FAQs

Basic:

What’s the process to get my product from idea to market?

The process is broken down into three overarching phases. The first phase is discovery, where we learn about your product idea, business goals, industry competitors, and end users. We then move into the design phase, where we follow a user-centered design process to reach a final design. The designs are then handed off to the development team for the third and final phase. They will implement the design through code, make any needed adjustments, and help you launch.

What are the steps in getting my site built?

We handle many different types of projects, and the stages will depend on what your needs are: simple updates, redesigns, “I have an idea but I’m not sure how to get it done,” and “I know exactly what I want.”

• Discovery workshop (Typically 2-8 hrs)
• Design (Typically 1-4 weeks)
• Development (Typically 1- 8 weeks)
• QA testing (1-2 weeks)

How long will it take to create my website/app?

The timeline varies depending on the project and scope. The best way to find this out is simply to talk to us!

What results can I expect from using your services?

Our mission is to not only design and develop beautiful digital products for your team but to also meet and exceed your business goals.

The Design Process:

What is UX design?

“User experience design” is a design methodology that focuses on the end user of your product all throughout the design phase. By utilizing extensive user research, best practices in design, and behavioral psychology, we design digital products that are intuitive, useful, and beautiful.

What is the value of UX design?

UX design not only creates intuitive and enjoyable experiences for your end-user, but also provides business value by enhancing revenue and reducing future costs.

What is the design process like?

The design process can change depending on the stage of your product. At a high level, we follow a user-centered design process, starting with brand discovery calls with your team to get to know your business goals. We then move on to user research, and finally to high fidelity design, prototyping, and usability testing.

Why is the design phase important?

The design phase is important because it allows us to agree on the look and visual layout of your site. The design ensures that “nothing gets lost in translation” between your vision and needs and our implementation and execution. It is therefore extremely important that you take time to review and understand. Once you approve the design, your project manager and assigned development team will implement the visuals as well as the functionality of your site. If something is not in the design, we will not build it.

What is user research and what is the value of it?

User research is the first step in any design process to learn everything there is to know about your end users. By collecting quantitative and qualitative data through various user research methods, we can then make better design decisions that improve the overall user’s experience.

What is usability testing?

Usability testing is a vital part of the design process to test out a prototype of your concept. The goal is to identify problems in the design before launch, effectively saving on future costs of redesign and redevelopment.

How much control of the design do I have?

We will create the design as close to your team’s vision as possible. Although we will give design recommendations based on best principles and advocate for the end user, you have the final say in all design decisions.

The Development Process:

What are the steps in the development phase?

The development phase is where we build your project. First, we have weekly check-in meetings to ensure we are on the same page. We may need to discuss functionalities and design updates, and you’ll get a look at where your project is in development. Second, we invite you to look at pages step by step and give us feedback on the look and functionalities, such as if they are fully integrated. Third, once all the pages are built to specs, we go through a testing phase, and towards the end of this phase, we invite you to test your product to ensure that it works and performs as expected. Fourth, it’s time for launch — the day you show the world your site/app. Fifth and last, maintenance is where we improve, update, and fix your site on an ongoing basis.

What is the process for building and updating pages and functionalities?

The design is made as a visual aid for you to see the face of your project. Once you agree on the final layout, the functionality behind the visual interface is built. When we work on your site, we deploy a team that works together to ensure your vision not only looks but functions in a manner that you need. Your team typically consists of a Project Manager, a UI/UX Designer, 1-3 Software Engineers, and a QA Technician. 

Will I get a manual so I can make changes and simple edits myself?

This depends on the scope and agreed-upon level of client support, which will be decided before work is begun. However, if you’re ever unsure or have any questions, just reach out to your team and we’ll be ready to help!

Launch & Post-Launch Support:

When is my site/app done?

Your site/app is officially “done” when we launch. In reality, your site is never fully complete, as it is really a process and should always be treated as such. We accept feedback for 1 week after launch and will fix what is in the project scope, and will provide estimates for updates that are not in scope.

My site launched but something broke. Who should fix it?

BitsByteSoft is responsible for bugs that arise from the code we write one week post-launch. If a bug appears after one week or due to new installations of plugins, apps, add-ons, or updates, we will happily repair and fix these issues at an agreed-upon hourly rate, or use hours from your maintenance packet where we provide support at a reduced rate.

Billing & Maintenance:

How do you bill?

We use a monthly package rate for our projects. We only bill for strategy, design, and development hours. All ancillary services that going into making the project a success, such as product management, project management, testing, and quality assurance are included in the monthly package rate.

How can I see what I’m paying for?

After your site/app has gone live, we share a maintenance Google Doc with you where each task we work on is listed in detail with estimated work time, date of request, who requested it, etc. In this manner, we commit to full transparency about maintenance hours and how they are spent. We occasionally find minor bugs and issues and will add those if they are less than an hour to fix. Fixes requiring more investment are always discussed with you prior to updating.

What type of monthly maintenance packages can I purchase and what do I get?

BitsByteSoft offers many maintenance solutions that are customized to fit your needs. Setting up a recurrent maintenance package guarantees that we have resources set aside for you at a reduced rate.

How many maintenance hours should I get?

We recommend that immediately following launch you get 10-30hrs/month while you get acquainted with your new site/app and its functionality. After about 2-3 months, most of our partners drop their hours down to 3-10hrs/month depending on project size and traffic. You can change the maintenance hours prior to the 1st of the month.

What if I want to make changes to the design?

Your assigned designer will make the update, you approve, and we implement the update according to our agreed-upon rate. This amount may be less if we use the hours in your maintenance package, and more if we use hours beyond that package.

Can I make changes to the functionality of my site?

Your Project Manager will provide an estimate for the update and get approval from you prior to implementing a change. The rate will depend on if we use hours from your maintenance package or if you decide to pay for additional hours of time.