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Frequently Asked Questions

F.A.Q.

Web Design

Web design refers to the design of websites that are displayed on the internet. It usually refers to the user experience aspects of website development rather than software development. Web design used to be focused on designing websites for desktop browsers; however, since the mid-2010s, design for mobile and tablet browsers has become ever-increasingly important.

After you sign up for the service, we email you an order confirmation & service agreement. After you acknowledge this, we will forward you another email proving you access to our client-only web tools & questionnaire. Once you complete this online questionnaire, I will call you at the time selected During this call, I will confirm information, ask you questions, answer any of your questions, and begin to work on your project.

It usually takes between 7-10 business days, after we receive all the necessary information from you. If expedited shipping is selected, usually it will take between 3-5 business days.

There is a domain registration fee of approximately $15-$20 dollars per year payable to a domain registration company. The development of a website does not include content research, pictures or monthly updates, these may be available for an additional price.

I will provide an hour each month of work to your website along with weekly backups. This will include, content updates, new picture or page, virus removal, troubleshooting etc. Hosting is a separate charge for all clients using our maintenance plan.

Once I receive your questionnaire, I will schedule the phone interview. As soon as we get your content, pictures, logo and color or design choices I will get to work. Most clients will receive a draft within 10 business days or sooner.

Most websites have between 5-10 pages, however, depending on your business products and services, you website may require more pages. Let me know how may pages you would like and I will provide a quote for each additional page over what is included in the website package purchased.

Home, About Us, Services, Contact Us and a Specialty page of your choosing.

Yes, we can add a store with pictures, item descriptions, and automated checkout so you can receive payment and get it deposited into your bank account directly.

While I don’t personally make any edits to video and music. I am familiar with different software that I can direct you too that could be of use.

E-commerce simply means a shop or store set up on a website. With my clients, I set up a store with no more than 10 items of their choosing.

Website policies are an extremely important part of an arts organization’s online presence and the types of activities you provide at your site will determine which policies you need and what they should address.

Acceptable Use Policy
An acceptable use policy is a set of rules that define what may or may not be done with the assets and data within your website, network, or service. It’s meant to protect you and your company against abuse and overuse of the resources.

Cookie Consent Banner
Generate and display a cookie permissions pop-up on your site using our lightweight and customizable free cookie consent banner plugin. Handle the GDPR legislation and EU cookies directive without spending money on a developer.

Privacy Policy
A privacy policy is a document that discloses some or all of the ways your website or product gathers, uses, discloses, and manages a customer or client’s data. It fulfills a legal requirement to protect a customer or client’s privacy.

Terms and Conditions
Terms and conditions (also known as terms of use and terms of service) are a set of guidelines and rules which one must agree to abide by in order to use your website or product. Terms and conditions are legally binding for both parties.

Cookie Policy
A cookie policy outlines the types of cookies and other tracking technologies used on your website, what they do, and how they are used. You are required by the EU law to have a cookie policy and notify visitors that your site uses them.

Disclaimer
A disclaimer is often described as a common method used by website owners in order to limit their liability on their website. The main purpose of a disclaimer is to make sure the information on your website will not be improperly relied upon.

Refund Policy
A good refund policy can help protect your company and win your customers’ trust. Refund policy outlines the requirements and steps your customers need to take in order to return or exchange purchased product and receive a refund.

Although there are numerous types of policies related to online activity, they aren’t always applicable to most organizations.

If your organization has the resources to consult with an attorney who specializes in website legal agreements, that’s terrific.

Yes, I can set up a database to capture prospect information so you can follow-up with them later. Also, they can register for newsletters, blogs, and other items.

Websites are priced by packages with select features that meet most budgets however any of packages these may be modified based on client needs.

If you are not on my maintenance plan then no. After your website is fully paid for, I release all  information to the client and it is your responsibility to update your own card information.

Yes, all of the photos I offer for your websites are licensed.

While the client has the freedom to choose whichever domain end they would like, the most common uses of the three are:

  • .com Commercial (for-profit) websites
  • .net Network-related domains
  • .org Non-profit organizations

The domain name is a web address and can be whatever the client wishes it to be (For example, our domain name is designsbydonw.com). The Fee is depending on if they want a .com,.org, or .net which can vary in prices between $14-$20.

A domain name is renewed once a year at the time of purchase. Depending on which domain name extension the client chose (.com,.org, .net) the price will vary. Typically, the cost is $20 per year. You may also choose to cancel or change your domain at the annual renewal time.

If there has been no prior notice given to me then your contract will be subject to cancellation. In the event that you enrolled under a promotional period, you will have the option to start back on the plan at the regular rate.

All maintenance request will be processed on a first come first serve basis within 3-5 Business Days.

My Maintenance Plan requires a commitment of 6 months. After 6 months, and you feel as if you don’t require maintenance then you are more than welcome to discontinue my services. 

I will provide an hour each month of work to your website along with weekly backups. This will include, content updates, new picture or page, virus removal, troubleshooting etc. Hosting is a separate charge for all clients using our maintenance plan.

Many new businesses already have a lot on their plates without worrying about constantly checking in on their website. It’s tempting to buy a domain name, throw up something temporary, and just worry about it later. There are many reasons why this is not a good idea. Maintaining a current, healthy, and active website is important for a number of reasons.

SEO

The whole point to starting a business is to have customers, clients, or an audience. To drive traffic to your website, you’ll need to keep it regularly updated.

Google wants to rank websites that have the most relevant and up-to-date information on their search engine results page . They may even de-index your website entirely if it hasn’t been updated recently enough and if they suspect it has been infected by malware. You must keep your website regularly updated with current content, news, keywords, and articles in order to rank well in search results.

Customer Attraction/Engagement

If your website is gaining traction and traffic, it’s important to keep those potential customers. If they aren’t able to find what they are looking for, current information and relevant content, there is a good chance you’ll lose interest quickly. In order for your website to be the useful tool you want, you’ll need to ensure it is free from typos and grammar issues, has any and all information a customer could want, and looks engaging and consistent.

Security

This is the single most important reason to keep website maintenance on your radar, particularly if your website is storing any form of customer information. If you are using a website building platform like WordPress or Wix, you must ensure that you are installing regular software updates and security patches. It can be easy and attractive for hackers to find and target websites that have sat dormant for too long.

Corporate Image

It’s becoming more and more simple to create a website that looks well-designed and professional. There is an expectation for a professional website from professional companies. If your website doesn’t deliver on the promise of professionalism, your customers will often go elsewhere.

Your Sanity

Your website is a very important element of your business. If it is up-to-date and running smoothly, it can be a valuable support and asset. If it is not in a good state, it can cost you dearly. Once you are behind on your maintenance needs, it can be quite the process to bring the website back up to speed. Sometimes, if your maintenance has been ignored for too long, it is easier just to scrap everything and rebuild from the scratch.

Do yourself and your business a favor by staying on top of your website. This will repay you with simple ease of mind.

Keep up with Trends in Design and Technology

The sleeker your website is, the more you’ll convince potential customers that you are their ultimate choice. If you’re staying on top of your website maintenance, you’ll also have the opportunity to be an early adopter of new website technology that will help the back-end run more smoothly. If you’re installing software updates regularly, you’ll be able to take advantage of new features that install along with the updates.

You’ll also be able to tweak your design to stay on top of the latest website looks. It’s far more tempting to employ a company with a polished and modern website than one that looks like it hopped on a time travel device from 2003. 

User Experience

User experience (UX) is critical if your business wants higher conversion rates. In fact, creating a user UX strategy can potentially raise conversions as much as 400%. Routine maintenance can help pinpoint issues users may be having on your site that prevents them from carrying out a specific task. Maybe the culprit is an outdated plug-in, or perhaps your site isn’t optimized for mobile phones. Whatever the case, consistent monitoring of your site will help deflect any UX-related obstacles.

Cost Savings

Spending money on a web maintenance plan seems counterintuitive to cost savings, but this small investment could save you thousands — if not millions — of dollars down the line. Issues on your website that are ignored or left unnoticed can result in a downed or broken website, costing you lost business, revenue, and time. You’ll also take a big hit to actually pay for your site repairs. Ongoing maintenance ensures those small issues are caught and fixed early so everything can remain business as usual.

The cost for the maintenance plan is $75 a month.

All payments will be requested on the first of each month. A receipt for your records will be given to you upon your request if one is not automatically provided to you.

You can, of course, take on these tasks yourself, but it will save time and stress to pay an agency for several reasons.

  1. You’ll be hiring me, an expert who can take care of these tasks every day. I know what to look for and what to expect.
  2. You can focus on other areas of your business that need your attention.
  3. Hiring an outside agency is cost-effective and can scale with your company. Your package will reflect the needs of your company.
  4. Your website informs users’ first impressions. If your website doesn’t work properly or looks outdated, customers will often click away. It will set a negative first impression of your business. If your website looks unprofessional, customers may think that your business is too.
  5. Your website informs users’ first impressions. If your website doesn’t work properly or looks outdated, customers will often click away. It will set a negative first impression of your business. If your website looks unprofessional, customers may think that your business is too.
  6. Your website helps grow your sales. Your website plays a crucial role in guiding users toward making a purchase. In the case of ecommerce sites, your site facilitates purchases. If your site doesn’t work properly, you’ll miss out on potential sales.
  7. A website maintenance plan improves security. Cyberattacks cost U.S. companies $15.4 million per year. Repairing the damage caused by cyberattacks is often costly, plus you may lose customers who no longertrust your company with their personal information.

Regular maintenance helps protect your site from cyber threats by keeping your security systems up to date. When you maintain your security protections, customers will feel more comfortable making purchases on your site.

  1. Website maintenance supports your SEO strategy. If users frequently leave your website shortly after arriving on it, Google may view this as a sign that your site isn’t relevant. This increase in bounce rate can lead to lower rankings in search results, which means you’ll drive less traffic to your site.

Persistent technical issues, security issues, and outdated website design, structure, or content all contribute to diminishing your search engine rankings.

Security & Updates

Waking up to a hacked site, lost data, and lost customers is a nightmare. We’ll keep your site, plugins, security patches, and content updated so you’ll sleep soundly. No nightmares, Guaranteed.

Backups

By performing secure off-site backups of your database and file system, you’ll never lose your valuable work to server or database crashes again! I back up your database  and do a FULL weekly backup.

Support

Enjoy the convenience of a web expert available via
phone or email after filling out the support ticket link which can be found here.

Peace of Mind

Let professionals manage your site, freeing you up to work on things you love and would rather do. This is what keeps you competitive in the marketplace, saves you money, and gives you space in your head to think about warm sand between your toes and a cool drink in your hand. Kind of awesome, right?

If you do not need a maintenance plan, then I offer an hourly rate.

If you have prepaid for your Web Maintenance and you do not use it within 3 months, you will lose your time.

All payments are due on the first of each month, no exceptions. If you miss a payment, you will occur a $25 late fee per week if it is not paid or given prior notice. If there has been no prior notice given to me then your contract will be subject to cancellation. In the event that you enrolled under a promotional period, you will have the option to start back on the plan at the regular rate.

F.A.Q.

Maintenance Plan

A website maintenance plan isn’t just about improving your online presence; it’s about helping your bottom line. With the right partner and the right plan, you can get back to focusing on what you do best: building your business. I am dedicated to helping you do just that. Whether you just launched your site or you’ve had one for years, we’re ready to help support your web maintenance needs. Get started by reaching out to me and together let’s find the best ways we can help your website—and your business—grow.

F.A.Q.

Social Media Management

Want to focus more on the day-to-day operations of your business? Let’s work together and allow me to manage your social media! Let me help your organizations capitalize on the surging popularity of social media platforms by creating and overseeing engagement, branding, and marketing campaigns.

You know you need to use social media to market your business. You know it takes time to write posts, create graphics, create a content strategy, sync the strategy with your products and services, answer questions and comments, etc. You have tried to post consistently, but it takes too much time. You realize social media is a full-time job.

You hire me. To do all the above. I write posts, create graphics, create a content strategy, sync the strategy to include the products and services you want to sell, answer questions and comments, posting consistently on your desired platform. Because social media is my job. You hire me so you can get back to running your business. 

Yes. Social Media Management is a ghost service. I am posting on your social media profiles, under your handles, as YOU. The only way someone knows it is me posting and not you is if you tell them.

Currently, TwitterFacebook fan pageFacebook groupInstagram for any brand. In select cases, LinkedIn can also be managed on a case-by-case basis. The reason being that LinkedIn is exclusively used as professional platform, and is used in a different capacity that other platforms. If there is a platform you want me to manage, please reach out to me to discuss more!

Absolutely! The customer service part of social media is critical. We can’t leave your adoring fans hanging!

Nope. Clients, rarely, if ever, go in and post once they become a client. Social Media Management services are designed so that I take over your social media accounts, and you can get back to doing what you do best, running your business. Of course, you can go in and post if you want to.

There are different packages available, each with a different minimum posting schedule. The reason being, some people just need their profiles to look active, and some people want to strategically increase their following and sell some stuff. The level of posting is different for each objective.

Security & Updates

Waking up to a hacked site, lost data, and lost customers is a nightmare. We’ll keep your site, plugins, security patches, and content updated so you’ll sleep soundly. No nightmares, Guaranteed.

Backups

By performing secure off-site backups of your database and file system, you’ll never lose your valuable work to server or database crashes again! I back up your database  and do a FULL weekly backup.

Support

Enjoy the convenience of a web expert available via
phone or email after filling out the support ticket link which can be found here.

Peace of Mind

Let professionals manage your site, freeing you up to work on things you love and would rather do. This is what keeps you competitive in the marketplace, saves you money, and gives you space in your head to think about warm sand between your toes and a cool drink in your hand. Kind of awesome, right?

If you do not need a maintenance plan, then I offer an hourly rate.

If there has been no prior notice given to me then your contract will be subject to cancellation. In the event that you enrolled under a promotional period, you will have the option to start back on the plan at the regular rate.

Graphic design is an important tool that enhances how you communicate with other people. It serves to convey your ideas in a way that is not only effective, but also beautiful. Graphics is a method of communication that we use to portray our ideas to our audience, and the better we can communicate the more information that they can retain.

Graphic Design services that I offer right now are the following:

  • Business Cards
  • Flyers or Posters
  • Logos
  • Brochures
  • Infographics
  • Social Media Designs

If you need something else other than these, please reach out to me and I can be of further assistance!

Most of our work is custom-built to client specs.

No, our base pricing only includes the design work.

Yes, however print shops require different “bleed” DPI and formats not commonly known to someone not involved with graphic design. Because of these challenges, most clients prefer us to source out the job to a professional printer.

Yes, you will be given two revisions per design option. If you need additional revisions, you will be charged the hourly rate per revision.

Standard turn around time for any Graphic Design will be 2-3 Business Days. An expedited fee will be available if you need it immediately.

After I have satisfied your graphic design needs and payments have been met, you will 100% own the design.

F.A.Q.

Graphic Design

Graphic design is an important tool that enhances how you communicate with other people. It serves to convey your ideas in a way that is not only effective but also beautiful. Although do we truly understand the importance of graphic design in business? If you believe that your business can survive without compelling communications, think again. In one way or another, you’ll need to visually communicate your product or service’s features, benefits, and differentiators to your target prospects and customers. Get started by reaching out to me and together let’s find the best ways we can help your website—and your business—grow.

F.A.Q.

Mobile Application

Smartphones are an ever-present attribute that most shoppers in the U.S. and all over the world always carry in their pockets. These tools enable people to browse, assess, and buy items within minutes, effectively simplifying the process and reducing the time that consumers spend agonizing over the decision to purchase a product. Mobile applications can help build a larger client base, win the customers’ loyalty, and stay far ahead of the competition.

It is not mandatory to have website with same features as application. You can target app development first with one page website. On getting more traction, you can have responsive website with features same as application.

Yes, if you have the budget flexibility; you should have specialized iPad and tablet version of app.

With the growing popularity of both iPhone and latest Android smartphones, we recommend to launch the product in both the platforms.

All App Creation is on the timeframe dependent of the App Store or Google Play Store. For Apple, it takes about one to three days to receive approval, and it can take up to 24 hours for your app to appear in the App Store after approval. oogle says the review process could take up to 7 days or even longer. But usually, it takes up to 2 days. Please, keep in mind that it may take a few days to fill in all the necessary information in the Google Developer account before submitting the application.

Yes, you will be given two revisions per design option. If you need additional revisions, you will be charged the hourly rate per revision.

Yes, you will be given two revisions per design option. If you need additional revisions, you will be charged the hourly rate per revision.

After I have satisfied your mobile app needs and payments have been met, you will 100% own the design.

If you do not need a maintenance plan, then I offer an hourly rate.

If there has been no prior notice given to me then your contract will be subject to cancellation. In the event that you enrolled under a promotional period, you will have the option to start back on the plan at the regular rate.

Though we would love to provide a specific answer to this question, the reality is that SEO is a never-ending endeavor. Businesses can’t “win” at SEO and then halt their efforts; staying on top by sustaining traffic and increasing conversions will require ongoing efforts and adjustments to Google’s evolving algorithms. Additionally, each business will have different hurdles to overcome to meet their goals. While it may take one business two months to reach certain goals, it could take another twice as a long based on their industry competition, current site design, etc.

Keyword research is generally considered to be the foundation of an SEO campaign. While keyword research certainly isn’t the only approach to improving rankings, it’s fundamentally important. SEO campaigns use keyword research to determine what competitors are ranking for and which words or long-tail phrases should be targeted for on-site optimization. Without keyword research, it’s difficult to know what your target audience is searching for and how to optimize your site accordingly.

Simply adding a bunch of ranking keywords to your content is considered keyword stuffing, and Google will likely recognize and penalize those who engage in this black hat practice. When sites simply add ranking keywords to their content, they’re not focusing on creating meaningful, quality content, which is what Google prioritizes above all else when it comes to ranking. Instead, keywords should be incorporated naturally and where appropriate.

Mobile SEO is more important than ever, given that a growing number of search queries are conducted on mobile devices. In fact, Google has just announced that there are officially more search queries conducted on mobile devices than on personal computers. Businesses need to get in tune with mobile audiences by optimizing sites and content specifically for them. Creating a responsive website that automatically adapts to mobile settings is a key way to not only improve the experience of your mobile users, but earn Google’s mobile-friendly distinction.

Leveraging social media with posts that include links back to your website is one key way to funnel traffic to your site within a relatively short time frame; posts that include promotions, contests, giveaways, and other engaging, time-sensitive material can be particularly effective.  amassing digital traffic.

The best way to avoid Google penalties is to practice white hat, rather than black hat, SEO tactics. Black hat SEO tactics include things like stuffing pages with keywords rather than quality content, creating duplicate content, featuring irrelevant or poor links, and over linking with direct keywords. If an SEO tactic doesn’t have user experience in mind, it’s likely a black hat practice, and Google will take notice. Additionally, your site could also be penalized for things like overlooked 404 redirect pages, an outdated XML sitemap, and an overuse of anchor text.

There’s immense value in blogging given that, for years now, SEO practice has revolved around the saying, “Content is King.” This means that what really gives a site authority, and what attracts viewership and generates leads, is frequently publishing content that viewers want to read. Blogs still serve as one of the most effective ways to communicate valuable content to viewers, but only if they’re interesting, informative, and engaging. Consider: 140 million people read blogs in the United States alone.

Meta tags refer to meta title tags and meta descriptions, each of which provides Google and viewers with information about the web-page in search results. A meta title tag appears at the top of your browser and serves as the title of your page; title tags should be less than 60 characters and, if space allows, include the name of your business. A meta description appears beneath a SERP listing and is a way to entice viewers to visit a page. Meta descriptions should be less than 155 characters, so as to display in-full on a results page, and feature a call to action, such as “Learn more here.” Meta tags should also include a company name and a target keyword that corresponds to the page, as Google crawls meta tags when indexing.

Yes! Video marketing can actually create immediate SEO results; in fact, one study reported that web pages with videos are 53 times more likely to rank on the first page of a Google results page. Because searches are blended (meaning that a results page can display a mix of web pages, PDFs, videos, and images when keywords or phrases are queried), videos are definitely in the running to appear in top result spots. Google’s inclusion and seeming emphasis on video results is also reflective of its move away from keywords and towards quality content; because videos are seen as more engaging and favorable to users, they often rank extremely well.

To locally optimize your site, you’ll want to conduct keyword research for terms that customers in your local area are searching for. With these keyword terms, which will likely include your store’s location, you can optimize your page titles, meta descriptions, H1s, content, blogs, social media posts and more. If you have more than one targeted local area, it’s a good idea to create separate web pages on your site for each of these locations. Content on these separate pages should be unique, optimized to the specific location, and engaging to customers who live in these areas.

Organic rankings refer to those generated as a result of natural traffic to your site; in other words, your site generated traffic based on the services it offers, the appeal of its title and meta description, the brand recognition you’ve built, your implementation of white hat SEO tactics, etc. Conversely, Google Ads is an advertising platform in which businesses pay to run ads for their sites. These ads will appear on the top or side bars of a results page and will indicate that they are not organic. However, Google Ads shouldn’t be dismissed; Google Ads is a good tool for targeting niche audiences based on specific keyword searches, and only operates on a pay-per-click basis.

A call to action is a statement that directs a reader to do something. It could be something as simple as “Call today” or “Find more information about our service here.” A call to action should be direct, succinct, and most importantly, prompt a reader to do something. Calls to action should be included in meta descriptions, ads, email marketing and, where appropriate, blogs and web page content.

Lead generation is a digital marketing tactic used to create interest in your product or service and establish a pipeline for sales. With lead generation, the focus is on conversions. Lead generation involves the collection of prospective customer contact info, such as a name and email, and these prospectives can then be reached out to via email marketing, the creation of product videos, whitepapers, and much more.

The structure and design of a website actually can affect its rankings and overall traffic. Web design must provide an intuitive and easily navigable site structure that features a design/content that users are able to understand and interact with. Things like site hierarchy and overall aesthetic can significantly affect your site’s bounce rate and, in turn, the effectiveness of your other SEO efforts. 

Conversion optimization refers to the practice of determining how a site can increase its ratio of visitors to actual customers. A conversion is a site visitor who has taken a desired action (usually making a purchase) rather than simply viewing content and leaving. One way to optimize conversions is to conduct A/B testing, which simultaneously runs two different web pages with altered designs or content to see which yields more conversions, and thus which page a business should implement going forward.

Image alt tags are a text alternative for those who may have trouble viewing an image or who rely on text-to-audio service when using the Internet. Search engines also crawl alt tags to help determine what an image represents. Alt tags, therefore, not only improve user experience, but contribute to the effectiveness of your SEO campaign.

Inclusion of profiles on local sites like Yelp and Google + allows businesses to appear more visibly in search results, as these profiles improve their authority. Ultimately, local directories are a proven, effective way to not only build a brand and provide easier access to contact information, but generate site traffic and conversions.

F.A.Q.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing allows businesses to raise brand awareness, share information about products, engage with the audience, and monitor online reputation. Digital advertising allows businesses to advertise and promote products, offer discounts or specials, and attract buying customers
F.A.Q.

Copywriting

Copywriters are tasked with writing clear and concise copy for ads, marketing materials, and websites, for virtually any audience and any industry.

Copywriter is a broad category of business writer who creates the messaging and content used in marketing and advertising campaigns. Copywriters can write anything from website copy, to landing pages, pay per click (PPC) ads, white papers, blog posts, video scripts, and much more.

You should always work with copywriter who has experience in your industry. This ensures they’ll understand your market, products and pain points. Next, ensure they have a solid track record of success. Do they have testimonials and a large work portfolio? You’ll also want to find a writer who is easy to work with and easily adapts to your company culture.

You should always work with copywriter who has experience in your industry. This ensures they’ll understand your market, products and pain points. Next, ensure they have a solid track record of success. Do they have testimonials and a large work portfolio? You’ll also want to find a writer who is easy to work with and easily adapts to your company culture.

The first thing we ask is when your deadline is. As long it’s not too last minute, we’ll have your copy ready for then. If you don’t have a deadline, we would provide you with an estimate of how long it will take and will keep you posted on the progress.

We offer 2 revisions as an industry standard. 

You do. Once the project has been completed and paid for in full, the copyright is automatically transferred to you.  

Ideally, we need at least two weeks to schedule in new projects. However, if your copywriting needs are urgent, and we have capacity, we’ll try my best to accommodate you. No promises though.