For small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to establish or revamp their online presence, navigating the website creation process can feel overwhelming.
Whether you’re replacing an outdated site or building your first web presence, understanding these 12 key stages will help you create a website that attracts customers, showcases your offerings, and drives business growth, without requiring advanced technical expertise.
We specialise in creating multilingual international websites for businesses and these are the key stages we go through with our web design clients to ensure we deliver a successful new website that enables businesses to target users in multiple languages and also multiple countries.
12 Key Stages for International Website Creation
1. Requirements Scoping & Planning
Every successful website begins with thorough planning. This initial stage involves gathering information about your target customers, defining what you want your website to accomplish, and establishing clear objectives. Understanding who will use your website and why they’ll visit is fundamental to creating an effective design.
During this phase, you should determine:
- Primary and secondary audience demographics
- Core business objectives your website must support
- Key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success
- Competitive analysis to identify market positioning
- Platform selection based on business needs (WordPress, Shopify, Wix/Squarespace, or custom solutions)
According to a study by the Content Marketing Institute’s 2021 B2B Content Marketing Report, websites that begin with a documented strategy are 329% more likely to report success than those without clear objectives. This planning stage lays the foundation for all subsequent decisions and helps prevent costly revisions later.
Platform Selection Considerations
Choosing an appropriate platform early is crucial for website functionality and future growth. Options include:
- WordPress: Highly customizable and powers approximately 42% of all websites
- Shopify: Specialized for e-commerce with built-in payment processing
- Wix/Squarespace: User-friendly for beginners with drag-and-drop interfaces but not advisable for multilingual websites
- Custom-built solutions: Tailored for specific business requirements
The right platform depends on your specific needs, technical capabilities, budget, and long-term objectives. This decision impacts everything from development time to ongoing maintenance costs and should be made during the initial planning phase to guide all subsequent development work.
The majority of web projects we have delivered for clients have been on WordPress CMS platforms. We often recommend WordPress as a platform as it provides businesses with a Content Management System that is easy to update text and images on existing pages, add new pages on a website and also update the design and structure of web pages.
WordPress is also a very agile platform to assist in implementing various digital marketing strategies such as:
- Having the flexibility to create new web landing pages for specific advertising and email campaigns
- Implementing technical elements that help to optimise for generative engine optimisation
- Including advanced content marketing focused elements into existing and new pages
- Implementing web analytics tracking easily and quickly
2. Aligning with Existing or Creating New Brand and Design Guidelines
Before diving into actual design, establishing brand and design guidelines ensures consistency throughout the website. These guidelines typically include:
- Color palette selection
- Typography choices
- Logo usage specifications
- Image style guidelines
- Voice and tone for written content
These elements collectively create the visual identity that customers will associate with your business. Consistency in design builds trust and reinforces brand recognition across all touchpoints.
We always request brand guidelines from businesses we are creating a new website for and often help to create new brand guidelines if a business does not have any.
3. Mapping Website Structure and Information Architecture
The structure of your website determines how users navigate and find information. This stage involves:
- Creating a sitemap outlining all pages and their hierarchy
- Defining user flows and journey mapping
- Planning the navigation menu structure
- Determining content categorization
A logical website structure improves user experience and supports search engine optimization.
Some free online tools can help you create your website structure, such as https://www.gloomaps.com/, we regularly use tools like this to share a visual proposed hierarchy for a new website.
The key goal of this process is to ensure visitors can find what they need with minimal effort, reducing bounce rates and improving engagement metrics.
4. Page Structure & Design Planning
Deciding on the layout and design of each page on a new website is a critical process and can be approached using various methods.
Wireframing is a process that can be used to create skeletal outlines to determine and define:
- Page layouts
- Content placement
- Functional elements
- User interface components
Wireframing and page image mockup creation can be a process stage that can be skipped if a business wants to fast track the creation of their new website and also save on the overall web design cost. This can be done by creating live mockup web page structures on a development website.
As part of any web design project we build a new website first on our test development domain, creating a dedicated subdomain for each client. This enables us to be agile and provide live versions of new proposed web page designs and structures without the optional need for wireframes and image mockups first.
A key element of the website structure and design planning process is whether to take a mobile first approach or desktop first approach to design. The preferred approach can depend on factors such as:
- The preference and priority of the business
- The industry in which the business operates in
- The geographical location the business wishes to target with its new website
5. Development and Implementation
For small business owners, website builders within content management systems offer significant advantages over custom HTML development:
Benefits of Website Builders:
- User-friendly interfaces that don’t require coding knowledge
- Drag-and-drop functionality for easy content updates
- Built-in responsive design capabilities
- Pre-designed templates that ensure professional appearance
- Integrated content management systems for easy updates
- Lower upfront development costs
- Faster implementation timeframes
While custom HTML websites provide greater flexibility, they typically require ongoing developer assistance for even minor updates and can end up being a deceptive way of tying businesses to web development companies in order for them to generate more revenue.
With the inclusion of a user-friendly page builder add-on feature in CMS such as WordPress, businesses can build new pages in-house themselves if they wish to, reducing the need and cost for specialist web developers to update and build additional pages into their website.
We provide our clients with video tutorials on how to use page builders we integrate into their website platform, so they can edit website pages and also create new ones if they wish to.
Optimizing for Responsive Design
Today’s users access websites on multiple devices, making responsive design non-negotiable. Mobile optimization is particularly crucial as:
- Mobile devices generate 54.8% of global website traffic according to Statista’s 2023 report
- Google uses mobile-first indexing for search rankings as confirmed by Google’s own developer documentation
- 57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site according to a Google/Ipsos study
Responsive design ensures your website functions seamlessly across all devices by automatically adjusting layouts, image sizes, and navigation elements to provide an optimal viewing experience.
The previous Page Structure & Design Planning stage often determines how the mobile version of your website needs to look and be structured, and any mobile-focused wireframes and defined mockups created during that stage are then implemented during this stage.
Testing and Gathering Feedback Through Draft Review Stages
Our typical development process includes several structured review stages to ensure your complete satisfaction:
- Initial Layout Review: After basic structure implementation, we present a preliminary version for approval of overall layout, navigation structure, and content placement.
- Content Integration Review: Once approved layouts are populated with your content, we conduct a comprehensive review to ensure all text, images, and functional elements are properly integrated and consistent with brand guidelines.
- Functionality Testing Review: We then test and review all interactive elements, forms, and specialized functions to confirm they work properly across devices and browsers.
- Final Pre-Launch Review: A complete walkthrough of the entire website to catch any remaining issues before finalizing for launch.
Each review stage includes detailed documentation of feedback and required changes, with clear timelines for implementation and subsequent review. The feedback gathered during this stage informs necessary revisions, helping refine the website before it goes live. This iterative process is essential for delivering a polished final product that meets your business objectives.
6. Content Creation
In our experience, we find that the content creation process for a website is the main critical path stage to be able to launch the website.
During the Scoping and Planning stage it’s important to clearly define which stakeholders will produce the required content for the website, whether that is the business (the client) or whether support from your website provider to produce content will be provided.
The content creation process involves:
- Agreeing on the remits for production of the content (part of the initial planning & scoping phase)
- Ensuring all content produced aligns with brand guidelines
- Developing compelling copy that speaks to your audience
- Creating visual assets that support your message
One of the key processes we often need to agree with clients on is whether the content included in the new website should shape and prioritise the design, layout and structure or whether the design, layout and structure should be prioritised to dictate the text and image content to be included. We believe there is no correct approach in what elements to prioritise and it should depend on a business’s key primary objectives.
We provide copywriting text in various languages when required for our clients and also provide icons and images if needed too.
7. Multi-language Setup and Localization
For businesses targeting diverse markets, implementing multi-language functionality is essential. This stage includes:
Selecting Languages Strategically
Choose languages based on concrete data rather than assumptions. Check your website analytics to see where visitors are coming from, review your current international customer base, and research language preferences in target markets. Start with one additional language that offers the most business potential before expanding further.
Website Structure Options
You have three main approaches for organizing multilingual content:
Subdirectories (example.com/id/): The simplest option for most small businesses. Keeps all content under one website and is easiest to implement with standard tools.
Subdomains (id.example.com): Creates separate “mini-websites” for each language. More complex to manage but offers cleaner separation.
Separate Domains (example.co.id): Complete country-specific websites. Best for businesses with truly distinct operations in different markets.
Technical Considerations Made Simple
Hreflang Tags: These invisible labels tell search engines which language version to show to which users. Most website builders and language plugins handle this automatically.
Cultural Adaptation: Effective translation goes beyond words. Consider adapting images, colors, date formats, payment methods, and cultural references to resonate with local audiences.
Design Flexibility: Languages take up different amounts of space (German can be 30% longer than English, while Japanese may be shorter). Ensure your design can accommodate text expansion and contraction.
Start with a small, focused approach by translating your most important pages first. Use proper translation tools or professionals rather than free machine translation, and always have native speakers review your content before launch. With proper implementation, multilingual functionality opens doors to new markets and customers who might otherwise never discover your business.
Creating an Efficient Internationalisation Process
As part of preferred website development processes, we can duplicate existing core sections into additional language sections quickly and efficiently. The more complex part is ensuring the content is localised for every target language and for that we ensure all copy is proofread by native language speakers.
Examples of International websites we’ve developed
8. SEO & Generative Engine Optimization Implementation
Implementing best practice SEO foundations on a new website is something you should consider if you believe traffic coming from organic search will provide benefits to your business such as increased brand awareness and inquiries.
With the increasing adoption of AI search assistants such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, Grok and Deepseek a business also needs to consider whether their new website should ideally be frequently cited by these platforms. If so then including a Generative Engine Optimisation add-on as part of the new development should also be included.
As part of website development projects we offer SEO and GEO add-ons that typically include the following implementations:
SEO Add-on Implementation Focus:
- Comprehensive keyword research
- Content structure recommendations (aligned with target keywords)
- Metadata optimization for all key pages
- Image alt text and file name optimisation
- Optimised internal linking optimisation
- URL structure optimisation
- XML sitemap creation
- Robots.txt configuration
- Old URL redirect implementations (if required)
Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) Add-on Implementation Focus:
- Comprehensive AI search keyword research
- Content format recommendations
- Schema markup code recommendations (where relevant)
- AI Crawler Monitoring
- Creating a specific AI traffic performance monitoring dashboard
9. Web Analytics Implementation / Migration
An important part of launching any website is to ensure the performance of the new website can be measured correctly. To do this web analytics need to be set up on the website with the correct tracking code and configured to measure key website interactions such as form inquiry submissions.
If a business is updating their website, then typically the existing web analytics accounts need to be able to track the new website version, and so migrating the same tracking code needs to be implemented on the new website however new event tracking is usually required.
In most cases we provide Google Analytics configuration as an add-on option and this usually involves:
- Transferring the Google Analytics tracking code to the new website
- Configuring new event tracking via Google Tag Manager
- Setting new conversions names in either the existing or new Google Analytics account
When a new website is launched, we also recommend having the ability to review and analyse how the new website is being interacted with by users, so we suggest configuring an account on HotJar, which provides the ability to review heatmaps and watch videos of users interacting with the website.
10. Launching the Website
The website launch process is a critical transition requiring careful planning and execution:
Pre-Launch Checklist:
- Final content review and proofreading
- Cross-browser compatibility verification
- Mobile responsiveness confirmation
- Form functionality testing
- Link validation (internal and external)
- 404 page setup and testing
- Security certificate installation and validation
- Page load speed optimization
- Backup system verification
Launch Process:
- DNS configuration and propagation monitoring
- Server deployment with minimal downtime
- Redirects setup for existing pages (if applicable)
- Initial indexing request through Google Search Console
- Analytics tracking confirmation
- Post-launch functionality verification
- SEO auditing and new URL and page indexing in key search engines
The launch process is carefully managed to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption, maintaining business continuity throughout. Once the website is live, it is also essential to audit each page and ensure that all pages are indexed correctly in Google.
11. Training & Documentation
We provide comprehensive training and documentation to ensure you can confidently manage your new website:
- Hosting and website configuration details
- Technical specifications document
- Platform access and key setup details
- Website maintenance and management
- Website training video guides that include:
- Basics for editing website content
- Managing and editing content for specific features on the website
- Website technical housekeeping (admin dashboard, user management, plugin updates and clearing website cache)
Our documentation and training resources are designed to empower your team, giving you the confidence to maintain and update your website independently while knowing expert support is available when needed.
12. Post-Launch Maintenance
Your website is a critical business asset that requires regular attention, not an “add and forget” project. Neglecting maintenance leads to security vulnerabilities, broken functionality, and diminished search rankings.
Domain and Hosting Management
Domain and hosting maintenance forms the foundation of your website’s availability. Regular monitoring prevents domain expiration, ensures proper DNS configuration, and maintains SSL security. As your traffic grows, hosting performance should be evaluated to prevent slowdowns that could impact user experience and conversion rates.
CMS and Plugin Updates
Regular updates to your content management system and plugins are essential for security and functionality. Whether using WordPress, Shopify, or other platforms, core updates patch vulnerabilities while plugin updates prevent security risks. Test all updates in a staging environment first and replace outdated plugins that are no longer maintained by developers.
Content Management and Freshness
Regular content audits and updates maintain relevance, accuracy, and SEO performance. Refresh outdated information, optimize images for faster loading, and fix broken links to prevent user frustration. Fresh content signals to search engines that your site is active and relevant, improving rankings and user engagement.
Technical Performance Optimization
Performance optimization directly impacts conversion rates and user satisfaction. Regularly test page speed, mobile responsiveness, and browser compatibility as new content and features are added. Database cleaning removes unnecessary data that accumulates over time, preventing the performance degradation that naturally occurs as websites age.
Security Maintenance
Security breaches can devastate your business reputation and finances. Implement proactive security scanning, malware monitoring, user access reviews, and automated backups. Promptly apply security patches when vulnerabilities are discovered to prevent exploitation. These preventative measures cost significantly less than emergency recovery from security incidents.
We understand that time can be a scarce resource when running a business while still making sure your website is always in an optimized condition, so Taksu Digital offers a Website Maintenance Package to help ensure your website runs smoothly all the time.
Following these key stages will ensure a quality website is delivered
Creating a successful website for your small business involves multiple stages, each contributing to a final product that effectively serves your business objectives. By following these 12 key web design stages, it ensures that a business can create a website that not only looks professional but also drives real business results.
With the right platform and maintenance plan in place, your website can become your most valuable marketing asset, working 24/7 to attract customers, showcase your offerings, and grow your business. Remember that a website is never truly “finished” – it should evolve alongside your business and respond to changing user expectations and technological advancements. With proper planning and execution at each stage, your website will become a valuable asset in your digital strategy.
Download this checklist as an eBook.
Recommended Website Solutions
Here are some recommended options to help you build the right website infrastructure for your website:
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Stablepoint Hosting - Provide low-cost monthly web hosting in Asia locations with cPanel accessStablepoint Hosting - Provide low-cost monthly web hosting in Asia locations with cPanel access
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HostXNow - Provide low cost high quality hosting in Europe with no increase in fees after the initial termHostXNow - Provide low cost high quality hosting in Europe with no increase in fees after the initial term
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Alibaba Cloud - Provide high quality bespoke web hosting in China, Hong Kong (SAR) and other countries in AsiaAlibaba Cloud - Provide high quality bespoke web hosting in China, Hong Kong (SAR) and other countries in Asia
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HotJar: Review Heatmaps of web pages and watch how users interact with your website and your brandHotJar: Review Heatmaps of web pages and watch how users interact with your website and your brand
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Bitwarden - The most secure and trusted password manager for you and your businessBitwarden - The most secure and trusted password manager for you and your business
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GoDaddy - One of the world's most renowned domain registration companiesGoDaddy - One of the world's most renowned domain registration companies
