The Tribe Maker's standard website development process: prototype first, the client pays, then four defined build phases from discovery to launch.
The Tribe Maker · Process Playbook · 2026
We build an example from the client's current site to win the work. Once they've seen it and paid, the four-phase build begins — the PM owns every phase; each adds a champion.
Prototype (an example built from their current site, used to close the sale) → Client pays. No build work starts until payment clears.
Goals, schedule, and sitemap — content comes from Google Docs.
Brand direction, page designs, approval, content review.
Specs, build, content integration, staging & CMS.
Standards, QA, go-live, sign-offs, soft launch.
The Project Manager runs the whole engagement; the discipline lead changes as the work moves from planning to pixels to code.
The prototype wins the work and the client pays; then each build phase closes when its deliverables are approved.
Prototype → paid → four build phases — same path, same champions, same gates, every time.