A Regular Website or Blog
So you want a website or blog…I build websites in WordPress, a Content Management System (a CMS) that allows my clients to take over some of the management of their sites. As a client, you can add content like text and photos yourself, or you can have me handle it. I use the Genesis framework, which works hand-in-hand with WordPress to help me give you a great-looking site. Various free and paid “plugins” (mini-software) can add functionality to your site. Then I customize the heck out of it. I try to use good free plugins wherever possible.
For more information about me and how I do business, be sure to check my FAQ page too.
WordPress recently made a huge change to its ecosystem by changing the content editor (where you make your blog posts, and the like). It’s called Gutenburg (it’s still within WordPress). I’m getting up to speed with it, and in the meantime, the old “Classic Editor” is available.
I also recommend your having me make content changes if grammar (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, writing) is not your strong suit. Errors make your company look unprofessional and less credible (tell me if you see any typos on MY site!). Typos can get past the best of us. Very humbling.
WordPress premium (paid) video tutorials are available through WP101 and other resources. With Gutenburg, I strongly recommend WP101 video training. It is a paid subscription, but well worth it. If you’re very competent in HTML5, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript, you may want to make all changes yourself and even further customize your site.
Accessibility
This means so the disabled, like the hearing- and visually-impaired can use your site. People are taking private companies — not just government agencies — to court regarding Americans with Disabilities Act violations, and they are winning their lawsuits. No company is too small to be sued.
Content
Producing content can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to run your business, too. I can write content. I’ve even won a few awards for my writing (a long time ago). Let me help you out.
Ecommerce
I do ecommerce sites, but let me tell you, they get a lot more expensive. All the images of your products, their descriptions, their prices, sales tax tracking, shipping, a lot more configuring (of the ecommerce plugin), privacy policy, etc. That takes time. Time is money. Be prepared for an expensive site. And, unless you feel brave, it’s probably something you want a professional (like me) maintaining. I can do things like integrate your eBay shop or Etsy shop. Sometimes, the means of these integrations — to do them right — costs extra, in the form of a premium plugin with an annual fee, so you can keep getting updates (very important) and support (things happen).
Investing in the Care and Feeding of Your Site
You need updates of your site software, backups of your site, and security for your site. The internet is the wild, wild West, so your site will need attention. Sometimes a lot of it.
A domain registrar is where you buy the name of your site. A hosting company is where your site lives. I recommend keeping the two separate. You will own your accounts, not me. Anything of yours that has a login I have to set up or use will get a screenshot of that login from me to you.
Some hosting companies can look good on the outside, and have really great (cheap) rates, but the web community’s experience with them reveals something different. A poor hosting company can cost you more money than you need to spend. You get what you pay for. I’m hooked into the web community, and can give you a heads up. I’ve been doing websites since 2003, so I’ve been around the block a few times.
I don’t provide hosting and I’m not a domain registrar, but I have a list of companies I trust, and I can get you set up for a reasonable fee. I am an affiliate of one hosting company, but, if you already have a hosting account with another company, let’s talk. There are some great hosting companies out there. There are some I avoid like the plague. I won’t recommend change for the sake of an affiliate fee.
Either way, a website requires a significant investment of time and money to create it and keep things running smoothly. Think of it as a downpayment on a car. And monthly payments. And insurance. And gas. And repairs. But this is your business, and your business needs a website.
Whomever you have do your website will need access to your host. If your host only has ticket-based support, then problems or questions can take several days to resolve while emails are exchanged. Many (not all) hosts don’t respond to support tickets on the weekend or in the evenings, and some hosts are located overseas. Your web person having this information helps prevent you from having to act as an email conduit for technical information between your web designer and your host. Make sure you have a web designer you trust. You are busy, and you probably don’t have time for it.
Take a Deep Breath
Are you ready to take the leap? You won’t be alone. Now that you have a better idea of what you’re getting into (keeping surprises to a minimum), let’s talk design, branding, and marketing, and let’s talk about your website. Contact me today!