{"id":5687,"date":"2026-05-23T13:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T16:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T00:53:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T03:53:44","slug":"including-professional-web-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/blog\/que-incluye-proyecto-web-profesional\/","title":{"rendered":"What a professional web project includes: what no one tells you before you sign up"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"intro\">\n<p>After more than a decade developing WordPress sites, I've seen a pattern that repeats itself: the client signs a quote, the project starts, and a few weeks later the <em>\u00abbut I thought that was included\u00bb<\/em>. The problem is almost never bad faith; the problem is that no one took the time to explain what a real professional web project includes.<\/p>\n<p>This article is the guide I would have liked to give to every client before the first meeting. I'm going to break down, point by point, everything that a serious web quote should include, what to ask for in a web design contract and how to define the scope of the web project so there are no surprises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Why you need to understand the scope of a web project before signing on<\/h2>\n<p>In my experience, most of the conflicts between client and developer arise from a poorly defined scope of the web project. It is not a minor issue: when the scope is ambiguous, hidden costs, stretched deadlines and broken expectations appear on both sides.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing exactly what is included in a professional web project gives you three specific advantages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>You compare budgets with criteria:<\/strong> you know if they are offering you the same or if a low price hides important cuts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>You avoid delays and cost overruns:<\/strong> by defining each deliverable up front, the \u00abextras\u00bb are no longer a surprise.<\/li>\n<li><strong>You get a result aligned with your business objectives:<\/strong> it's not about a pretty website, it's about a tool that generates results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The phases that every professional web project should include<\/h2>\n<p>A serious project doesn't start in Figma or WordPress. In my workflow, every project goes through very specific phases. If your provider skips any of them, you should ask why.<\/p>\n<h3>Initial analysis and strategy definition<\/h3>\n<p>Before touching a single line of code, we need to understand the business. This phase includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Definition of measurable objectives (capturing leads, selling products, brand positioning).<\/li>\n<li>Analysis of the target audience (buyer persona).<\/li>\n<li>Study of direct and indirect competition.<\/li>\n<li>Keyword research relevant to SEO.<\/li>\n<li>Inventory of necessary functionalities: forms, payment gateways, private areas, integrations with CRM or external tools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"warning\">\n<p><strong>Attention:<\/strong> If a supplier gives you a quote without asking you these questions, it is a warning sign. A web quote that does not include an analysis phase is, at the very least, incomplete.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>2. Web planning and architecture<\/h3>\n<p>With the strategy clear, the site structure is designed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Site map (sitemap):<\/strong> all the pages that the website will have, organized hierarchically.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wireframes:<\/strong> diagrams of each page showing the distribution of content blocks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical definition:<\/strong> what technology will be used (WordPress, custom development, headless CMS, etc.), what plugins, what hosting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work schedule:<\/strong> realistic timelines for each phase, with review milestones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In my WordPress workflow, this phase includes defining whether we need a custom theme or a theme builder, which core plugins we are going to use and how the content is going to be managed in the long term.<\/p>\n<h3>3. UX\/UI Design<\/h3>\n<p>This is where visual design comes in, but oriented towards conversion, not just aesthetics. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/nimioestudio.com\/blog\/que-debe-tener-tu-web-profesional\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Nimio Estudio<\/a>, a professional website must offer a smooth, intuitive and pleasant user experience, where the visitor understands in 5 seconds who you are, what you offer and how to contact you.<\/p>\n<p>What this phase should include in your budget:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Responsive design (mobile, tablet, desktop).<\/li>\n<li>Coherent design system: color palette, typography, iconography.<\/li>\n<li>Clear visual hierarchy with strategic CTAs.<\/li>\n<li>Defined review rounds (usually 2 or 3, not unlimited).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"critical-note\">\n<p><strong>Critical point in the web design contract - what to ask for:<\/strong> make sure the estimate specifies how many rounds of design review it includes. \u00abUnlimited revisions\u00bb sounds appealing but usually ends up in a project that never closes. In my experience, 2-3 rounds with consolidated feedback works much better.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>4. Technical development<\/h3>\n<p>This is the phase where the design comes to life in code. As a PHP and Vue.js developer, I know that what happens under the hood makes the difference between a website that works today and one that is still working three years from now.<\/p>\n<p>A serious web budget should detail:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Layout and front-end development:<\/strong> Semantic HTML, optimized CSS, functional JavaScript.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Back-end development:<\/strong> server logic, database, API integrations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Specific functionalities:<\/strong> advanced forms, search filters, e-commerce, memberships, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Performance optimization:<\/strong> image compression, caching, lazy loading, file minification.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Safety:<\/strong> SSL certificate, protection against SQL injections, firewalls, automatic backups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"code-block\">\n<p>Example of what should define the technical scope:<\/p>\n<pre>\n- CMS: WordPress 6.x\n- Theme: custom development (starter theme + ACF blocks)\n- Core Plugins: ACF Pro, WP Rocket, Wordfence, Rank Math\n- Hosting: VPS with LiteSpeed \/ Nginx\n- PHP: 8.2+\n- Integrations: HubSpot API for forms, Google Analytics 4\n- Backups: automatic daily backups with 30-day retention\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<h3>5. Content and on-page SEO<\/h3>\n<p>This is where many quotes get tricky: are the texts written by the developer, the client or an external copywriter? Are the photos included or not?<\/p>\n<p>This should be made clear in the contract:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who writes the text on each page.<\/li>\n<li>If keyword research and on-page SEO optimization is included.<\/li>\n<li>Who provides the images (image bank, photo shoot, stock).<\/li>\n<li>Metadata configuration: titles, descriptions, Open Graph for social networks.<\/li>\n<li>Friendly URL structure and redirects (if it is a migration).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"good-practice\">\n<p><strong>Good practice:<\/strong> In my workflow I always include the basic technical SEO setup (XML sitemap, robots.txt, basic structured data) as part of the project. But long-term content strategy is a separate service. Make sure your provider distinguishes the two.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>6. Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)<\/h3>\n<p>Before launching, a professional project goes through a battery of tests:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Testing in multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).<\/li>\n<li>Testing on real devices (not only simulators).<\/li>\n<li>Validation of forms and conversion flows.<\/li>\n<li>Speed test (PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix).<\/li>\n<li>Web Accessibility Review (WCAG).<\/li>\n<li>Verification of broken links and 404 errors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>7. Launching and production start-up<\/h3>\n<p>The \u00abgo live\u00bb is not simply a push of a button. It includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Migration of the development environment to production.<\/li>\n<li>DNS and SSL certificate configuration.<\/li>\n<li>Verification in Google Search Console and Analytics.<\/li>\n<li>Implementation of 301 redirects if it is a redesign.<\/li>\n<li>Post-launch monitoring during the first 48-72 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>8. Post-launch maintenance and support<\/h3>\n<p>A professional web project does not end with the launch. As highlighted by <a href=\"https:\/\/jiglobalsolutions.com\/blog\/diseno-y-desarrollo-web-10\/que-fases-tiene-un-proyecto-de-desarrollo-web-profesional-1457\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">JI Global Solutions<\/a>, The maintenance, improvement and evolution phase is an integral part of the life cycle of any web site.<\/p>\n<p>Ask your supplier:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Does it include a post-launch warranty period, and for how long?<\/li>\n<li>What does the monthly maintenance cover (WordPress updates, plugins, backups, security monitoring)?.<\/li>\n<li>What is the cost and turnaround time for changes or improvements outside the original scope?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How much does a company charge for a website?<\/h2>\n<p>This is probably the question I hear the most. And the honest answer is: it depends on the scope.<\/p>\n<p>A 5-page institutional site with custom design, basic SEO optimization and hosting configuration does not cost the same as an e-commerce site with 500 products, payment gateway, ERP integration and shipping system.<\/p>\n<p>What I can tell you is what the web budget should include to be comparable:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Breakdown by phase:<\/strong> each stage with its price and deliverables.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Number of pages or templates:<\/strong> a website\u00ab is not the same as \u00bb8 pages with 3 different templates\u00ab.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Explicit functionalities:<\/strong> every form, every integration, every automation listed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What is NOT included:<\/strong> as important as what is. Annual hosting, domain, content, photography, maintenance - everything should be explicit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Payment terms and conditions:<\/strong> milestones associated with deliverables, not arbitrary dates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"warning\">\n<p><strong>Warning signal:<\/strong> Be wary of one-line quotes like \u00abProfessional Web Design - $X\u00bb. Without a breakdown there is no way to know what you are buying and what is left out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What does a web developer do in a company?<\/h2>\n<p>A professional web developer is not \u00abthe one who makes the page\u00bb. In my experience, the role encompasses much more:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Technical consulting:<\/strong> recommend the best solution for each business need.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Software architecture:<\/strong> define how the application is structured to be scalable and maintainable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Custom development:<\/strong> create plugins, themes or functionalities that do not exist in standard solutions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Performance optimization:<\/strong> ensure that the website loads fast and offers a good experience on all devices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Safety:<\/strong> protect the web against attacks, implement best practices and keep everything up to date.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Systems integration:<\/strong> connect the web with CRMs, ERPs, email marketing platforms, payment gateways and third-party APIs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Continuous support:<\/strong> solve problems, implement improvements and adapt the website to new business needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A good web developer is a strategic ally, not a task executor. If your supplier only takes orders without questioning or proposing alternatives, he is probably not providing as much value as he should.<\/p>\n<h2>What to ask for in a web design contract: definitive checklist<\/h2>\n<p>Before signing, make sure the contract or proposal includes clear answers to these questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is the exact scope of the project (number of pages, functionalities, integrations)?.<\/li>\n<li>How many rounds of design review are included?<\/li>\n<li>Who is in charge of the content (texts, images, videos)?<\/li>\n<li>What if I need something that was not in the original scope (change request process and costs)?.<\/li>\n<li>Does the source code belong to me at the end of the project?<\/li>\n<li>Who contracts and manages the hosting and domain?<\/li>\n<li>Does it include web management training?<\/li>\n<li>Is there a warranty period and what does it cover?<\/li>\n<li>What does the maintenance plan include and how much does it cost?<\/li>\n<li>What are the delivery deadlines and what happens if they are not met?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"good-practice\">\n<p><strong>Good practice:<\/strong> always ask for a detailed written proposal before signing. A professional vendor should have no problem detailing exactly what is included and what is not. If the answer is vague, the project probably will be too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Common mistakes you should avoid<\/h2>\n<p>In my experience with hundreds of WordPress projects, these are the mistakes I see repeated:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Choose supplier based on price only:<\/strong> cheap is expensive when the site has to be redone the following year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Not defining who provides the content:<\/strong> the project is held up for weeks waiting for texts that no one has assigned.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ignore maintenance:<\/strong> a website without updates is a vulnerable website.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not ask for access:<\/strong> hosting, domain, Analytics, Search Console - everything should be in your name.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Skip the testing phase:<\/strong> to launch without QA is to invite bugs to the party.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Your next step<\/h2>\n<p>If you've made it this far, you already have a much clearer idea of what a professional web project includes and what questions to ask before signing up. The scope of a well-defined web project is the difference between a smart investment and a frustrating expense.<\/p>\n<p>If you are evaluating a new website or a redesign and want to know exactly what you need and how much it costs, I can help you. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/contact\/\">Request a detailed proposal<\/a><\/strong> and I will prepare an itemized web budget, without fine print and with everything your project needs to really work.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despu\u00e9s de m\u00e1s de una d\u00e9cada desarrollando sitios en WordPress, he visto un patr\u00f3n que se repite: el cliente firma un presupuesto, el proyecto arranca y a las pocas semanas empiezan los \u00abpero yo pens\u00e9 que eso estaba incluido\u00bb. El problema casi nunca es la mala fe; el problema es que nadie se tom\u00f3 el [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agencia-y-presupuesto"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5687"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5687\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5732,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5687\/revisions\/5732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awp.agency\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}