How Long Does it Take to Build a Website?

‍Project Scope and Complexity

The first and biggest factor affecting the time it takes to build your website is the scope and complexity of the project. As you might guess, a simple, static website with a few pages will take less time to build than a dynamic e-commerce platform with intricate features and functionalities. The former might only take a few weeks, while the latter could take six or more months. Before beginning a web design project, our team at Miolo will help you determine realistic timelines that align with your business goals. Oftentimes, we’ll start with your target launch date in mind, and work backward from there to determine the right project scope. (For what it’s worth, our average project timeline at Miolo is 3 months). 

Content Writing and Branding

Two parts of the web design process that are easy to overlook are content writing and branding. Without well-written website copy and a cohesive brand identity, your website will fall flat and probably won’t generate the conversions you want. If you’re looking to build or redesign your website, but you don’t have website copy and brand guidelines (such as logos, fonts, and color specifications), make sure you build these efforts into your project timeline. They might add a few weeks to your project timeline, but trust us, it’s worth the extra time. Plus, having these materials on-hand will save you a lot of time down the line as you grow your business and prepare additional marketing materials beyond the website.

Client Feedback and Input

One of the other main factors contributing to your web build timeline is…you! Any good freelancer, web design company, or agency will require your input and feedback at various points throughout the project. And it’s up to you to respond in a timely manner. At Miolo, for example, we request client materials upfront (logo files, photos, service descriptions, etc.), and then we require clients’ feedback after each project phase: branding, writing, design, and development. This system ensures we stay aligned with your vision and goals throughout the project, and it keeps us from having to waste time re-working at the end of the project. In short, providing your web designer with any materials or feedback they request in a timely manner is one of the best ways to speed up the pace of a project.

Closing Thoughts

Building a website is a complex process that demands a great deal of creativity, strategy, and technical expertise, so it’s important not to rush the process. That said, there are several different variables you can adjust to achieve your desired project timeline, including project scope, supplementary services (such as branding and content writing), and your own response times. Plus, there are always some creative strategies we use, such as launching website versions in batches corresponding to priority.

If you’d like to learn more or get a quote/timeline for your website build, feel free to contact us today. We’re happy to put together a project roadmap for you that outlines our recommendations on project scope, as well as costs and completion timeline. 

‍