Web Design

skill

One of the reasons I love web design is because it’s the perfect blend of creativity & functionality. Unlike art, which doesn’t really have a clear ‘goal’, a website does – to generate business (usually). It also has a deadline. These limits/boundaries help to keep things moving. With something subjective like art, the only limit is your own creativity and your own time. Although in many ways this is great, it can actually be detrimental, at least for someone like me. When options are endless, I end up picking nothing. When there’s no due date, I end up leaving it ‘on the shelf’ indefinitely.

I also love psychology, and sales/marketing go hand-in-hand with psychology. Psychology can be another example of being vague & never ending. At a certain point, there’s really no way of knowing what’s right or wrong. On the other hand, when it comes to sales and marketing, if you have a theory, you can test it. If sales go up, you’re right. If sales go down, you’re wrong. I love forming these theories and testing them, and learning why things do or don’t work.

All of this plays into web design because a website has a few very clear goals. When a visitor gets to the site, the goal is to convert that visitor into a lead/sale/subscription/fill in the blank. If you understand your customer and what drives them, you can write good copy and build a strong, cohesive site that drives them to that action.

So if you’re working with a true professional, they’ll be doing a lot of work with you/for you long before they ever touch a piece of code. Sometimes this catches people off guard because when they think web design, they just think ‘what would look pretty’. But the visual design is one of the least important aspects, at least when it comes to accomplishing that primary goal I mentioned above.

One of the first things I do when I speak with a potential client is ask their goals and their budget. When I know your goal, I know what the project needs in order to get you there. When I know your budget, I can help you decide which areas to invest that budget in (assuming budget is limited).

So What's Involved with Building A Website?

Start to Finish

This is a quick and easy way to think about it, start to finish.

Name It

You'll need a domain name. Usually about $15 for the year. If you already have one, great. If not, I’ll help you acquire and use one.

Build It

This is what you’re paying for. The bigger the budget, the more we can do. I'll consult with you first to understand your goals, what you need, and what you don't.

Host It

This is an ongoing cost. Most providers are around $15 to $20 a month. Think of it like paying for storage - the site takes up space, and you're renting that space.

Maintain It

This means ensuring the site is running smoothly, things aren’t breaking, plugins are being updated, etc. A well built site doesn’t need much maintenance.