What You Need to Know Before Kicking Off Your Website Project

12 april 2025

A practical guide for Freeline Studio clients in the United States

Launching a new site is exciting, but the process runs smoothest when everyone—client and agency—knows exactly what happens when. Use this step‑by‑step guide to understand what we’ll deliver, what we’ll ask of you, and how to keep your project on schedule and on budget.

1. Contract Signed? Great—Now Gather Your Assets

Why it matters: The sooner we have real content, the sooner you’ll see a prototype that feels like your site.

What we need from you Examples & tips
Final (or near‑final) copy Product/service descriptions, shipping & returns, company story, legal pages.
Media High‑resolution photos, brand videos, slide decks, certifications.
Legacy material Old sites, brochures—anything we can repurpose.
Contact details Phone, email, social links.
Hosting & domain info Where the finished site will live; access credentials if you already have them.

Pro tip: Review the Statement of Work one more time. If something is unclear, ask your project manager now—changes get pricier later.

2. Low‑Fidelity Wireframe (“Gray Prototype”)

Think of this as a skeleton: all structure, no skin.

  • Where you’ll review: A share‑link in Figma (works right in your browser).
  • Your checklist:
    1. Copy accuracy – does the text read the way you want it published?
    2. Element placement – do sections flow logically?
    3. Text volume – if you expect more or less copy, tell us so we can show the impact.

Once you email or Slack “Approved,” we lock the layout and move on.

3. Visual Design

Now the personality shows up: colors, fonts, imagery, and micro‑interactions.

  • Review in Figma just like the prototype—only now it looks like a real site.
  • Focus on big‑ticket items:
    • Does the design support your goal (sales, lead gen, brand authority)?
    • Are colors and typography on‑brand and accessible?
    • Is copy still correct? This is the easiest stage to tweak wording.

Heads‑up: After you sign off on design, later changes are billed as change orders.

4. Front‑End Development (HTML / CSS / JS)

We turn flat designs into clickable pages and host them on a private staging URL.

What to test

  • Pixel‑perfect match to approved mock‑ups.
  • Responsive behavior on desktop, tablet, and phone.
  • Cross‑browser rendering (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge).
  • Copy & links—look for typos or broken anchors.

Confirm everything in one consolidated feedback list so we can fix fast.

5. Integration & Back‑End Build

Here’s where we wire up the CMS, databases, APIs, and any third‑party services (CRM, email marketing, payment gateways).

  • Staging link still applies, but now forms submit and dashboards populate.
  • You should:
    • Submit test inquiries or orders.
    • Verify data lands in the right inbox or system.
    • Flag anything that doesn’t behave as specced.

Avoid asking for major design changes here—they ripple through code and cost extra.

6. Content Population

Whether we’re loading content or you’re doing it in the CMS, timing is everything.

  • Deliver final assets early. Late copy = delayed launch.
  • Spot‑check pages for missing images, price typos, or outdated PDFs.
  • Report errors immediately so we can correct in the same sprint.

7. Launch & Handover

With your green light we:

  1. Migrate the site to your host (or recommend a rock‑solid U.S. provider if you need one).
  2. Point the domain, install SSL, and run final performance checks.
  3. Hand over admin credentials plus a quick‑start guide.

At this point the project is formally delivered.

8. One‑Year Warranty & Ongoing Partnership

For 12 months after launch we fix any bugs related to the approved scope—free of charge. Need new features, marketing landing pages, or a support retainer? Just ping your project manager; we love long‑term collaborations.

Key Takeaways

  • Front‑load content—it accelerates every subsequent phase.
  • Approve decisively—each stage sign‑off keeps the timeline (and budget) intact.
  • Test early, test often—your feedback is most valuable before launch.

Ready to build something great together? We’re just a call or email away.