FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
This list is a compilation of real questions from real clients just like you.
Our fees vary depending on the scope of the project. Most websites fall into the $3,200 – $6,200 range, but higher and lower fees are still common. Visit my web design packages and/or rate and fees page to learn more about what a website costs. We also offer pay-monthly websites that make getting a new website more affordable than ever.
I make every attempt at working with my clients to nail down a scope of work before submitting an invoice. I understand that ideas change and grow as the project progresses, and while I am flexible, I am realistic; my service offering is not unlimited.
Having a scope from the start helps avoid what is called “scope creep.” This is when a client may want something that was not originally included and would be unfair to ask of me to add without additional fees. Or if what they thought was included actually is not due to labor intensity or time.
Absolutely. One hour of tutorial time is included in most new website builds. I’ll show you how to change the text and images, and give you a brief tour of the WordPress dashboard.
While you will have full access to the site and all its options, I suggest that clients do not attempt to make structural or layout changes without my supervision or instruction. It is easy to break something with one rogue click. That said, it is also easy to restore a broken site since WP Engine provided daily backups!
I can facilitate the purchase of a domain name, yes. It is also possible to buy domains that are taken, though additional cost is incurred and that cost can vary greatly.
WordPress is free, web-based software that handles all the complicated code & technologies that manage the moving pieces of a website’s back end. Over 40% of all websites on the internet are built on WordPress.
A great analogy to describe the parts of a website is a car.
- WordPress is the engine. It makes it go.
- Avada (or any framework) is the chassis and the frame. It holds the passengers (content/information.)
- Your branding and content is the paint and body style. It differentiates car makes and models from each other, (differentiating your website from others.)
Themes used to be something you installed on top of WordPress (or similar) and it gave you a nice yet conformed design. Over the last decade, themes have evolved into what I call frameworks, and now the appearance of a site is built on branding, the styling of content and the content itself. The framework/theme I use is called Avada, it’s for WordPress, but not made by WordPress. It is the #1 third-party WordPress theme.
I only do mockups for Bespoke Concierge level websites. Instead, I jump right into the actual website based on the inspiration websites you’ve listed and the scope we’ve agreed upon. Because of Avada and other modern website builders, it’s easy to change the layout and design on the site itself vs. an image-based mockup. I can even do this in real-time with you on screenshare.
The short answer is yes, of course. I can find plugin solutions for almost any feature you desire. Of course, custom development is always better for overall site health, but these days, plugins are absolutely fine for most non-enterprise businesses. Some plugins have an annual fee and will be paid by you directly to the plugin developer. The longer answer is, most sites I build don’t need many, if any, additional plugins because Avada does just about everything.
Yes, your site comes with an SSL certificate included in WP Engine hosting and Squarespace, Shopify and WIX. There are other security measures that can be implemented as well, but most modern sites are 5x safer by default than they were even 5 years ago.
However, it’s important to accept that no site is 100% safe or hacker-proof. Visa, Playstation and even Social Security data has been hacked and leaked. It’s part of our modern world.
Every site comes with Google Analytics installed upon launch. This is the industry standard tracking platform and is free.
A blog, technically speaking, is a collection of dynamic pages that have unique meta data attached to them, like date, author, categories, tags, etc. They are basically pages but pages that can be grouped and displayed in a more flexible and interactive way.
Think of a blog as your own newspaper. You can organize your blog posts in different columns, e.g. company news, interesting finds, reviews, personal stories, photography, etc. The possibilities are limitless.
Most sites can include a subscribe form in multiple strategic places. Setting up the e-mail marketing platform that users subscribe to is typically an additional cost.
I sure can and I recommend it for all that want to be taken seriously in their professional endeavors. Having a branded email address shows you mean business. I recommend Google Workspace for email accounts. It’s like Gmail but with your own domain. You also get access to all their products like Docs and Drive on that account. Very useful for keeping business and personal separate. It’s $7-8/month for one account. (I can also set you up with Microsoft 365 Business, but it costs more and only find it necessary for corporate or enterprise use.)
It’s typical to see upward rank movement in three months. Achieving page 1 and first place rankings can take from 6 months to a year. Competitive keywords can take years. Consider what it would take to go head to head wtih National Geographic (nature keywords) or VistaPrint (printing keywords).
Still Have Questions?
If your question wasn’t answered here, please send us a message and ask. We’ll send you an answer and might add it to this list!
