WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
Does the idea of creating a website freak you out? You are darn good at what you do, that's why you need a website! If your talent doesn't lie in computers, paperwork or creating advertising media, don't let it hold you back. Almost HALF of all small business DON'T have a website! That's the scary part!
There are SO many things to consider when you're putting together your site that it's easy to get overwhelmed or frustrated. That's where I come in to help! If you don't have any sort of plan - or if you have a complete map of every little detail.... we can get your project underway.
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I work with "Drag and Drop" site builders, otherwise known as "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get). They are relatively easy to use and maintain; and if your eventual goal is to update it yourself, probably the best choice. I have worked with two of the most popular, GoDaddy and Wix. I can work on whichever similar platform you choose, but bear in mind they all have different limitations, and there can be a learning curve. All that is taken into consideration when we negotiate costs.
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At this time I don't charge a flat fee for creation. Everyone's project is a little different - some might want to use a template "out of the box" and others may want to start from a blank page. One hour Initial consultation (in person, email or Messenger) is free and if I don't think I can help you, I'll say so right up front.
Website Checkup
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Here's a little list of things to consider for your business website.
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1. No website at all? How about a social media presence? While not everyone uses social media, there is a tremendous marketing opportunity you are missing! If you’re not ready to start a website yet, consider a Facebook Business Page first.
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2. You do have a website, but it's not mobile friendly..... Over half of all internet searches are done using mobile phones. If your site is hard to navigate you won't get as much traffic. It's as if you have a "brick and mortar" store - but your staff is rude, the products aren't stocked and there's no parking!
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3. A very important part of your business is to have a professional first impression. Take a look at your page or website, does it look professional? Can people see what you do right away? Do you give them enough information? Are you easily contacted? Do you respond promptly?
How much is a website going to cost me?
That's probably one of your first three questions! There isn't a simple answer but the first one is - "as much as you're willing or able to spend on it"
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There is a smorgasboard of options available! You can find a lot of information online but I've highlighted the important bits.
Totally Free
Usually contain advertising
Host Domain in web address
Not search engine friendly
*You Maintain
$10-15 Monthly
Your Own Domain
May contain Advertising
Search Engine Friendly
*You Maintain
$20-35 Monthly
Your website Mailbox
Your own domain
Advanced Selling Features
*You Maintain
$TBD
You choose Host
You Choose Cost
You Choose Features
*I Maintain for you
Things to think about:
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1. Domains (your "dot com") come in many forms. Dot Com is the most popular but there are also .biz, .org and many others.
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2. Purchasing a domain gives you the right to that name for a certain period of time. Most are yearly, even if you pay for a separate monthly hosting fee. Some web providers provide a "package" deal and offer both.
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3. You can do many things on a free website that you can do with a paid site - have a store, offer a service, run a blog, etc. But remember that free websites are almost never visible if a customer tries to search for you (i.e. Google your business or page)
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4. I have clients who successfully use Facebook plus a free website to market their services or products.
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5. You can go from a free website to a fully functioning paid site - and the other direction too!
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6. Payment plans for free sites are safest with PayPal or Stripe. These are reputable payment processors that deduct a portion of the sales price before sending your money.