",
"item": "{{ shop.url }}{{ product.url }}"
}]
}
</script>
