Tako Mojo’s Strategic Web Development Process

Follow the 80/20 rule…

Creating a website is a journey that requires careful planning and execution. Together we need to ensure each step of the project flow is clear and impactful, setting the stage for your website’s success.

Tako Mojo’s development process has been refined through years of delivering results for Hawaiʻi businesses, from healthcare organizations to community nonprofits.

Roughly 80% of work will be done in planning so that the remaining 20% of development is smooth and impactful. This document outlines typical stages from an initial meeting to a grand launch, detailing what you can expect and what will be delivered.

As part of our development process, we take the time to understand if Tako Mojo’s services are the best fit for your specific goals. If we find that your needs would be better served elsewhere, we are committed to being transparent and will either recommend someone who aligns with your vision or let you know. Our priority is ensuring that you receive the support and expertise that truly benefit your project.

We are dedicated to crafting beautiful, functional websites tailored to your specific needs. While we excel at website design and can facilitate the integration of various technologies, it’s important to note that Tako Mojo, Inc. is not specialized in hosting or copywriting in the scope of site build pricing. We’re here to build your site and can assist in setting up functionalities like payment processors and SEO (SEO services priced separately from site builds). We can help optimize client-submitted images and files if necessary, please be aware that this will incur additional costs. Our goal is to empower you with a robust website platform, while also setting clear expectations from day one on our areas of expertise to ensure your ultimate satisfaction and success.

The adventure begins with understanding your vision, customers, goals and marketing mix. Tako Mojo will sit down with you to discuss your project’s objectives, target audience, desired functionalities, and overall look. We will jointly define the project scope and requirements, ensuring that we capture all your needs in a comprehensive document.

What Sets Us Apart: While many developers jump straight into requirements, we begin by understanding your business ecosystem, competitive landscape, and growth objectives.

Building on our strategic foundation, we dive deep into functional requirements and content planning.

Armed with your requirements, Tako Mojo will start the creative process. We’ll create mood boards, wireframes, and prototypes as needed to give you a tangible feel of what your website will look like. You’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback, and we will refine the designs until you are thrilled with the direction and the requirements are deemed feasible.

Visual & Functional Direction

  • Brand identity integration with colors, typography, and design aesthetic
  • User experience mapping for intuitive navigation
  • Responsive design planning across all device types
  • Accessibility compliance design (WCAG standards)
  • Custom iconography and visual elements when needed

Interactive Prototyping

  • Figma prototypes for testing user flows and interactions
  • Mobile-first design approach for optimal performance
  • Stakeholder review cycles with consolidated feedback integration
  • Design iteration based on usability testing

Design Lock-In and Scope Management 🔒

To ensure the project stays on track and within budget designs are signed off before development begins and are considered final. If you as the client are providing assets (images, files, videos, text) and/or other content, it is due before and noted at signoff. Whether you as the client choose to add content or have Tako Mojo add it, this choice will be agreed to and noted before development begins. This approach prevents scope creep and moving goalposts, which can lead to project delays and increased costs. Should you require changes or additions to design and/or functionality beyond this point, Tako Mojo is more than willing to discuss and accommodate them as a separate project.

  • Design changes after this point require separate project scoping.

Deliverable: Signed-off Figma prototypes and Design System documentation

Standards-Compliant Development

Once you sign off on the designs, Tako Mojo will bring them to life. During this phase, we develop the functional (WordPress) backend and beautiful front end of your website. It is important to note that major design changes are no longer feasible as of the beginning of this stage without affecting the project’s timeline and budget.

  • WordPress CMS implementation with custom themes and plugins when needed
  • Clean, maintainable code using HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL
  • Custom functionality development leveraging over a decade of programming experience
  • Database optimization for performance and scalability
  • Security implementation with WordFence and 2FA setup

Advanced Technical Capabilities

  • Custom WordPress plugin development for unique functionality
  • Complex database integration (MySQL, custom table structures)
  • API integration for third-party services
  • Progressive web app features when applicable
  • Performance optimization for speed and user experience

Real-Time Communication

Throughout development, clients have unfettered access via Loom recordings, Figma comments, virtual meetings, and established standup meetings. All decision-making is guided by design best practices and user data.

Deliverable: Fully functional website with documented codebase.

Tako Mojo tests your website to ensure functionality across common devices and browsers to address bugs and usability issues and ensure your website operates smoothly and meets your expectations.

Comprehensive Testing Protocol

  • Cross-browser compatibility testing on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • Multi-device testing on analog devices with varying operating systems
  • Performance optimization verified through Lighthouse and dev tools
  • Accessibility compliance testing and remediation
  • Security vulnerability assessment and hardening

Content Integration & Optimization

  • Content implementation following SEO best practices
  • Image optimization for web performance (additional cost for extensive work)
  • Meta data and schema markup implementation via RankMath
  • Analytics setup with Google Analytics, Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools

Deliverable: QA Report with performance metrics and security confirmation

Staging Environment

Before going live, we move your website to a staging environment—a replica of what the live site will be. This stage allows you to review everything in a real-world setting without public visibility. It is your chance to see your website in full action and approve the final product.

  • Complete site deployment in staging environment
  • Full functionality testing in production-like conditions
  • Client review and feedback integration
  • Final approval process before going live

Client Education & Training

  • Comprehensive CMS training via recorded Loom sessions
  • Best practices documentation for ongoing content management
  • Audiovisual training materials for user guidance
  • Admin workflow tutorials for efficient site maintenance

Training materials are created throughout the process for posterity and reference.

Deliverable: Staging site access and complete training materials

Final Sign-Off, Training, and Launch

Your final approval is crucial. Once you sign off, your website is ready to go live. It’s important to understand that any post-sign-off design changes are considered outside the original project scope, and will require a discussion regarding additional scope and costs.

Tako Mojo conducts a thorough Quality Assurance (QA) audit to ensure the website adheres to all predefined standards and requirements. This review covers functionality, performance, and security to guarantee a great launch.

Deployment & Go-Live

  • Production environment setup with hosting optimization
  • Domain and SSL configuration
  • Security protocol activation and monitoring setup
  • Performance baseline establishment for ongoing tracking

Post-Launch Support Structure

  • 30-day performance review with analytics assessment
  • Bug fix support for any deployment issues
  • Ongoing maintenance options available separately
  • Performance optimization recommendations based on real user data

Major design changes post-launch are considered separate projects.

Deliverable: Live website with performance documentation and maintenance guidelines.

By following this structured approach, Tako Mojo ensures a smooth and efficient process, resulting in a high-quality website that meets all your expectations. We value a clear understanding of each phase and a strong partnership with you to create something truly spectacular.

Our Technical Expertise

Core Technologies: WordPress, PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, SQL, MySQL
Security: WordFence, 2FA, security monitoring, hack definitions and alerts
Performance: Lighthouse optimization, cross-device testing, speed optimization
SEO Tools: RankMath, Google Analytics, Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools
Design Tools: Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, custom design systems
Development: Custom themes, plugins, and functionality development

Communication & Project Management

Transparency Throughout

Real-time project updates via established communication channels
Loom recordings documenting all major decisions and progress
Figma collaboration for design feedback and iteration
Regular standup meetings scheduled based on project needs
Open communication policy during development phases

Decision-Making Philosophy

We are the experts you hired. Decisions are made collaboratively, but based on:

  • Design best practices backed by industry standards
  • User experience data and proven methodologies
  • Performance optimization principles
  • Conversion optimization research

If you want to override expert recommendations, that’s your prerogative, but you came to us for our expertise.

  • We work collaboratively, but will fire clients who insist on Hippo (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion) or “design by committee” (everyone dogpiles with subjective opinions) decisions that contradict user experience best practices, and data-driven conclusions.

Why Choose Tako Mojo

Tako Mojo specializes in delivering strategic web development services to Hawaiʻi businesses. We combine collaborative communication with technical excellence, ensuring every project serves both immediate needs and long-term growth objectives.
Set pricing over hourly billing helps keep budgets predictable and focuses on delivering value rather than tracking time.
Our process has been proven through diverse projects, from complex healthcare resource locators with custom database integration to e-commerce sites with advanced functionality, all built with the same commitment to strategic thinking and technical excellence.
Every website we build is designed not just to look good, but to drive measurable business results.

Ready to transform your online presence with a strategic approach to web development? Contact Tako Mojo, Inc. to discuss how our proven process can accelerate your business goals.