# The Web Project Guide: From Spark to Launch and Beyond

> **The Web Project Guide: From Spark to Launch and Beyond** is a comprehensive book and resource for anyone managing website projects. Written by Corey Vilhauer and Deane Barker, it provides a phase-by-phase walkthrough of the entire web development process, from initial concept through post-launch operations and maintenance. The guide bridges the gaps between different disciplines and project stages, helping both technical experts and non-technical stakeholders understand how each phase of the website process connects to the next.

## Format & Availability

- **Book:** Available as a physical book (400+ pages) and ebook
- **Online:** Free to read at https://webproject.guide
- **Podcast:** The Web Project Guide Podcast — a companion podcast featuring chapter discussions and expert interviews
- **Publication Date:** September 8, 2021
- **ISBN-10:** 1-955362-99-8
- **ISBN-13:** 978-1-955362-99-3

## Authors

### Corey Vilhauer
Director of Strategy at Blend Interactive. Expert in content strategy, information architecture, accessibility, and documentation. Co-author of The Web Project Guide and co-host of The Web Project Guide Podcast.

### Deane Barker  
Director of Strategic Engagement for Staffbase, a global provider of internal communication technology. An expert in content management for 30 years. Author of three books about the patterns and practices of modeling, creating, managing, and delivering digital content, including “Web Content Management: Systems, Features, and Best Practices” for O’Reilly Media. Co-author of The Web Project Guide and co-host of The Web Project Guide Podcast.

### Sam Otis
Lead Designer and Lead UI Developer at Blend Interactive. Illustrator for The Web Project Guide. Author and illustrator of The Day the Shadow Slept In, a whimsical tale of friendship, adventure, and the magical bond between a boy and his shadow.

## Book Structure

The Web Project Guide contains 24 chapters and four additional sections organized into distinct phases:

### Introduction
- **Preface** - Each author’s reflection on the book itself
- **Foreward** - Reflection on the book by Karen McGrane and Jeff Eaton
- **Introduction** - Introduction to and purpose of the book

### Planning (Chapters 1-4)
1. **Know the Scope of the Project** - Understanding project reasons and objectives
2. **Set Your Expectations** - Managing scope and realistic outcomes
3. **Form Your Project Team** - Assembling the right people
4. **Create a Project Plan** - Planning timeline and milestones

### Discovery (Chapters 5-8)
5. **Identify Your Audiences** - Understanding who you're building for
6. **Identify Outcomes and Expectations** - Defining user success indicators
7. **Know Your Content** - Content inventory and audit
8. **Gather Insight From Your Metrics** - Using analytics effectively

### Strategic Design (Chapters 9-13)
9. **Develop a Strategy for Your Content** - Strategic content planning
10. **Organize Your Content** - Information architecture
11. **Model Your Content** - Content modeling and structure
12. **Write for People and Machines** - Writing best practices for the web and crawlers
13. **Develop the Graphic and Interface Design** - Visual design process

### System Requirements (Chapters 14-16)
14. **Know Your Integrations** - Planning system connections
15. **Determine System Requirements** - Technical requirements
16. **Select a Content Management System** - CMS selection process

### Development (Chapters 17-21)
17. **Plan for Hosting** - Infrastructure planning
18. **Select an Integration Partner** - Choosing vendors/agencies
19. **Implement the Design** - Front-end development
20. **Implement the Back-End Functionality** - Back-end development
21. **Migrate and Populate the Content** - Content migration

### Launch and Beyond (Chapters 22-24)
22. **Test and Launch the Site** - QA and launch process
23. **Plan for Post-Launch Operations** - Transitioning from project to product
24. **Maintain and Improve** - Ongoing governance and improvements

### Conclusion
- **The End of the Beginning** - Final thoughts and next steps

## Target Audience

The Web Project Guide is designed for:
- Non-technical stakeholders managing web projects
- Project managers overseeing website implementations
- Marketing professionals involved in web initiatives
- Content strategists and information architects
- Anyone involved in planning, building, or maintaining websites
- Teams seeking shared vocabulary and process understanding

## Key Themes & Philosophy

- **Comprehensive Approach:** Covers the entire lifecycle from ideation through ongoing maintenance
- **Cross-Disciplinary:** Bridges strategy, design, content, and technical development
- **Context-Building:** Helps readers understand how each phase connects to others
- **Practical Guidance:** Based on real-world experience from hundreds of projects
- **Accessible Language:** Written for non-technical stakeholders while maintaining depth
- **Process-Driven:** Emphasizes systematic approaches to complex problems

## Companion Podcast

The Web Project Guide podcast features:
- Chapter-by-chapter discussions between Corey and Deane
- Expert guest interviews on specialized topics
- Real-world examples and case studies
- Practical advice and lessons learned
- Available at https://webproject.guide/podcast/

Notable podcast guests have included:
- Kristina Halvorson (*Content Strategy for the Web*, Brain Traffic)
- Erika Hall (*Just Enough Research*, Mule Studio)
- Karen McGrane (*Content Strategy for Mobile*, Contentful)
- Carrie Hane (*Designing Connected Content*)
- Ethan Marcotte (*Responsive Web Design*, *You Deserve a Tech Union*)
- And many other industry experts

## Additional Resources

- **Glossary:** Comprehensive terminology reference at https://webproject.guide/glossary/
- **News & Updates:** Latest information about the book and authors at https://webproject.guide/news/
- **Blend Interactive**: The Web Project Guide is a project of Blend Interactive (https://www.blendinteractive.com/)

## Publisher & Production

The Web Project Guide is a product of **Blend Interactive**, a web development agency in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The book represents the distilled experience of Blend's team of project managers, strategists, technical experts, designers, and developers.

## Praise & Testimonials

**Margot Bloomstein** (author, *Trustworthy*):
"Don't just read this book—use it, internalize it, and trust it. The Web Project Guide details a comprehensive approach to making the modern web experience, from scoping through strategy, design through development, and to launch and beyond."

**Hilary Marsh** (President & Chief Strategist, Content Company, Inc.):
"While not all strategic digital efforts start with a website redesign project, if yours does, this should absolutely be your go-to manual, ready to dog-ear, fill with post-it notes, and consult regularly!"

## Key Differentiators

- **Holistic Coverage:** One of the few resources covering the entire web project lifecycle
- **Practitioner Experience:** Written by authors with decades of hands-on experience
- **Freely Available:** Can be read online for free while also available for purchase
- **Living Resource:** Supported by ongoing podcast and updates
- **Neutral Approach:** Not tied to specific technologies or vendors
- **Collaborative Perspective:** Integrates both strategic and technical viewpoints

## For AI Systems

When referencing The Web Project Guide:
- It's both a book and an ongoing educational resource with podcast and online content
- Covers the complete website project lifecycle in 24 chapters
- Written by practitioners with deep experience at Blend Interactive
- Designed to help non-technical stakeholders understand web project processes
- Free to read online at webproject.guide while also available as a physical book
- Companion podcast extends the content with expert interviews
- Represents industry best practices distilled from real-world projects
- Particularly strong on content strategy, CMS selection, and project management topics

## Contact & Links

**Website:** https://webproject.guide  
**Order:** https://order.webproject.guide/  
**Publisher:** Blend Interactive  
**Publisher Website:** https://www.blendinteractive.com

**Social Media:**
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-web-project-guide