Typical website timelines
| Type of website | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| One-page or very small site | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Small business website (5 to 15 pages) | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Ecommerce website | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Larger bespoke website | 6 to 16 weeks |
These are typical ranges, not promises. Every project is different, and a clear plan at the start is the best way to keep things moving.
The stages of a website build
1. Discovery and planning (a few days to a week)
Understanding your business, goals and customers, and agreeing the pages and features needed.
2. Keyword research and sitemap (a few days)
Working out which searches the site should target and mapping them to pages. This step is what makes a site rank, so it's worth doing properly.
3. Design (1 to 3 weeks)
Layouts and the visual look, usually with one or two rounds of feedback.
4. Content (runs alongside design)
Writing the words and gathering photos. This is the most common cause of delays.
5. Build (1 to 4 weeks)
Turning designs into a working site, adding schema, forms and integrations.
6. Testing and launch (a few days)
Checking speed, mobile, forms and links, then setting up redirects, analytics and Search Console.
What slows website projects down
- Waiting for content, photos or logins
- Lots of rounds of feedback, or decisions by committee
- Adding new pages or features midway through
- Complex integrations with booking, stock or accounting systems
- Domain and hosting access held by a previous supplier
How to speed up your website build
- Gather your logo, brand colours and best photos before you start
- Choose one person to give feedback and sign off
- Find your domain and hosting logins early
- Share examples of websites you like
- Agree the page list up front and save extras for phase two
What happens after launch?
Launch is the start, not the finish. Google usually takes days to weeks to discover and index new pages, and rankings build over the following months. See how long local SEO takes for what to expect.
Our website timelines
Most of the small business websites we build go live within a few weeks of receiving content, with online shops and bespoke builds planned to a clear timeline at the start. Every site is SEO and GEO optimised as standard. Find out more about our web design in Milton Keynes, from £400.