FAQ

I build websites on WordPress or  Duda. During your consultation, we'll talk about the pros and cons of both platforms, as well as where your site will be hosted. 

Great question! If you've already tried to build your own website in the past (been there, done that) than you already know how time consuming it can be! The popular drag-and-drop website builders, though claiming to be easy to customize, can be difficult to customize to your specific business and brand.

The best way to determine if hiring a designer makes sense for your business and budget is to consider the amount of time you have available and if you have the needed design and tech chops. 

Things I do as a web designer on your project:

• Professional graphic design, photo and image editing and optimization, website layout, and occasional custom coding / CSS / dev as needed
• UX/UI - design choices regarding how users navigate your website
• SEO optimization for every page, including meta descriptions, schema, sitemaps, robots.txt files, and other things search engines look for
• Competitive analysis: who are your competitors and how can we help you stand out?
• Content optimization & recommendations on how to improve your provided content
• Configuration and implementation of Google Console and Analytics / GA4
• Configuration of third party marketing tools, such as MailChimp or third-party scheduling apps (such as Mindbody)
• E-commerce shop configuration including product listings and payment setup 
• Management of website backups, security, and hosting options such as SSL certificates, domain configuration, & privacy
• Communication with AWS and Duda about any hosting-related issues or website downtime (included as part of your monthly hosting plan)

After our initial consultation, I will prepare an estimate based on your needs. Websites start at 5k and E-commerce websites start at $7k. I require 50% down and 50% at the completion and launch of your website.

This being said, I know that hiring a designer can be a big investment for small business owners. I also offer a payment plan with a deposit and the option to spread the remaining amount due monthly.

It depends on the platform. If you choose to have your site on Duda, it will be hosted through the Blooming Cactus Media Duda account on Amazon Web Services (AWS). If you go with WordPress it will be hosted through SiteGround.

I will take care of customer service tech support as part of your monthly hosting plan. If you would prefer to have your own hosting accounts, this is an option too, however you will need to work with their customer service and tech support team on your own if you encounter any hosting-related issues.

If you would prefer to own your own hosting  account, this is an option too. However, you will need to work with their customer service and tech support team on your own with issues related to hosting and keeping your site up and running.

Yes! You are welcome to open your own hosting account and have me transfer your site from my account to yours at any time.

Yes, you will need to provide a domain name prior to publishing your website. I suggest registering at Namecheap.com. 

Your domain name is an integral part of your overall branding strategy. Choose wisely! I recommend keeping it as short and easy to remember as possible. Think of all the times you may mention your website URL in passing, or how it might look on your business card! Make it easy for people to find you.

Note: button below is an affiliate link. 

If you do not have a logo or branding for your website design, I will create a simple text-based logo treatment and simple color styleguide as part of your website package.

Though stock photography is included in the price of your website, it's best if you hire a professional photographer that can take lifestyle and headshots (if you have instructors) that align with your brand!

If you are adding products to an e-commerce shop, this is also very important, though our smart phones have really great built-in cameras if you want to take your own product shots. Basic touch-up, cropping, and photo resizing is included in the price of all website packages. Please try to send the highest-quality photos you can as I can only do so much with a low-quality photo! ;)

Yes! If you are using a third party scheduling or service app (such as Mindbody) we can integrate this functionality on your website.

Yes! Every website package includes 1 hour of training. Editing your website yourself will take practice, but it's certainly doable. I also have content retainers available if you'd like me to maintain the content on your website.

I do not make changes or updates to current websites. Because technology moves so quickly, it's very likely that your current website platform is in need of an update, and it can take me just as long to try and update an older website as it does to design a brand new site. One of the reasons why I build on Duda is they are committed to staying on top of the latest and greatest technology, which makes it easy to keep your website current.

The best way to get started is to schedule a free consultation so we can discuss your business objectives and vision. I'll provide a fillable PDF form that will help you gather your content. 

I require 50% down and the remaining 50% will be billed prior to publishing your website (making it live.) Visit my Services page for more information!