Building a website should be like building a really nice house.
The Foundation
Just like a house needs a strong foundation to build upon, so too does a website. In the web world that foundation is called a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS allows you to login to your website and edit your content without going through the pain and bother of learning HTML, CSS, PHP or the hundreds of other acronyms floating around the web. Just you and your content.
A good CMS is flexible, scalable and very easy to use. For those reasons, I highly recommend WordPress. This site and dozens of others I built run off of WordPress.
Like another CMS? No worries, I will happily design and build your site the way you like.
The Frame
Once you lay your foundation, it’s time to build a frame. When building websites, that means building the structure of your site both in terms of the design and the content. The structure of your design and content should be inextricably linked and built to offer each user exactly what he or she should get from your website.
When you walk into a well built house you are naturally drawn to the areas you’re interested in (the kitchen in my case). Similarly, the homepage of a website should offer different paths to your most valuable content.
I will help you decide who those users might be and what they might be looking for. Most importantly, I will help you develop those pathways maximize the effectiveness of your website.
Wiring and Pipes
Wouldn’t it be a shame if you had to rewire your house every-time you had to add an electrical socket? A poorly designed website could cost just as much to add a page.
No matter what your CMS of choice is, I will build a smart template system allowing you to add or remove content at will without having to hire a web designer to re-do your site.
Paint and decorate
I’d never walk into a black house with flashing yellow signs all over it. Similarly, I’d never stay on an ugly website.
Most of my clients have a vision of what they want their site to look like and I will help make your vision a reality. I will also help guide you towards a design tying your vision in with the latest web standards to make sure your vision looks the same no matter the computer or browser.
The Move
I never say no to helping move a friend into a new place and I’d be happy to help move your content into your new site!
A house is not a home…
…until you make it yours. Once you’ve moved into your new web home, I am always available to help you add those extra touches to make your new house truly your home.
Like most contractors, I have fees and a nice sampling of the work I have done.
Oh, and just to be clear, I build websites, not houses! I am actually not very crafty when it comes to building… you know… real things.