Website Design

Website design should not be left in the hands of an untrained individual. Your website is essentially a representation of your company which is accessible to anyone at anytime; therefore, it is critical that it be functional, usable and appealing.

Design with the end user in mind. While bells and whistles may get attention, they may also cause unnecessary frustrations, complications and slow download time making users less likely to stay on or return to your site. It has been found that often times the simpler the better.

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Website Design Process

If you choose to allow me to bring your business to life on the World Wide Web, I promise that the process will be smooth, organized and thorough. Initial contact will consist of the basics. Once I learn about your goals, your target audience, website purpose, number of pages and content requirements, I will work hard to put together a logical and detailed Information Architecture Planning document that will serve as the foundation for the website once all details are examined and approved.

From there, you will begin your "gathering" process where you determine what you need to gather and provide for me within a timely matter. This consists of photos, graphics, and text that you want to appear in the content of the website. As you are "gathering" I will begin my design process where I will put together a "skeleton" website which will look just like a finished website, but will not have any content or functionality.

Once the design is approved, I will begin the development process where I turn the "skeleton" website into a fully functional one and fill it with all the content that you have gathered and arrange it into an attractive, organized and custom work of art!

After this is finished, approval is once again needed before the website will be "live" on the internet. In order to make a website live, a domain name and website hosting is needed (see below for explanation) and will be asked to be completed well before the estimated finish date. Assistance with both of these required steps will be offered additionally if needed.

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Domain Name

A domain name is simply the "address" for your website. Just like mail won't get to your house without the address, visitors won't get to your website without a website address. Website domain names are registered through companies called domain registrars. Domain name registration typically costs around $30 per year (price varies from registrar to registrar and for the length of time you purchase the registration for).

If you have already registered a domain name, then you are one step ahead! If you have not registered a domain name, you will need to do so. Don't worry, I would be glad to assist you in this process!

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Website Hosting

A website needs to be "hosted" on a special computer called a server. Servers are connected to the internet at all times and are maintained by a website hosting company to ensure that service is not disrupted, meaning that your website can be viewed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have already purchased a website hosting plan, then you are two steps ahead! If you have not, this will be a required step in the completion of your website, and are urged to do so before well before the anticipated finish date. Again, I can assist you in this process as well.

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Search Engine Optimization

Search engines have become the key to internet navigation. If you don't know the exact website address that you are looking for, which is commonly the case, search engines such as Google, Ask.com, Yahoo! and MSN are the answer to your prayers. They even allow us to find what we are looking for simply by typing in one word!

If your website is not designed in a way that allows it to be "read" and "followed" by search engine methodology, then you are not going to get the results you want; therefore, you will not place high on the rankings of any search engine. That means that your consumers will not be able to find you. It is recommended, but not required that you allow me to optimize your website for maximized search engine results and increased website traffic.

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Website Statistical Analysis

This is another recommended but optional service that I offer. I can arrange and set up website statistical analysis in order for you to keep track of how many visitors your website gets, what pages they view, their geographical locations by city, state and country, and many more valuable statistics that will give you insight into how well your website is doing.

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