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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the conditions which will yield
a successful outcome.
This FAQ page will answer many of the frequently asked questions about website design and development. If you have any other question not answered here, please ask!
Page Contents
Branding
Can you design my logo?
As a branding specialist since 1997, I provide my clients with a full suite of branding materials, including the initial logo design, style guide, and multiple file formats of your new logo.
How much should I invest in my brand?
The value of your branding will vary depending on different factors. My websites range from basic business sites and large international corporate sites, and the investment depends on the unique needs of your company’s goals and industry.
According to a 2016-2017 Gartner Research study, companies are now spending roughly 12% of annual revenue on overall marketing. The study concluded that “larger companies (>$5 billion revenue) spend 13% of revenue on marketing, while smaller companies ($250 million to $500 million revenue) spend roughly 10% of annual revenue.”
A 2017 CMO survey published by the American Marketing Association and Duke University pegged the numbers a bit lower, reporting that across all industries businesses spend 11.4% of budget on marketing and only 6.9% of revenue on marketing. Of course, these figures vary wildly when you drill down into each industry. | vtldesign.com
- Education: 18.5%
- Consumer services: 17.4%
- Transportation: 11.2%
- Consumer Packaged Goods: 11%
- Service Consulting: 9.4%
- Tech/Software/Biotech: 8.5%
- Communications/Media: 6.6%
- Healthcare: 6.2%
- Banking/Finance/Insurance: 3. 9%
- Retail /Wholesale : 3.8%
- Energy: 2.2%
- Mining/Construction: 2%
Content
Will you write the content for my site?
Yes, I can write your site content as well as provide/create your media (photos, videos, graphics, charts, etc) however this will need to be created before we start on your new website. If you want to organize your website content first, I developed this step-by-step process to help the DIY types.
What about brochuires and slide shows?
Branding is more than just a logo; it involves messaging, voice, and guided content to communicate about your product or service. Brochures, sell-sheets, booth graphics, promotional videos; these and more are an extension of my branding service.
Can you help me with Social Media and Email Marketing?
Yes I can. As part of my marketing services, I can offer a social media strategy package, or you can hire me to maintain this as well as email marketing services.
How do I prepare photos for my site?
If you want to prepare your digital media content for your website, I gathered some free and low-cost image editing tools.
Can you also provide photography, graphics, illustration, and video?
I can provide photos, edit videos, create marketing videos, etc. I am not a professional photographer, yet I work with exceptional award-winning photographers and will set up photo shoots for your project and work with the photographer and videographer on the types of visuals we are looking for.
Websites
I’m new to this whole “website” thing, how does it work?
I have a tried-and-true process which is progress-oriented and can be applied to any creative and technical project. You can read more about my process.
How will I know I'm making the right investment?
Your website alone will not be your sole source of success. We’ll need to create marketing, drive traffic to the site, and give your site visitors a reason to stick around. You can read more about how we can gather that information so we know if your website working for you
How long does it take to design and build a website?
The time it takes to produce a website depends on the size and complexity of your site and the quality of content that you have ready to go. A basic business site typically takes between 4-40 weeks from beginning to end. It really depends on the quantity of content, the goals, and your audience. Site design and development time varies, depending on several factors. If you need something quick, we can work on that as a 1 page site while we work on the full site.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is your address on the internet. Typically this would be something like YourCompany.com. It’s like your website’s phone number but can be found using your company’s name.
Do I need my own domain name and web hosting?
Yes, and I can help you get this setup or work with your existing provider.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that allows your website to be viewed on the Internet. It’s basically a computer housed in a data center that runs your website and email. Every site is hosted somewhere. I have had terrific performance and up-time with SiteGround.
Will my website work on mobile devices?
Yes, absolutely it will. All the websites I create work on all devices. Depending on your requirements, I can design and develop your site using responsive design so that the site is optimized for mobile devices.
Do you do e-commerce websites?
Yes, I do e-commerce sites…… from producs, to services, to events. Let’s sell stuff! Payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
A Content Management System is a tool that allows you to maintain the pages of your website yourself, without the need for any technical skills. A CMS allows you to edit and add pages, images, products or blog entries to your website. No additional software is required – all you need is a web browser and an internet connection.
Why WordPress?
- Industry leader=developer support
- Easy to use for both brand developer (me) and end-user (you)
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about getting your website ranked higher in the search results on search engines such as Google. The higher the listings of you sites pages, the more traffic (and customers) you’re likely to get.
There are many aspects that go into achieving good SEO, and one of the most important is the text copy (words) on your website. Focus on well written, keyword rich and appropriate content is the key. All of my site’s are optimized for SEO Best Practices.
Do you provide WordPress training?
I provide training as an additional service if you want to edit your website content, update pages, add new pages, post to your blog. If you need a full-blown complete editing seminar, I provide a proposal tailored for your website’s specifics. The creators of the plugins have excellent YouTube channels, such as Elementor, and Formidable Forms,
What about maintenece?
After the site is launched, I provide a Care & Maintenance Plan which can include security and core updates, backup and recover, SEO updates, blogging and content creation and site updates. Simply pick a plan that works for your goals.