How We Turn Our Clients' Vision Into Reality
(on time and on budget)
We hear it all the time.
“How did you do this?! I was dreaming of a site and you created it.”
Be Aligned is going on five years in business and it’s still our favorite feedback a client gives.
Just check out a few of these testimonials:
★★★★★
Be Aligned’s work is beautiful and professional.
They brought our vision to life and then some.
Their process is straightforward and easy, I recommend them to all my clients looking for a professional Web Design Agency.
— Colleen Sneed | Graphic Designer
Erin’s light, love, clarity, communication skills, and beauty her designs make her a no-brainer to work with. Everything about her process is easy.
She has an intuitive sense of how to speak about you in a visual way. It truly is a gift.
It’s an odd sensation being on the edge of destiny, but this is exactly how my site makes me feel.
— Debra Lynn | World-renowned Bel Canto Coach
Everything about Be Aligned’s style, responsiveness, process, communication, transparency, accountability, and tremendous skill set was clear from the first conversation.
We never once second-guessed our decision.
They say what they do and do what they say. There’s no gray area and nothing is ever lost to interpretation resulting in missed expectations.
We now have a stunner of a site that truly embodies our company, our team and our talent. Let me be clear—I’m not easy to please, my expectations are set very high.
But Erin is in a league of her own. I emphatically recommend Be Aligned if you are in search of a highly-skilled Web Design Agency. The caliber of Erin’s talent and level of integrity is second-to-none.
I look forward to partnering with Be Aligned again in the future and could not be more pleased with the return on my investment.
— Lisa Walczak, Design + Builder
(We’re not blushing, you’re blushing!)
So, how do we do it?
By following our proven process below.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Alignment Call
Chapter 2: Booking
Chapter 3: Onboarding
Chapter 4: Brand Strategy
Chapter 5: Copywriting
Chapter 6: Website Mockup
Chapter 7: Develop
Chapter 8: Launch Party
Chapter 1: Alignment Call
We conduct a fifteen-minute phone consultation with every lead.
It’s not a sales call, it’s an alignment call—and it goes both ways.
Of all the steps in our process, this is the most important because we learn if we’re a good fit for working together.
If we use money as the driving motivation the process can result in setbacks and missed opportunities (for both us and our clients).
If our agency isn’t the best fit for a project we don’t take it on. Period.
We all have a perfect business waiting to serve us. It’s why we don’t believe in competition.
At Be Aligned our processes is so unique we simply don’t compete with other agencies. If we’re not the best fit for a project we have an arsenal of referrals to recommend.
Meaning if someone is meant to work with us, they’ll know it, and so will we.
When values, beliefs, and expectations align both parties feel the synergy and the momentum propels the project forward.
So, how can we tell if a lead is in alignment with our agency?
We use these guiding factors:
They show a general excitement to work together
They’ve seen our work and know the investment. They understand what a professionally written and strategically designed website can do for their business.
Their mission serves a higher purpose
We believe we would live in a better world if we all owned and supported small businesses. Like the ripple effect of a stone dropped into a lake, it’s incredibly satisfying knowing the work we do supports businesses who positively impact the world.
They don’t ask for discounts
They know they can find another agency to work with who charges less but they’re ready to make an investment in their business (and themselves) in the process. They want a high-quality product that consistently generates a return on their investment.
They’re realistic about the timeline
They’re ready and eager to get started and understand the process to copywrite and launch their website can take up to four weeks from start to finish.
Chapter 2: Booking
We require a 50% deposit on the project and a signed contract to reserve a spot on our calendar.
We rarely miss project start dates and launch over 90% of our projects one time.
For every project milestone we have a strict timeline on our end to ensure we complete tasks on time and on the client’s end to ensure they provide feedback promptly.
Every step is laid out in our client contract which thoroughly details the project terms which keeps projects on track, confirms both parties know exactly what to expect, and prevents scope of work creep.
Having clear boundaries and expectations is healthy for both us and our clients.
Chapter 3: Onboarding
Once a client signs their contract and pays their invoice, the official onboarding process begins.
They get access to their private client portal where they find everything organized and in one place including our emails, contract, invoice, Welcome Guide, and forms to complete for a successful project.
Our efficient and effective workflow ensures projects stay on track and specific action items are completed on time and on budget.
This brings us to the next step: Alignment Activation™.
Chapter 4: Alignment Activation
Before we begin the web design process we complete our proprietary Brand Strategy.
It’s the secret sauce to a successful project.
Our proven Alignment Activation™ framework is where Brand Strategy and Alignment collide.
It’s the lightning bolt your business needs to break through the noise of your market and strike the heart of your target audience.
Our proprietary process is an electrifying, transforming force that creates a powerful state of synchronicity within your business, building unstoppable momentum for your brand.
At the end of your Brand Strategy, you’ll have a detailed, purposeful plan to take your business from where you are to where you want to go, accelerating your results and multiplying your abundance.
We’ll differentiate you with our words and position you in the marketplace as the go-to expert and industry leader in your field, allowing you to shine brighter than everyone around you and attract dream clients right to your door.
Chapter 5: Copywriting
Website Copywriting, or writing the words on the website, is the most important step in the website process.
This is because we draw the visitor in with the design but we convert them with the copy.
After we complete the Brand Strategy, the copywriting phase begins.
We use the StoryBrand framework to copywrite all client website.
Our customers are bombarded with information daily and, in general, have very low attention spans.
When a visitor lands on our website we have five seconds (five!) to capture their attention or they’ll leave.
Contrast that with a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat or a book you simply can’t put down.
Story is the ONE THING that can captivate a human being’s attention (for hours, even!).
The proven power of story transmutes noise by organizing information in a way that people are compelled to listen and invites customers on a transformational journey to booking our services.
At Be Aligned, we write your vision statement and clarify your message so customers listen—striking the heart of your target audience and inspiring them to take action in booking your services.
Chapter 6: Website Mockup
After getting abundantly clear on our client’s goals and vision then the fun really starts!
Our websites are strategically designed to attract and captivate our client’s target audience and lead visitors down a clear path to taking action before leaving the site.
We implement everything we learned during the Brand Strategy and begin designing the site, starting with the homepage.
The homepage is the most important design element of the site so we always review it with the client to ensure the colors, fonts, and overall design is headed in the right direction.
After the homepage is approved we designing the rest of the site. When all pages are completed, we then conduct a walkthrough of the website.
We build up to two rounds of revisions into the review process where our client has the opportunity to either approve the design or provide feedback.
Because of our exceptionally detailed onboarding and Brand Strategy, we rarely need to implement extensive revisions but have them in place to ensure our client walks away with a site they love.
Regardless of the project, our goal is to create a custom design that exceeds our clients’ expectations, up-levels their brand, and establishes them as the expert in their industry.
Chapter 7: Develop
Once the website is approved we finish developing and coding the site.
Our mobile-first, responsive designs are tested on various browser sizes and types to ensure a flawless user experience.
The end product is a custom website that’s easy to use and gorgeous to look at and always a direct reflection of our client, their mission, and extension of themselves and their business.
Chapter 8: Launch Party
Pop. Fizz. Clank.
Crack open the bubbly, it’s time to launch the site!
Once we develop and test the website, and our client is thrilled with the results, the remaining 50% of the invoice is due.
We then connect the domain and launch the site. At this point in the process, many clients need to clear their browser cache to view the updated website.
As part of our off-boarding process, we send our clients a Project Success Kit to seamlessly close out the project and set them up for success when using their website, now and in the future.
The Project Success Kit outlines important information on what they need to access their site and includes a detailed training video on how to make changes / updates to their website.
When we officially hand over the keys to the castle we want our clients to be empowered to make future updates themselves.
Often times clients elect to have us maintain their website so they can focus on what they do best—running their business.
Our no-contract Monthly Support Plan provides clients with a direct line to our agency where we’re available by phone and email should they need updates to their website.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of investing in a custom website it’s an exciting time for you and your business. We recommend interviewing several agencies and hiring the one that feels most aligned.
We highly recommend ensuring whoever you work with has a detailed and clear roadmap for success so you can be confident in your investment and always know what to expect next in the process.
It took us a half-decade to flesh out our systems and we learned immensely from our mistakes along the way.
Because our process keeps us on track we’re able to put our time, energy, and attention into the most important aspects of every job: delivering exceptional work for our clients.
We’re 100% invested in our clients and want to see you have the same success we have.
We truly believe when you succeed, we succeed.
If you’d like to grab a complimentary, no-obligation consultation you can schedule a coffee chat with me here.
To your continued success,
Your friends at Be Aligned
Ready to get a Strategically Designed Website with Copy that Converts?
Schedule a call today
