TL;DR:
- Plan for Texas privacy law, ADA access, and fast load times.
- Start with user research, then choose native, web, or hybrid.
- Build to WCAG 2.2 AA and pass Core Web Vitals.
- Capture only needed data and honor Texas privacy rights.
- Launch with analytics, backups, and a 90-day improvement plan.
You run or advise a Texas business. You want a modern app or site that wins customers and avoids risk. This guide gives you a simple plan, from idea to launch, with Texas-specific rules in mind.
Step 1: Set the goal and measure it
Tie your build to one business goal. For example, increase qualified leads by 30 percent, or boost repeat orders by 15 percent. Pick 3 to 5 metrics that prove progress, such as conversion rate, cost per lead, customer lifetime value, and support tickets.
Define your users. Interview five to ten real customers. Ask what they came to do, where they got stuck, and what “done” looks like. Record exact words. Turn those into top tasks and acceptance tests.
Step 2: Pick the right build path
You have three main options.
Native apps
Best for deep device features, offline use, or push reach. Use Swift or Kotlin. Expect higher cost, since you build for iOS and Android.
Web apps and sites
Best for content, search reach, and broad access. Use a modern framework and ship as a Progressive Web App for install and offline basics.
Hybrid or cross-platform
Good when you need one codebase with some native reach. Tools like React Native or Flutter can speed delivery. Test early for performance and device quirks.
Choose the simplest option that can meet your goals in the next 12 months. Avoid building two stacks when one will do.
Step 3: Design for clarity first
Start with low-fi sketches. Put the main task front and center. Remove anything that slows the job. Use plain language. Buttons should say what they do. “Book a table.” “Get a quote.” “Track order.”
Make it friendly on small screens. Use a 16 px to 18 px base font. Keep tap targets at least 44 px. Use high color contrast. These moves help all users and align with accessibility best practice, including WCAG 2.2 AA. Cite W3C guidance when you set your design bar.
Step 4: Build with a Texas-ready checklist
- Privacy by design
Collect the least data needed. Map data flows. Add consent where needed. The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, effective July 1, 2024, gives Texans rights to access, delete, and opt out of certain data uses. If you do business in Texas or offer services used by Texans, review your triggers and duties. Plan a process to answer requests within legal time limits. Link your privacy notice clearly. - Accessibility as a must-have
Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA. That includes clear focus states, enough color contrast, proper labels, keyboard access, and help for users to avoid and fix errors. Build this in from the start, not as a patch. - Speed and stability
Core Web Vitals are your scoreboard. Target good scores for Largest Contentful Paint, Interaction to Next Paint, and Cumulative Layout Shift. Run lab tests in Chrome DevTools, then watch field data in Search Console. Faster sites convert better and rank more reliably, according to Google’s public guidance. - Security basics
Use HTTPS everywhere. Store secrets in a vault. Enforce MFA for admin access. Keep dependencies patched. Back up data and test restores monthly. - Content and SEO
Write pages to match user tasks and search intent. Use one H1 per page, clear H2s, and descriptive link text. Add local signals that matter in Texas, like service areas and hours, if you serve specific metros.
Step 5: Pick a stack you can support
For websites, a common, stable setup is: a headless CMS for content control, a modern framework for speed, and a CDN for global delivery. For apps, keep native modules thin and share logic where safe.
Document how to run, test, and deploy. Add CI that runs unit tests, accessibility checks, and performance budgets on each pull request.
Step 6: Plan the data model and consent
List each data element you collect. Tie each to a purpose and legal basis. Provide a clear opt-out where the law requires it. Texas law expects easy ways for residents to exercise rights over their data, and it applies to many firms that serve Texans, not just those headquartered in the state. Train your support team to route requests and verify identity.
Step 7: Build performance in
- Optimize images with modern formats, like AVIF or WebP.
- Lazy load below-the-fold media.
- Use server-side rendering or static generation for key pages.
- Defer noncritical scripts, and remove unused ones.
- Keep CLS low with fixed size boxes for ads and embeds.
- Monitor INP by trimming heavy event handlers and scheduling work. Google’s guidance explains thresholds and fixes.
Step 8: Accessibility checks that catch real issues
Run automated checks with axe or Lighthouse. Then do manual checks:
- Navigate the full flow by keyboard only.
- Zoom to 200 percent and confirm layout holds.
- Test color contrast with real UI states.
- Try screen reader basics for the primary task.
- Provide error hints next to fields, not only as colors.
WCAG 2.2 adds criteria for easier help and controls. Use it as your acceptance bar.
Step 9: Content that wins trust
Post clear policies in plain English. Explain what you collect and why. Show prices, fees, and timelines. Add FAQs and a phone number or chat. For local Texas buyers, list service areas, licenses, and emergency contacts if relevant.
Step 10: Test with customers in Texas
Run five quick usability tests with people from your Texas audience. Include at least one user who relies on assistive tech and one on a slow network. Give them a task, stay quiet, and watch. Fix the top five issues they hit.
Budget ranges you can actually use
These are ballpark ranges for planning a first release.
- Small website, 5 to 10 pages, simple forms. 3 to 8 weeks.
- Growth website, 20 to 50 pages, CMS, gated content. 8 to 16 weeks.
- Simple app, 1 platform, 3 to 5 key features. 10 to 16 weeks.
- Cross-platform app, shared code, push, auth, payments. 16 to 28 weeks.
Costs vary by scope, team rates, and how much is reused. Start with a small core and ship.
Vendor selection, Texas edition
Ask each vendor for:
- Two recent projects in your industry.
- Proof of WCAG 2.2 AA work in production.
- Performance reports that include Core Web Vitals.
- A plan to meet Texas privacy requests.
- A 90-day post-launch improvement plan.
Avoid vendors who promise fixed dates with vague scopes. Ask for a weekly demo and a running changelog.
Launch checklist
| Area | Pass criteria |
| Privacy | Data map done, consent flows live, privacy notice updated for Texas requests |
| Accessibility | Passes WCAG 2.2 AA checks and manual keyboard, zoom, and reader tests |
| Speed | Good Core Web Vitals on top pages in Search Console field data |
| Security | HTTPS, MFA, access logs, patched dependencies, tested backups |
| Analytics | Events tied to business goals, bot filtering on, IP anonymization set |
| Content | Clear calls to action, local details for Texas buyers, error pages customized |
| Support | Triage guide for privacy requests and outages, owner on call for launch week |
What happens after launch
For the first 90 days, run a weekly loop.
- Review top tasks, drop-offs, and search terms.
- Fix the two biggest issues that block users.
- Re-test Core Web Vitals and accessibility.
- Reply to all user reviews, even short ones.
- Validate privacy requests are handled on time.
Google’s help docs and web.dev guides can coach your team on Core Web Vitals and ongoing page experience. Keep the bar high to protect growth and search reach.
Why it matters
Texas has strong consumer privacy rules and active enforcement. Meeting Texas law, accessibility rules, and speed targets reduces risk and builds trust. It also improves sales, reach, and support costs. This is good business, not just a box to tick.
- Texas Attorney General, Texas Data Privacy and Security Act overview, https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint/consumer-privacy-rights/texas-data-privacy-and-security-act, accessed 2025-10-08
- W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/, accessed 2025-10-08
Google Developers, Understanding Core Web Vitals and Google Search results, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/core-web-vitals, accessed 2025-10-08