By: Piyali Das
Building web pages and microsites in today’s digital landscape requires precision and adherence to best practices. In this guide, we’ll explore six golden rules of web production to streamline your web development process and guarantee client satisfaction.
- Master Your CMS and Stay Updated
Understanding your Content Management System (CMS) is essential. Diving into documentation, training materials, and replicating challenging page builds can help with gaining firsthand experience. When approaching a build, ask key questions such as if this is a net-new page or a redesign, what the navigation structure entails, and if there are any associated child pages. Sticking to CMS guidelines will help with the longevity of the page as well as if the build is used for future localization. With assets, familiarize yourself with the file uploading system, especially with maintaining an organized folder structure. Remember to prioritize load speed for larger assets and regularly save versions to safeguard your progress.
- Collaborate with Designers and Stakeholders
Engage early in the design process to identify and address potential build challenges, which will also facilitate alignment between the design and CMS capabilities. Staying involved in discussions about complex designs or asking for design files early in the process is helpful in case anything needs to be flagged.
- Prioritize Responsive Design
Always consider mobile and tablet users, especially if they make up a significant portion of your site’s traffic. If the mobile design isn’t included with the mockup, you may need to use your best judgment on how to stack columns, have adaptable assets, and guarantee that all functional elements are user-friendly on mobile devices.
- Ensure Accessibility Compliance
Make your web content accessible to all users. Verify compatibility with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies.
- Optimize for SEO
Enhance your pages for search engines by adding metadata, keywords, social sharing options, and appropriate header tags. For example, you can use relative internal links for better SEO performance or implement redirects as needed to maximize traffic to your pages.
- Perform Quality Assurance and Track Feedback
Conduct thorough quality assurance by comparing the final build to the original mockup and copy. Implement a feedback tracker to manage ongoing changes, assets, and responsibilities. This tool keeps everyone informed and helps guide the project to its final phase before going live.
Following these six essential rules will elevate your web production process and empower you to deliver successful results.
