At Webics, this is a question we are asked all the time. And we can relate. We live in the age of now. People are busier than ever and when they decide they want something they want it now (preferably yesterday). Christopher Muther published an insightful article in The Boston Globe a few years ago linking the prevalence of instant gratification (same day delivery services, dating apps & streaming services to name a few) with a wider phenomenon of impatience.
So it’s no wonder that when we tell our clients the average wait for a website is 3 months, we are met with surprise. However, once we explain why the development of a website takes as long as it does, our clients begin to understand that it’s time well spent and the final result will be a high-quality, fully functional website that isn’t achievable in two weeks.
Website Development Timeline
Most web design & development businesses have a well-defined process for building a website and can tell you roughly how long it will take to build the website you want. The key phrase here is “the website you want.” In other words, it is not always possible to give a precise estimate of time, because every project is different. However, depending on the speed at which content is provided, or feedback on content, a typical website can take an average of:
- 2 – 4 weeks – basic websites with no custom design
- 4 – 16 weeks (1 – 4 months) – custom websites
The clock starts ticking from the date your web developer is available. Most good web development agencies are usually booked for a least a couple of weeks, so it’s a good idea to start researching local web design agencies 4-6 months before you want your site to be live.
Here is a sample website development timeline:
When Will My Website Go Live?
The short answer is: it varies. Factors that crop up during the modification period will affect the launch date. These include:
- Design change requests
- Design inconsistencies
- Minor bugs
- Content delays
In our experience, content (or lack of) is the most common reason why websites are delayed from going live. Many businesses don’t realise how complex and time-consuming content creation is, and if you wait until the content and revisions phase to start writing your content, it is highly likely your website launch will be delayed. Planning your content is critical. Know what you want on the site, and start writing it during the design and development phases so it can be added immediately afterwards. Don’t have time to write your own content? Discuss a content and copywriting strategy during the analysis phase.
How Long To Build A Website: The Final Word
Building a website that looks good and that works takes time. The good news is that with a clearly defined strategy and a proactive web development company, you can avoid delays to your launch date. Communication is key and the best web design companies will value your feedback and ask for it at regular intervals.
Talk to Webics, your local web design agency, about building your business website and growing your brand today. We have specialists in every aspect of web design and digital marketing.
