You’ve got questions (and quite rightly so!) and I have answers! Choosing your website designer can be tough and knowing what you need to know before you go ahead can feel overwhelming. I want to make the process as smooth and easy for you as possible if you choose me to work with you on your project.
I get asked many a question, but here I have put together some of my top Website design FAQs so that you can learn more about the process, peel back the curtain on how I work and see what is needed from you too.
Why do you use WordPress to create websites?
One of the biggest reasons I use WordPress to build my websites is that it’s extremely flexible. There is a lot you can do with it in comparison to a lot of other templated platforms and page builders out there that really limit you to a specific layout or design. While it’s great that there are so many platforms out there now that allow anyone to build a great looking website without the need for any coding, these websites can struggle on the performance or navigation side to reach a business goals because there may be no strategy behind them. I create good-looking websites that are also designed strategically to help business owners reach those goals and WordPress is a great, flexible tool to allow me the freedom to do that.
Another reason why I use WordPress is that it’s a hit with Google. Google and other search engines love the way WordPress sites are built with high-quality code and that’s why WordPress websites tend to rank higher than others in search engines.
You can learn more about why I use WordPress in this blog post.
Do I have to pick one of your packages?
The packages I have created should serve as a guideline based on what business owners need and what their goals are but are by no means set in stone. If you don’t feel like what you need falls exactly into one of my packages, that’s fine of course. I like to work on the basis that every business is completely unique and actually with most of the projects I complete, while their based on one of my packages, they have custom add ons too. If you feel like your goals mean you need something more custom, then please just get in touch to tell me more and we can have a chat.
How much will my website cost to build?
If you pick one of my packages, this should act as a good benchmark on which to base the expected cost of your website. If you do need add ons or anything extra, these will of course add to the price. Just get in touch if you have a more custom idea that will need custom pricing to match.
I need help with my branding design. Can you help?
This is music to my ears! I love providing my clients with the complete branding and website package and I’ll be happy to help you on this. Branding essentials are included in “The Complete Works” package and start from £500 as an add on to my other packages.
And can you help with my website copy too?
If you’re happy to write your website copy yourself, I provide a website copy guide to all my clients. I will need your website copy to be complete before I start work on designing your website to make sure I am going to be building a website that reality speaks to your people and converts them into paying clients.
I do recommend you work with a copywriter in some capacity if possible which is why I offer the Copy Editorial Review as an add on. This will mean you can write your own website copy guided by me and the copywriter, and then have it checked over and improved on for things like making sure it converts website visitors and to bear in mind things like SEO. This starts from £425. If you would prefer to have a copywriter write your website copy for you, I can provide this service for you with one of my recommended copywriters too. The cost for this starts from £950.
Do I need to provide images for my website?
Yes! I will need you to provide your brand photography before we start on our project so that I’ll be able to build a website that really represents your brand and puts your key messaging front and center to increase conversions.
If you don’t have your brand photography sorted just yet, we can book your website project in advance and I’ll give you the guidance and resources or names of photographers I recommend to work on your brand photography. Then once it’s done, we can get going on your website.
You can find out more about the importance of personal branding photography and how to plan a personal branding shoot over on the blog.
If you have any questions about brand photography or need recommendations, please just ask!
Is it easy for me to manage my WordPress website after it’s been built?
Yes, it is! WordPress now has pagebuilders which make it much easier and more intuitive to edit without the need for any coding. When we wrap up the project, I’ll hand the website over to you with video tutorials on how you can edit aspects of your site and easily add content to it. That is to say, if you want to make the changes to your site yourself.., and if you don’t you can sign up for one of my website maintenance plans and I will keep your site up to date, secure and performing well along with making the changes for you.
Will my website be mobile friendly too?
Of course! In fact 57% of website users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website. I won’t create a site that isn’t mobile friendly. I design websites to look & function beautifully on mobile devices and across all screen sizes so you can retain & convert more customers wherever they view your website.
Where will my website be hosted?
This depends on whether or not you choose to opt for one of my website maintenance plans. If you do, it will be hosted with my trusted hosting company where I keep an eye on all the client sites I manage for them if they choose to opt for the plan. If you don’t, I will still set you up with my trusted hosting comp[any but you’ll have your own account to manage things yourself.
What if I need help with my site later on down the line?
I’m here to help. Again, if you sign up to one of my website maintenance plans you’ll have me in your corner month after month taking care of everything on your site from security, updates and performance and you’ll get a certain amount of my time monthly to make edits or add content to your site. If you opt for one of the plans you’ll also get a discount off my hourly rate which is what I would charge for any further work to your site outside the plan or to those who haven’t signed up to the plan.
I don’t have the budget for one of your website packages at the moment. Can I still work with you?
The great news is yes! I totally get that going in for a website design project can feel a bit daunting. I offer Website review sessions which are a great opportunity to go through your existing website and see what you’re doing well right now and you could be doing better to improve the performance of your site, get more clients and make your website work harder for your business. These sessions acts as a lower cost option for those who want to continue on the DIY route, but would like some guidance and a strategy to take it forward and grow.
Why are websites so ‘expensive’?
Well, I suppose this depends on what you would see as expensive. It might be about your priorities. I work with ambitious business owners who want to get online, get seen and grow their business. This will mean that they may not have the time or the expertise to design and build a website that coverts for their business and their time is better spent on growing their business and the things they actually love doing. A question right back at you… Which do you value more, your time or your money? If it’s your time, then I’d say you’re more likely to be happy to invest in a website designer to build a site using their expereince, expertise and knowledge. If you value your money more, then that’s where the option of DIYing your site is most likely the best option for you.
When can we work together?
This depends on a few things. It will depend if you’re ready to go on your project with all the content I need to start designing. I’ll need you to provide the images and copy for your site as well as be ready with your branding (unless you’d like me to do this for you too).
I usually book out 2-3 months in advance so it also depends on my next availability as to when we can work together. If you have any questions about availability or timelines, let me know!
How much will I be involved in the website build?
My website design projects are a collaborative process and whilst I will be doing all the designing and developing, I will need you on hand throughout the project to give your feedback, to make sure it’s a website that you are proud of and one that considers your goals and ideal clients. I have worked hard to get my process refined over time, but you know your business inside out better than anyone else, so your presence during the process is fundamental to its success. I can’t do it without you!
What’s the process if I want to add some features to the website while you’re building it?
Whilst I like to be flexible and responsive to your needs, I also like to deliver what I promise within the time frames and budgets we have allowed. If you ask me to add new features to your website while I am building it, I will most likely ask why. If we agree that your new request will help us achieve our objectives then I will be more than happy to oblige. If your new feature is something you would like to add to your website but is not directly tied to your original objectives then I will suggest to schedule it for a second iteration of the website once it has been launched. This will require a new proposal.
How long will it take for my website to start showing up on Google searches?
The time it takes for your website to appear on page 1 of Google depends on a number of factors, including the search phrase (keywords) people are using to find your website and the number of other websites that are also targeting those keywords. Nobody can truly say how long it will take for your website to appear at the top of search engine results pages (including people who actually work for Google), however there are a number of factors that can improve your chances. Building your website on WordPress is a good start as WordPress has some great Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) fundamentals built-in. Creating unique and interesting content on a regular basis for your site is also crucial to increase your visibility on search engines. Launching your website and then forgetting about it is a sure-fire way to get lost amongst the noise.
Do you offer payment plans?
For all website design projects, I ask for 50% of the fee as a deposit with the remaining 50% due upon completion of the project.
For projects with a total fee that’s over £3000, payment plans with more installment payments can be arranged on request.
So, hopefully that’s cleared up some of the burning questions you had about website design and if not, please ask away if you’d like to know anything more about my process, how I work or how I can help your small business get online, get noticed and grow.
