The Process, simply put, is the procedural methodology for putting together a web site (that's all just nerd-speak for, "how we do it"). From start to finish--depending upon the complexity of the required functionality--the process may involve anywhere from 3 to 10 specific steps, or more.

Basic steps of the process

1. Determine purpose of the web site.
   Determining the purpose of your website helps give direction and flow to the whole site. Having a purpose also helps better target your specific demographic audiences.
2. Determine target demographic(s).
   Knowing your target demographic is important because you cannot market to everyone in the same way. Male, female, young, old, Christian, honors student, specific major interests, are some of the myriad possible demographic considerations.
3. Organize content (text, photos, collateral content).
   Obviously, a website is nothing without the requisite content. Content should be well thought out, and at least minimally shaped for delivery on the web. While most content can easily be repurposed for use on a website, some content must be reworded or reworked, images must be recropped or reshot to be useable on the web. Keeping in mind one's target demographic(s), content should be delivered via media that is easily accessible (and affordable for). Movies, PDF files, Flash animations, etc. should be used to enhance the users' experience, never to detract from it.
4. Decide on main navigational points (main links).
   Your main links are pivotal to the utility of your website. You may have the greatest content ever thought up, but if your users cannot get to it (without using a search form), your site is useless. Sites should not have a mass of links on the home page just because you want users to find everything "easily". Your site should be organized and categorized so that you can narrow your links down to an absolute minimum. Having an effective navigational concept will also serve the purpose of organizing your site.
5. Decide on advanced functions/content of the site (programming, databases, video, PDF's, Flash, etc.).
   Just because you CAN use advance functionalities does not mean you SHOULD. Features such as Flash, PDF's, etc. should serve the user; the user should not be subject to the technology. In other words, if a user has to download Adobe Acrobat in order to see what time your office is open on Monday, your site is not user-friendly.
6. Layout web site. (La Sierra departmental/school sites must follow the standard format if they are to be designed/maintained by the office of the Webmaster)
   At this point, we've got the website structure figured out, and we are ready to put together the entire site. At this point we should have all our images, text, etc., and we can design, layout, and finish the site.
7. Test site in multiple environments (operating system and browser combinations).
   It's important to test the site on the various web browsers that your target demographic(s) might utilize. Between Windows and Mac, and all the various versions of both operating systems, there could be well over 20 "environments" used by visitors. At the least, you should test your site against Internet Explorer and Firefox for Mac OS 9, and X, and Windows XP. If you know your site uses things such as Javascript, Flash, and various movie files, you should test to make sure the user has the easiest path to using you site.
8. "Deliver" completed web site.
   This part of the process entails linking to the site from various web pages, indexing the site into the search engine (if relevant), and advertising the site.

Advanced steps of the process

9. HTML forms with/w/out database
   1. design HTML based forms for online completion and submission
   2. design database (if required)
   3. program web application to process HTML form(s)
   4. test forms, apps, and database, and notification functions
   5. note: some process details are left out for security reasons
10. Flash-based content
    1. determine goals for animation
    2. determine needs for animation
    3. design Flash content
    4. test Flash