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website design - more information
My Web Design Style
I
believe clean styling and sensible page architecture serve
to highlight your content and convey your message most
effectively. My original designs tend to be lean and modern.
I'm influenced by Zen-style design where simplicity is
timeless and beautiful, however I am comfortable working in
a variety of styles based on my clients' requests.
My Approach to Web Design
I wholeheartedly support the standards and practices of the
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) whose job it is to ensure
web content is delivered consistently to the majority of
users. If that statement does not mean much to you, consider
this ... employing web standards provides tangible benefits
to clients: my sites are generally optimized to load pages
quickly, function logically, and display consistently
regardless of browser or platform. This gives you improved
accessibility, maintenance, extensibility, and exposure.
Don't get me wrong, it is rather commonplace for me to
"inherit" web design projects that may be far from the
standards that I use when starting from a blank canvas. I
try to update those sites when appropriate. It is important
to me that I give your information the best chance to seen
by the most people, with the least amount of technical
difficulty inflicted upon them.
My Target Web Design Clients
Many of my clients aren't seeking anything more than one
website project - their own informational website. Some
believed they could not afford to have a web presence or
professional site design. A few have attempted the DIY
approach with limited success. That is because a
professional site is the sum of its parts. In spite of the
technological and user-friendly advances in software, you
still require quality in coding, graphics, and content to
make your site stand out. I can deliver in all of
those areas.
These are the areas where I believe my services can make
the most impact...
Small Business Clients:
With my background, I feel uniquely qualified to address
the design needs of a small business while being
cognizant of your mandates and budget. I have helped
these types of clients with corporate identity
improvements and electronic marketing programs. As a
graphic artist I am readily available to help you launch
a new image, idea, or campaign. However, my business
brain also understands the need and importance of
preserving your brand. If you already have a design
concept in place, I am happy to work with your existing
collateral to ensure we do just that.
Retail Business Clients:
All over the country I see a great need for inexpensive web
services targeting the small consumer-based business
community. Retail upstarts, Mom & Pop's, boutiques,
eateries, etcetera - all deserve their place in the
Internet Age without it costing a small fortune for
design or upkeep. I specialize in helping these folks
present themselves in the most favorable light. If you
have no online presence or are struggling with a
sub-standard do-it-yourself design by yourself or "the kid
down the street" - you should
contact me, now.
Personal Clients:
Many individuals want or need a visually communicative
way to share their life experiences, creative output, or
personal interests online. I get requests from families,
newlyweds, and travelers along with amateur cooks,
musicians, poets and photographers. All are seeking
their own personal space on the web. The self-promotion
gamut ranges from musicians sharing their music, to
traditional artists or photographers who desire an
online gallery, to families that wish to share photos or
happenings with their loved ones. The "My Space" boom
was born from this market segment and serves its purpose
for many, but having your own website makes a much
bolder statement of who you are and what you need to
say.
Clients I Recommend to Others
As a digital media creator, I certainly would not discourage
the use of cutting-edge web design when appropriate.
The simple fact is those uber-design techniques consume
quite a bit of time, and therefore money, to produce.
If you are seeking a high-end, multimedia,
full-motion extravaganza - I'm not your guy. I simply do not
have the manpower needed to produce that type of site in a
timely fashion. The same is true for full-fledged e-commerce
sites. I can do them - but a larger firm will do it faster
and will be able to handle the "back-office" payment
processing details for you.
Startup Costs
If you are a small business or individual wishing to
establish a web presence, there is a small investment
required. Yes, there are some "free" web hosting services out
there. I strongly advise against them. You always get what
you pay for and, in this case, free is no bargain. You will
be subjected to limited space, functionality, and features
along with annoying pop-up ads and additional scrutiny by
spam filters and ad-blockers that can limit your exposure.
This can leave your audience with a very negative impression
of you or your business.
For what you get in return, web hosting is extremely
affordable. Design charges aside, the cost of establishing
a domain name (i.e. www.yoursite.com) and having a service
provider host your site can be just a few dollars a month
depending upon your needs! Having your own site provides the
added benefit of establishing your own email accounts for
you or your entire business. No more @aol, @gmail, @hotmail,
etc. - these are all great services but do nothing to
enhance or promote you.
I can setup and maintain a website with a major service
provider or the provider of your choosing. I simply charge a
small administration fee to do so - all other charges are
passed through to you with no markup. If you would prefer to
stay out of the technical loop, I can host your website for
you for as little as five dollars a month.
Contact me for details.
If you already have a website and desire an upgrade, I can
do that as well. I require administrator access to your site
to make changes and upload files. If you are under contract
with another web design firm or service provider, I can
assist or coach you in transferring administrative control.
I can also help you transfer your entire domain to a new
service provider for cost reasons if that is your desire.
Estimating Your Design Costs
Every web project is different and it would be nearly
impossible to provide you with an intelligent quote without
gathering more information about your needs and goals.
Expect some back and forth dialog so I can ascertain what it
will take to deliver your system and assign a fair price for
the service. There is no charge for this process.
Please use the contact form to provide
information, ask questions, or request a quote. I will respond to you
promptly.
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