Need a Website? – or a better Website?
You’ve come to the right place. I can get you set up quickly with a web site that promotes your brand and is tailored to meet your specific needs.
A Home for Your Website
In addition to building the site for you, I provide web hosting services and support to my customers. This is required so I can properly take proper care of software updates, email configurations and other hosting considerations as needed.
Domain Name Registration and Management
Despite its low price, domain name registration and management is the single most important component of your online presentation. Having access to your domain name over the many years you are likely to have your website is essential to maintaining control. You may purchase domain name registration yourself or I can manage it for you.
Either way, domain names must be maintained and renewed by set dates or your website may just stop working. This includes keeping contact and credit card information up to date.
All of the domain names under my care are set for automatic renewal so there is never an interruption in service. Should you ever need to transfer your domain for any reason at some point in the future, you can count on me to make sure the transfer goes smoothly and with my full support. Your domain name belongs to you even if I purchase it for you.
What About On-going Maintenance?
Good question – and a very important aspect of any good web site. I do that too and I understand that reaching me when you need changes is critical to your success. Not only will I make you a great web site, I’ll help you manage it as well.
How maintenance is performed depends on the type of website I have created for you. Most of the sites I build these days are built using the world class WordPress Content Management System. WordPress sites are easy to update yourself but you can still turn to me for assistance should you require it. Many of my clients perform simple updates themselves and turn to me to add additional functionality or technically advanced updates to their sites. Others have me do nothing and still more have me do everything. The choice is yours and this flexibility allows you to save time or money according to your needs.
To request a site update, all you need to do is send me an email outlining the changes you want made. I turn these requests into organized web content. Most changes can be turned around the same or next business day. Following the initial site set-up (see below), on-going maintenance is charged at $30 per hour and billed at the end of any month requiring service. Updates taking half an hour or less (very common) are only $10.
How popular is WordPress?
It has been estimated that since the beginning of 2012 up to 25% of all new websites were being built using the WordPress platform and that as of April 2012, the latest version of WordPress had been downloaded more than 12 million times. That’s 12 million plus active users. WordPress holds the lion’s share of Content Management Systems, boasting 53% of the market share with Joomla, a distant second at 9.2%. Perhaps it is the enormous WordPress community that makes the platform so amazingly successful. As an example, there are over 19,000 plugins listed in the WordPress Plugin Directory. The wealth of free and premium add-ons available for WordPress is without rival.
Source – Yoast WordPress Stats Infographic
Can You Help Me with Graphics?
No problem. I can reproduce any hard copy documents you may have and I will optimize all of your graphics so your pages look good and open quickly. Of course, digital files are best as they can be sent by email and most times, used immediately.
Proper use of web graphics is essential. For instance, wherever possible, words should be used instead of pictures of words. Making the right decisions about web graphics is one of the most critical elements in successful web site design.
Poorly designed graphics can and will turn your customers away from your site. Slow loading pages are intolerable and animated graphics and unnecessary flash elements should be banished altogether. Every element placed on your web site should be chosen judiciously to insure the best user experience possible.
Graphics may also be purchased for an additional fee from any of the stock image banks available via the web. I can help guide you with this.
Copyright Compliance
Note: Clients assume full responsibility for the graphics they forward to me for use on their websites. You must own publishing rights for the images you use on your site if they do not belong to you or are not part of the public domain. If you are unsure if an image is copyrighted by someone else or not, assume that it is and don’t use it.
How Much Will It Cost?
The cost of setting up a new web site will depend on the size of the site and what features you need included. Typical one time set-up pricing for a small business or artist portfolio site will be about $500 including uploading and formatting your content on up to 10 pages. Domain name registration costs $12 per year and web hosting is provided for $100 per year. All prices are subject to 13% HST.
If my set-up prices shock you by being so low, I should point out that my goal is simply to provide local businesses (or private individuals) with timely affordable services and to make a modest living doing so. Should you decide to use my services, I hope we will be entering into a long term relationship and that I will become your primary resource and go to person for everything you need for your website. While getting your website up and running is probably your primary concern at the moment, it is our working together over the long haul which will likely reap the greatest rewards.
Additional services I provide but which are not included in the standard set-up charge include logo development, and product or stock photography.
How Long Does it Take?
How long it takes to get a site up and running often depends on how quickly your can get your content to me. Draft sites can often become active within a day or two of the initial consultation. Typically, most setups can be finished in a couple of weeks if content is ready for me at the beginning of a project.
Where Do I Start?
Good web design begins with knowing what you want your website to do for you. Do you want a simple brochure site or a news oriented site with lots of visitor interaction? Perhaps you want to show off a portfolio of art work or sales items. Selling from your website has been made much easier these days using PayPal to collect money from site visitors. Pretty much anything is possible, but you should know from the outset the basics of what you want your site to say and who you want to say it to. Sites should be content driven, search engine friendly and address any usability issues faced by your intended audience.
To get started, please click on the mail image above or click john.charlton@gmail.com. Your initial consultation is FREE with no obligation to proceed if you don’t want to.
