Development catalog-site

A catalog-site is a convenient format for presenting goods on the Internet. Unlike an online store, they do not have a shopping cart, but allow the ordering of goods through the order form or by phone, and their development requires less development costs and time.

Saving money on creating a website

The development of directory sites does not require large investments, which makes it ideal for small companies or startups who want to quickly launch their business on the Internet with minimal costs.

There is no complex functionality of the online store

Creating a catalog-site is much easier than making an online store, so it does not require the connection of ordering and payment functions for goods, payment systems, special functions and modules. This simplifies development as well as startup, maintenance, and administration.

Emphasis on product demonstrations and marketing

Unlike a regular site, the catalog is focused on the placement of multimedia materials, which allows you to demonstrate the product as fully as possible by adding a photo, video and text description to it.

Етапи розробки сайта-каталога

Interview with the client
Interview with the client
Concept and definition of customer needs

The creation of a catalog site begins with communication with the customer in order to learn more about the future project, to understand the wishes and requirements of the client.

At this stage, we will learn:

  • Basic information about the company - industry, products or services offered, niche features, target audience, competing companies, position of the company in the market;
  • Project information - expected site structure, scope of work, projected budget, materials from the client, additional information;
  • Website requirements - required design style, examples of competitor websites, corporate colors, brand book.
We study the materials provided by the client: terms of reference, brand book, competitor sites as a good example. After that, we negotiate the preliminary terms and cost of developing an electronic catalog.

Study
Study
Business research before website development

The study is conducted on the basis of the information collected during the interview. It is necessary in order to further develop a detailed TOR for creating a site that will differ from the resources of competitors and will solve the client's tasks.

At this stage, we:

  • study the target audience and its requirements;
  • we form a portrait of an ideal client;
  • determine the competitive advantages of a product or brand;
  • analyze the scope and market niche of the customer’s company;
  • analyze the market and the niche of the customer's business;
  • we study competitors' sites to identify their strengths and weaknesses;
  • estimate the potential volume of traffic to the future site.
The collected information allows clarify the scope of work within the project, clarify the timing and cost of the catalog site.

UX & UI design
UX & UI design

At this stage, the designer creates a website design based on previously created prototypes. The work is based on the client's brand book, which serves as a guide in terms of visual style, colors and location of all elements of the resource.

Graphic elements are added and blocks with content are structured. After preparing the design, the creation of the catalog site proceeds to the layout stage.

Design is necessary to break down the creation of a catalog site into stages, divide the work between different specialists and determine the required functionality.

Design includes:

  • determining the goals of creating a company catalog site ;
  • analysis of the content of the project and its features;
  • preparation of the architecture of the resource and the structure of individual pages;
  • creation of a layout;

The need to integrate additional programs and functions is being clarified, a content plan and a Customer Journey Map (CJM) are being prepared.

Technological Front-End
Technological Front-End
Cross browser and adaptability

The typesetter is engaged in typesetting and, if necessary, the programmer. The first analyzes the graphic design of the site, selects the appropriate template and creates it on HTML / CSS / JS, is responsible for cross-browser and adaptability.

The programmer connects to work in case it is necessary to develop a unique function which is not included in the list of standard. For example - a calculator with formulas.

Back-End development
Back-End development
Briefly what is happening «under the hood»

During the layout of the site, the Back End developer integrates a CMS or Framework into it, adds the necessary functionality and implements his own scenarios, for example: navigation through categories, operation of internal search and search filters, adding goods to the basket, connecting online payment on the site, synchronization with 1C /CRM and more

Content filling
Filling with content or transferring from the old site
Free your hands

We fill the pages with graphic and informational content, add photos and videos, texts that are useful to site visitors. Text materials are written on the basis of the semantic core, all graphic elements are placed in the logical structure of the site, after which they undergo internal optimization.

When transferring content from the old site, we save all active links in the texts so that there are no 404 errors when clicking on them and traffic is not lost. If the URLs change, we create a 301 redirect map from the old URLs to the new ones so we don't lose your traffic. After that, our SEO specialists update the content and optimize it for the requirements of search engines.

Testing
Testing
A series of tests includes all the functions of the site

Testing is one of the important steps in the web development process. At this stage, developers test the functionality of all elements of the website. The goal is to find possible issues such as broken links or incorrect display of the mobile version and fix them.

Testing includes integration testing, stress testing, scalability testing, load testing, resolution testing and cross-browser testing. As soon as manual and automatic testing is completed, the landing page is ready to be launched on the server.

FAQ

How much does a catalog-site cost?

The price of the catalog-site is formed individually for each project, and is negotiated after the interview and preparation of the TOR.

How long does it take to create a catalog-site?

The term of the project implementation depends on its complexity, requirements for functionality, design and content. The average turnaround time for a project in FUTURE web studio is from two to seven months.

What to choose a catalog-site or an online store?

An online store is a resource with a complex structure, many connected modules and applications, which requires more costs and time for production. Catalog development takes less time and costs less, which allows you to quickly launch it and start promoting your business on the Internet.

What to choose a catalog-site or a business card site?

A catalog-site is more suitable for the presentation of goods, while a business card is more suitable for the presentation of a brand or company. A catalog site usually offers a site search, ratings and reviews, a detailed description of goods with detailed characteristics.