You’ve hired a web designer, you’re excited about your new website, and you’re hoping to launch next week. Unfortunately, that’s not how web design works.
A well-designed, properly functioning website takes time—and not just because of the designer’s workload. More often than not, it’s clients who cause delays by missing deadlines, changing their minds, or failing to provide necessary materials.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How long a website really takes to build.
- The most common client delays (and how to avoid them).
- How to keep your web project on schedule.
If you want your website done on time, read this before making unrealistic demands!
1. How Long Does It Really Take to Build a Website?
A realistic timeline depends on the size and complexity of the project. Here’s a rough estimate:
✔ Basic Website (5–7 pages) – 4–6 weeks
✔ Mid-Sized Business Website (10–20 pages, custom design, some integrations) – 6–12 weeks
✔ E-Commerce Website (Custom shop, payment gateways, product listings, etc.) – 3–6 months
✔ Large-Scale Website (Complex functionality, membership systems, custom features, etc.) – 6 months+
🚀 Why does it take this long?
Because web design isn’t just “making things look pretty.” It involves:
- Planning & Strategy – Understanding your business, audience, and goals.
- Wireframing & Design – Creating layouts and testing user experience.
- Content Creation – Writing and organising all text, images, and branding materials.
- Development & Testing – Coding, integrating features, and ensuring the site works on all devices.
- Final Tweaks & Launch – Fixing last-minute bugs, optimising for performance, and setting up security.
A high-quality website is not something that can (or should) be rushed.
2. What Clients Do That Delays Their Own Website
Designers don’t want to delay your project—most of the time, it’s the client causing the hold-up. Here’s how:
1. Taking Forever to Provide Content
Your designer cannot move forward without the actual words and images that will go on your site. Yet, so many clients say:
- “I’ll get that content to you soon!” (Then disappear for weeks.)
- “Can’t you just make something up for now?” (No, your website needs real information.)
- “I thought you were writing the content?” (Only if you paid for copywriting services!)
🚀 Solution:
✔ Prepare your content before the design process starts.
✔ Be realistic—if you don’t have time, hire a writer (or pay your designer to do it).
2. Constantly Changing Your Mind
First, you love the design. Then, after showing it to your neighbour’s cousin’s dog walker, you decide to redo everything. This back-and-forth adds weeks to the timeline.
🚀 Solution:
✔ Provide clear direction upfront.
✔ Limit revisions to the agreed-upon rounds in your contract.
3. Delayed Feedback (or No Feedback at All)
Web design is a collaborative process. If your designer asks for feedback but you take two weeks to respond, expect your launch date to be pushed back.
🚀 Solution:
✔ Respond to emails promptly (within 48 hours is ideal).
✔ Batch your feedback instead of sending piecemeal changes.
4. Expanding the Scope Midway (Scope Creep)
At the start, you wanted a simple website. Now, mid-project, you suddenly want:
- A blog.
- A booking system.
- A full e-commerce shop.
- A custom app integration.
Each new request means more time, more work, and often, more cost.
🚀 Solution:
✔ Define the project scope clearly before work begins.
✔ If you need extra features, understand that the timeline will change.
5. Missing Payments
If you don’t pay invoices on time, don’t expect your designer to prioritise your project. No designer works for free, and delays in payment can pause work indefinitely.
🚀 Solution:
✔ Stick to the agreed payment schedule.
✔ If you need more time, communicate that instead of going silent.
3. How to Keep Your Website on Track
If you want your website done on time, follow these golden rules:
✔ Be Prepared – Have all content, branding materials, and key details ready before the project starts.
✔ Stick to the Plan – Avoid last-minute changes and unnecessary revisions.
✔ Communicate Promptly – Reply to emails and provide feedback within the requested time.
✔ Respect the Timeline – Understand that quality web design takes time, and rushing leads to a poor final product.
The smoother the collaboration, the faster your website gets completed.
If you want a high-quality website delivered on time, you need to:
✔ Have realistic expectations about how long web design actually takes.
✔ Avoid delays caused by missing content, slow feedback, or endless revisions.
✔ Work with your designer—not against them—to keep things moving smoothly.
Next step: Before your web project starts, ask yourself: Do I have everything ready? If not, take the time to prepare—your future website (and your designer) will thank you!
