I have never had a website.  How do I get started?

The best way to get started is to fill in the quotation form. This provides me with some basic information about your website requirements and preferences. Once I receive your form, I will contact you by phone so we can discuss your website needs and requirements in more detail. I will also answer any questions that you might have regarding your website design.

 

I have an existing website that is not very attractive or well organized .  Does is cost the same to update a website than to design a website from scratch?
The cost to update an existing website is usually much less that designing a website from scratch.  Usually, I am able to extract most of the content from your existing site so you won't have to supply the existing content again. Any new content can then be added very easily.
 
How do I get a domain name for my website?
When we have our first meeting, I will discuss your options for registering a new domain name. I will also provide some guidance on how to choose an effective domain name.
 
I have already purchased a domain name for my website. Is there anything that I have to do to allow you to use it?
Once your website design is completed, I will need the login information to your domain registrar account so I can setup your domain to point to your new website.
 
Will I receive a detailed design proposal before I am required to make a decision or pay?
Before I require any payment, I will send you a detailed proposal that will identify all the costs, hosting options, estimated design time, and a list of inputs that will be required to complete your design.
 
How many meetings are required during the website design process?
Generally, during the initial discussions and during the design process, all meetings are scheduled as phone calls.  In most cases, this works out best, both in terms of efficiency and convenience. If a client would prefer to meet face-to-face, meetings can be setup to meet your needs.

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Design Questions

What inputs must I provide to design a website?

I will need the text copy for each page of your website, contact information information that you want to use on your website, any image files that you would like to have incorporated into your design and your domain registar login information. In some cases I may need additional information (e.g. PayPal account information for online stores, etc). I will provide a detail list of required inputs in the design proposal that I create.
 
Who writes the text for each website page?
The customer must provide all the copy/text that is required on each page. I will provide some guidance on how to write your copy so that your website effectively communicates your information to your customers and also provides the necessary information to search engines that will be indexing your website.
 
How long does it usually take to design a website?
Once I have all your content, a small website can be designed and published within a week. Typically, the time to complete a design is determined by how promptly I receive inputs for the website. For every design I provide a detail proposal that includes a firm time estimate so you know in the beginning when your design will be completed.
 
Can you describe the website design procecess that you use?
There are 8 basic steps to designing a website.

1. Once I receive your "Request for Quotation" form, I will setup a meeting with you to discuss your inputs and find out more about your website requirements. At this time I will also review any questions that you might have regarding cost, schedule, domains, hosting, and website maintenance.
2. A mockup of the website is generated so that you can see what your website will look like (e.g. layout, colors, navigation, etc) before the final design is started. Once the mockup is done, a second meeting be setup to discuss your feedback.
3. If you like what you see, I will generate a detailed design proposal that will be emailed to you within a few days.
4. If you accept the proposal, I will email you an invoice for 50% of the cost proposal. Once I receive your payment and design inputs, work on your website will begin.
5. Website is implemented based upon the prototype design. As the work progresses, I will publish the current state of the design daily. This will give you the opportunity to periodically review your design so there are no surprises in the end. We will continually communicate throughout the design process to insure all your expectations and requirements are met by the final design.
6. When the design is completed to your satisfaction I will email you a second invoice for the remaining costs. When I receive your second payment, your website will be published using your selected domain name.
7. Your website will be listed with the popular search engines and I will perform basic search engine optimization functions so that your new website is indexed as quickly as possible.
8. Once your website is published any design or content changes to your website can be either done by you using a simple-to-use editing web interface or by me at an hourly rate. Typically, small content changes to your design can be done free of charge or for a minimal cost.

Do you use standard templates or custom design your websites?
All my designs are customized in layout, fonts styles, colors, etc to meet your functional and aesthetic requirements.  

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Website Maintenance Questions

What does website maintenance mean?  Website maintenance refers to changes made to your website after the initial design and setup is completed. These can involve editing existing content or adding new content. One of the benefits of my designs is that they are very easy to maintain. Therefore, long-term website maintenance costs will be much lower with my designs that other conventional design solutions.

What are my website maintenance options?
You always have 2 options. The first option is to maintain your website yourself using an easy-to-use editing interface. The second option is to have me make the necessary changes on an "as needed" basis. In many cases, small changes such as minor text changes, will be done for free. More extensive changes will be charged based upon time spent.  

How do I learn how to use the editing interface?
A short introduction to the editing interface can be found here. A complete list of tutorials is also available. If you are interested in maintaining your website, I can provide a short, free class at my office to familiarize you with the basic editing functions.

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