When you are contacting an entity, company or person to build your website, it is best to have a meeting with them. This meeting could be over the phone, video chat, email, or face-to-face. To prepare for the meeting, you should bring a list of wants and/or requirements of what you would like for your website. If you already have a website, take notes of what you like and don’t like, what is functioning well and what isn’t. Your list could include what you want the page to look like and what you want it to do. Some examples of things you can explore are; the style or theme, functionality, specific pages, content, forms, security, and a logo, if you don’t have one. If you’ve admired another page, feel free to have your designer look at it, and explain what you like about it. Don’t be afraid to have several meetings over the phone, video chat, or email to make sure they fully understand your concept.
The professional web developer should also have advice, feedback, and suggestions for you as well, since they are the expert. Once you and the web creator have established your wants, along with the pricing and timeline, you will sign the contract, and they’ll get to work on it for you. Make sure that you read the contract thoroughly, along with the fine print and before signing it, ask questions if you don’t understand something.
The company that you choose to design your work will usually have other projects they are working on, as you are not their only client. Some of them may be working on ten or more projects at the same time! They may be really good at multitasking and doing many projects at once, or something that you may or may not be aware of is that--most companies will outsource the work. What does this mean? Let me give you an example: let’s say you’ve decided to move forward with Company XYZ to do your web designing. The company then outsources, or hires another party to do all the work. If the company charges you $1000 to do your website, they may hire someone for $600 to build the site, and then take the $400 as profit. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, nor it is illegal; it is just a business move. As long as all parties get what they desire, it works.
Do I outsource?
As for me, I do not outsource. I take pride in doing all the work myself. When I sit down and meet with you, the creativity and vision is shared between both you and me. I do not hire people, who are usually overseas, to design websites all day long like a manufacturing company. This is not to say that their work isn’t sufficient or less than, but that their main goal is to simply get the job done. What I mean is, my work is personable and strictly customized to you! I highly consider, and take into account: you, your personality, your audience, your product, your vision, your needs, and your wants, and I create something unique. The website I build for you is not based on a single-design template that I build for everyone, by just changing up the colors and fonts. It is aligned to meet your desires, while marketing and highlighting your profession and services.
Though I am the creating expert, I will make a point to listen, take notes, and use your feedback to design something we can both be proud of. This is not a task I take lightly, but take very seriously. Additionally, the time for me to build a website can take anywhere from a week to a month, depending again, on what your needs are. Everyone’s case is special, and you may want or need different things. The earlier you contact me, the sooner we can work out the details and pricing together. I’m available by phone, chat, email, and if you are local, in person.
Subcontracting Locally
Now, one thing that I will do is subcontract. This means that I find talented people, who live locally, to do a distinct part for your site. All the building is done by me, that is my passion; however, I may subcontract a person who resides in California, to do research and write blogs for your site. He or she may be a professional freelance writer, or already be quite knowledgeable in the subject of your business. I am an expert in web designing; however, I am not the expert in everything.
If you look at my portfolio, I’ve built over 160 websites for all sorts of businesses and companies, which range from: cleaning, plumbing, food, manufacturing, law offices and schools. It is impossible for me to be the expert in all these fields, but it is important for me to have content on your website that is relevant to your work and services, and accurately displays your area of expertise. In addition to the look and feel of the site, which I handle, I want to make sure the content is up to par with your industry. The outcome of the website does not stop at the designing, but the wording is also a significant part in forming your site. That is why I may call in one of my subcontractors, to make sure the content best represents you and your operation in an exemplary way.
As the consumer, the choice is yours. You can choose a major website building company, who outsources the work and has hundreds of web pages created every month; they will more than likely get the job done. Or, you can contact me, and be confident that I will do my very best to handle all of your web design and SEO needs, in a professional and personable way. If you are in the local area, I’d be happy to have a sit down, face-to-face meeting with you. It would be my pleasure to service you.