Write this Down Freelancing - Laurena Weninger

If you hire Write this Down Freelancing to build or renovate your website, you will have access to a wide range of services. From basic website design to technical programming and development, to hosting, to search engine optimization, this is a "one-stop" shopping experience. Services include setting up basic websites, e-commerce websites, blogs, Facebook pages (including custom landing pages for businesses and organizations).

Have you already got an existing website you would like tweaked? That's possible too.

That depends entirely on what you need.

One benefit of hiring me as your custom website designer/developer is that I will begin the process by sitting down with you to establish your goals for your website. Who is your audience? What browsers do they use? What information will they want available? Will you be selling items from the site, or signing up members to receive a periodic newsletter? What other websites do you like? What other websites do you dislike? Why?

Most clients have access to their own computers and want to be able to control content on the finished website. That could include posting news releases, coming events or blog updates - so we can build in the option for client control.

Ultimately, websites are built with a combination of standards-compliant HTML, CSS, PHP and Javascript to make sure your site is attractive, accessible and useful.

Because you are choosing to make use of a custom website designer/developer, the whole process will be customized to suit you.

Do you want to design your own website, and then have me write the code to bring your site to life? Do you have your own host, and want to upload files yourself? Maybe you need a little bit of help establishing a framework for your site and plan to build it yourself with some of the free programs widely available.

This is all possible.

When you work with a professional, the website design and development process should be a smooth one. Here's what to expect when you work with me on your project:

Initial meeting

At this in-person interview-style meeting, I will get to know you (and your organization, if necessary), and nail down what it is you are looking for in a website. This will include exploring your goals, brainstorming about your intended audience, talking about other websites you like, and reviewing colour preferences. After the meeting, I will send you a short report to ensure that I completely understand our intention for this site.

Design

Using content supplied by you, I will begin to design your custom website. This stage will result in a one-or-two page mock-up, a custom design that is intended to perfectly suit your needs and style. This mock-up will be made available for your approval. The colours, fonts, and general style can be tweaked as required!

Development

After you have approved the basic mock-up and provided the rest of the content, I will construct the website.

The site’s development will usually include built-in search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, including the use of meta tags, to make the site more easily found by search engines like Google. At your request, the site will also be registered with Google Analytics so you can track visitors.

You will then have another chance to view the site and make requests for changes. When we are all happy with the finished product, the site will be uploaded and become "live".

Maintenance

Please remember, website development is not a "one-time" occurrence. While you will obviously budget money for the design and development of the site, ongoing attention is required, especially with dynamic websites. (Read more.)

Again, it depends. Often, I can design and develop a website in a very short period of time, but much of that depends on you. Remember, you are a big part of the process and need to be able to provide information and help with graphics, feedback, and clear direction about what you need.

I have developed websites in as little as a couple of days, and others in a matter of months. Do you have a timeline in mind?

Chances are, you already have a rough idea about what you want on your website. During the initial meeting, I will meet with you and we will brainstorm and dig down to find out exactly what you need.

Most of the time, my clients prefer to write their own website content for specific pages, and provide photos and graphics (like logos). But I am also a writer, editor, and photographer - so don't forget to ask if you want me to write or fine-tune that content for you.

Yes! If it suits a client, I will build in Content Management capabilities as well as the necessary training on how to use the system.

However, there are some important considerations on this point. Websites can be built as "static" (rarely changing) or "dynamic" (often updated or changed by the client). Static websites require less on-going maintenance, but are harder to change. Dynamic sites offer the luxury of easy changes, but are a bit more high-maintenance, requiring regular back-ups and updates.

The updates and back-ups can be made yourself (if you have some basic computer skills) or by me, but this requires some skills and dilligence.  Lack of attention to this can lead to your website being hacked.

I do offer these updating and backup services as part of my Ongoing Maintenance & Hosting Package, but in some cases, it makes more sense to have a static site built and just pay to have future changes made when necessary.

That's possible too. I can be hired on an hourly basis to make changes and additions at any time. In fact, I can even take over the management of an existing website and gradually make small changes as directed.

This is a very common question! Generally, search engines work by "crawling" the World Wide Web, building their search databases. Then, when a user types in a search request, the responses are returned based on that data. There are things that can be done to make sure your website is "found" by search engines like Google, and there are also things that can be done that sink your chances of being listed.

All of my website construction projects include the basics of Search Engine Optimization (which is what this process is called). But if you require more of this type of work - like confirmation your existing site is meeting the requirements, etc. - that's possible too.

We can install a simple program that lets you track the number of your visitors, where they are from, what they are looking at when they are on your website and even what kind of browser they are using.

It depends! How much money do you have?

In all seriousness, one of the best analogies for "cost of website construction" came from another designer who said she likes to tell her clients, "It costs about as much as a car."

In other words, it entirely depends on what you want to drive. Are you looking for a large, e-commerce website, or a small, to-the-point couple-of-pages for your customers to find when they seek you out, on-line? Do you want top-notch Search Engine Optimization? Forms for feedback? Animation? Photo galleries, slide shows, or cutting-edge graphics?

So in reality, it really does depend on how much money you have for this particular project. The basic, most simple website is going to start at about $600, plus a few extras for domain name registration and hosting - but I can also be hired on an hourly basis if needed.

And please do remember to budget for ongoing backups, maintenance and updates!

You bet there are. There are do-it-yourself options, as well as other businesses that may possibly do it cheaper. Some of them provide excellent results - but some do not.

In addition to the amount you will pay me for my services, there are a couple of other things to consider.

Hosting & Domain Registration

A web host is the service provider that rents you the home in "cyberspace" where your website files sit after they have been uploaded.

When someone sits down at his or her computer and types in your domain name or DNS (for example, www.writethisdown.ca), the computer first sends a message to a DNS server. That DNS server translates the name into numbers that instruct your computer where to go to find the requested files.

As instructed, the user's computer then goes to where you have your files hosted, and brings back the requested pages. These pages are written in a universally-recognized code (HTML) that all computers understand and interpret, more or less the same way!

There is an annual fee for the DNS name (usually under $15) as well as the monthly cost of hosting. Hosting services can be arranged through a third-party (maybe you already have one in place?) or can be purchased directly through Write this Down Freelancing, starting at $10 per month for basic service. I can also arrange the domain name registration on your behalf.

Miscellaneous

If you want an e-commerce site or collect information from your customers, you may need to consider an SSL certificate to provide proper privacy and security on your website. There also may be associated bank fees or service charges if you conduct online sales.

At Write this Down Freelancing, I offer two basic website hosting packages for my clients:

1. Basic Hosting

This package is $10 per month and will meet the needs of most clients who require "just the basics." With this package, you will be required to take care of your own maintenance, updates, and backups.

2. Hosting & Maintenance

This package is $40 per month, and includes hosting space, regular site backups and software updates (to prevent security breaches) and help to restore your dynamic website if it is ever breached. This package also includes two small website changes per month (max one hour's worth of work).

Just like there are people in real life who like to vandalize things, there are people in cyberspace who like to do the same.

Essentially, such folks find it a challenge to find ways to "break in" to random websites. These intruders can do damage to your files, or leave an ugly message bragging about their success, which will appear instead of your website. In more severe cases, hackers can gain access to passwords and more personal information.

It is worth noting that this risk can be higher on those "dynamic" websites that will allow clients to make their own changes, and while these risks can be mitigated with regular updates and backups - which allow easy repair if there is a breach - the cost and time investment of such measures need to be considered.