Question 1

What do I need before building a website?

Accepted Answer

These are the things I'll need from you before starting your website project to ensure your project stays within budget and on time: 
 An established business - You have identified your business name, have established a legal entity, and have opened a business bank account. A product or service - It is important that you have a clearly defined service offering or product and pricing prior to beginning your website. If you need help figuring these things out book some time with me!  A domain name - I recommend using GoDaddy, Google, or Wix to purchase your domain name. What's a domain name? There's a FAQ for that! A brand - This includes an up to date, high resolution logo, at least two brand fonts, and at least two branded color codes. If you are in need of a brand check out my branding package. Copy and messaging - I am not responsible for writing any text copy. I will be happy to help, but significant work constitutes looping in a copywriter. I can provide some references. ☺️ Photographs - It is important that you have branded photographs in a high resolution digital format to bring your website to live. If you choose to use stock photography I can source images for you using Wix at no charge to you.   Time - The biggest obstacle to getting your website up and running quickly is you. Sounds crazy, but it's true. You hold all of the pieces needed to put this thing together and it's your vision we're executing here!  Financial Resources - A website is a big investment in your business, but a worthwhile one if you are ready to take the leap!

Question 2

How long does it take to build a website?

Accepted Answer

I get this question all the time and while it varies I've found that it typically takes at between 4 - 6 weeks to get a new website up and running. This is all dependent upon how prepared you are, my current workload, and the complexity of your site.   I use monday.com for project management so whenever we work together you will receive a personal project plan with established deliverables and due dates.   I have gotten projects live in as little as two weeks and I have also seen projects take 6 months.   While working together you are guaranteed excellent service and my full attention. To ensure this I schedule my projects to only see a few clients at a time. If at any point you fail to provide the necessary client materials needed or delay the project you may be liable for extra fees or potentially face project cancellation. Sounds scary, I know, but this is in place to confirm you are serious about giving your business the boost it deserves!

Question 3

How much does a website cost?

Accepted Answer

This depends on a few factors. When building your website there is always an up front investment for my time. After that there are some monthly or annual fees to maintain the site, but these typically don't go over $500/year and are paid directly to third parties. When working with me here's what you can expect:   My fee - this covers my time spent working on your website build and time spent working with you. A landing page starts at $2,500 and a full website starts at $5,000. This investment increases based on the complexity of your site. Hosting fees - this is paid directly to the website builder we go with. You can expect to spend at least $10/month on hosting fees depending on which hosting plan you need.  Domain ownership - you'll want ownership over your unique url. On average you can expect to pay $15/year for your domain. Wix offers your first year free for domain ownership and GoDaddy constantly runs specials on domains for as little as $0.01/year depending on what you need. For example, I own www.hannahcarver.com Processing fees - if you are processing payments via your website then you will be subject to processing fees. Most companies compete with each other so rates are pretty standard across the market. I typically recommend Square to my clients. Square's processing fee is 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction.  Apps - depending on your business model you may need custom solutions like the ability to sell products, rent equipment, or book appointments. Sometimes these solutions come with a monthly fee. It's rare that an app costs more than $10/month. We will discuss the expected cost when scoping your project.  Ongoing maintenance - I am available on an as needed basis or via retainer depending on your needs after we go live, but this is rarely needed. Since we won't be using Wordpress, your site won't need monthly technical or security maintenance. Any technical issues will be detected by your web builder or Google Analytics and they are rare. I also train every client on how to maintain their website before going live so you will be equipped to take on the day to day. Typically I hear from clients when they want a design refresh or to add a new feature!

Question 4

Do we work together after the site is live?

Accepted Answer

I make myself available for two weeks after go live to catch any bugs and answer any questions that might pop up.   After that, I am available on an as needed basis or via retainer depending on your needs after we go live, but this is rarely needed.   Since we won't be using Wordpress, your site won't need monthly technical or security maintenance. Any technical issues will be detected by your web builder or Google Analytics and they are rare.   I also train every client on how to maintain their website before going live so you will be equipped to take on the day to day. Typically I hear from clients when they want a design refresh or to add a new feature!

Question 5

How do I get on the first page of Google?

Accepted Answer

Short answer: The quickest way is to hire an expert for at least 6 months and invest at least $1000/month. I have a guy for that! Just shoot me a message. 😉   Long answer: Paid media can be very overwhelming and expensive. If you are just starting out I recommend you focus on offering a great experience for your customer first and foremost. A happy customer is your greatest referral source. After you have your customer experience down book some time with me and we can discuss different ways you can increase your exposure. Paid media isn't always the best route here!

Question 6

I need help with photos!

Accepted Answer

Photos are crucial to a successful digital brand because customers aren't experiencing you and your business in real life!   If you are a product based business owner I recommend you check out soona.co. They offer virtual shoots and do awesome work for a great price. You simply ship out your product and hop on zoom. How it works.   If you are a service based business owner you still need photos! I can work with you to source a local photographer within your budget.

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