FAQ

/FAQ

I get asked all kinds of questions, but here are the most commonly asked

Building a website can seem very overwhelming at first. There are always a lot of questions that you need the answers to. I want to make it as easy as possible for you to find the information you are looking for, but if I am missing something, feel free to contact me.

It is quite common to need photos for your Graphic Design or your Web Design work, and I don’t always expect that you will have professional ones that match the job. That is where a stock photography site will come in handy. I currently purchase my stock photos from iStock . I can buy photos on your behalf and charge you later, or you can purchase them and supply them to me for the job.

I am also available for hire should you need custom photos for the job.  You can view my portfolio at nikipike.com

istock

Generally when someone mentions a theme they are referring to a pre-built template that can be purchased from a site like ThemeForest. When you purchase a theme you have the option of using it as-is and uploading it directly to your WordPress website, or you can use a theme and then customize it to suit your needs.

Using a theme is always a great idea if you have a smaller budget as it will cut down on the costs of having a custom built website.

Web hosting is an internet service that allows your website to be accessible online. You will need to pay for hosting in order to see your site. I use Web Hosting Buzz for all my websites

A logo generally starts at $350 but can cost more depending on what type of logo you are looking for. Often times a specific font will be used for the logo and the purchase of that font and it’s rights may be required before you can use it for commercial applications. The cost of that font is not included in the $350 and will be an additional charge.

Business cards start off at  $200 for design only, print is extra. This will include 3 revisions of the business card and all files will be handed over to you in the end.

You may be wondering “why do I need a logo?”  A logo not only represents a business, but it can also represents a brand. A professional logo  is the sole identifier that sets your business or brand apart from others, and it is what is used to quickly identify you to your current, and future clients. A thought-provoking logo design can strengthen your brand image and corporate identity, giving you a psychological advantage over your competition.

It is often quite hard to determine what type of logo you are looking for, that’s where I come in. I will sit down with you and discuss the options with you to help you achieve your goals.

Not Sure what kind of logo you need? Check out the descriptions here

One word “no”! Sending out email campaigns to emails that you didn’t ask permission for is a big problem. Not only will you be marked as “spam”, but it could also lead to your account being disabled or worse yet blocked! And keep in mind, you are emailing your clients or perspective clients for a reason, they are your target market. Why would you want to waste time creating an email or marketing plan for those out side your perspective clientele?

I can’t give you the quote for the SEO cost until we sit down and set up a game plan. SEO needs to be maintained on a regular basis ( monthly at least), so the packaged we put together will need to fit in with your goals as well as your budget.

Have you heard the term “SEO” but have no clue what it means? The long and the short of it, SEO stand for Search Engine Optimization, which is the process of gaining traffic via listing on a search engine like Google, Yahoo or Bing. When a person types in what they are looking for it will bring up a list of results.

When a website has been properly coded and configured with SEO it will help your site gain higher rankings and come up higher on the results. I believe that all websites require SEO, but it is not a one time deal. A great amount of work needs to be put into your site on an ongoing basis in order to stay up to date with the ever changing rules.

A professional logo  is the sole identifier that sets your business or brand apart from others, and it is what is used to quickly identify you to your current, and future clients. There are three kinds of logos. Iconic/Symbolic, Logotype/Wordmark and Combination marks

iconicsymbol

Iconic/Symbolic

In it’s basic form, these are simple uncomplicated images that are literal or abstract representations of your company. They should be instantly recognizable, memorable, have clarity when reproduced in small sizes, and be illustrative in nature, either concrete or abstract.

logotype

Logotype/Wordmark

This type of logo is usually your brand name in a uniquely styled font. There are thousands of variations to choose from including color, size, thickness, and style of font. The main consideration for this type of logo is the ease of legibility. You want  your logo to be recognized, but to also be understood.

combinationmark

Combination Marks

A Combination Mark Logo combines text and symbols/icons to create a unique logo. The text can be fully integrated with the graphics, or stand alone.

Creating a website can be a fairly easy process when broken down into the correct steps. I always tell my clients the hardest part about creating a website is the content that needs to go in it. It’s very important that the content is well written and speaks to your target audience.

1Let’s grab a coffee where I will gather information about your company, your clients, and your goals for the website.web design step 1
2The fun part where the wire-frames and mockups will be designed by me, and loved, adored, & approved  by you.mockup
3All the nerdy stuff like setting up domains & hosting, coding , including basic SEO, and bug testing.coding
4WAHOO Launch of the new website! Now you can brag to all your friends about your awesome website!finished website

The long and the short of it, SEO stand for search engine optimization, which is the process of gaining traffic via listing on a search engine like Google, Yahoo or Bing. When a person types in what they are looking for it will bring up a list of results. When a website has been properly coded and configured with SEO it will help your site gain higher rankings and come up higher on the results.

I believe that all websites require SEO, but it is not a one time deal. A great amount of work needs to be put into your site on an ongoing basis in order to stay up to date with the ever changing rules.

For more information on the SEO services I provide, visit the SEO & Marketing Page.

The cost of a website is based on several factors such as;

  • hosted or self-hosted
  • custom or theme
  • CMS or hand coded
  • content entry or not
  • number of pages
  • Ecommerce
  • Added Blog

I never give a cost without talking with my clients first and finding out what they are looking for. This approach provides me with the information I need to discuss your wants and needs ( and why you want and need it), and then give you a realistic quote and time frame for your site. That being said, my basic rule of thumb is as follows

Basic website – 5 Pages (you choose), WordPress Template with no customizations starts at $600

Basic Website – 5 Pages ( you choose), WordPress custom template $900

Anything over and above the two listed will be considered custom and will need to be quoted.

To speed things up, you can download my client worksheet and then email it to me before our meeting or request a quote.

As of April 2015, Google has implemented a new algorithm that will penalize any website that is not mobile friendly. You may wonder what exactly that means to you? It means that if your website used to be ranking high on Google and your website is not responsive, that it will now have it’s ranking dropped.

A responsive website is coded in such a way that it will display properly on a desktop computer as well as display properly on a mobile or portable device such as a smart phone or a tablet. More people view the internet on their mobile device than ever before. As more and more people view websites this way, having a responsive website will allow the visitor the best user experience possible.

Why you need one? Simply because the costs associated with maintaining a “desktop” and a “mobile” site simply out weight the benefits. Not only do you have to write two separate set of content for each site, you will need to maintain both sites. A responsive site will allow you access to one site, one set of content and will ultimately provide you with a site that will give you more bang for your buck.

Yes you do. The days of looking in a phone book for company are long gone. Everything is digital, and in order to be found, you should have an online presence.

People who are searching for your company will generally look online first. A company that doesn’t have a website will give potential clients a bad impression and may cause them to look elsewhere.

Your website should match your branding, and contain information about your company, and an easy way for them to contact you.

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