So you want me to build your website?
That's great! To get started, here's what we need to do. There are a few basic things you need to consider and convey to me before we get the ball rolling. So think about the following questions:
Do you have a specific layout, design, or color scheme in mind already?
If you have an existing logo, we can work from that. If you already know colors and the basic layout you want for your site, that is half the battle. If not, try to find a site you want to emulate (emulate, not copy!), or browse a site like Free CSS Templates to get an idea of what you want. Then we can go from there. Everyone has a different vision for their website, and my goal is to make your vision a reality.
Side note: I make functional websites. I can lay out your site and make it work, but if you need someone to build your brand or design custom logos, you may want to employ the services of a graphic designer. A designer creates graphics and logos, can do very impressive things with Photoshop, and makes things pretty. A developer (like me) writes all the code that makes a website function. When it comes to websites, designers can make them pretty, but developers can them work the way you want. If you want a good website that works, I can do that for you. But again, if you want something with intense graphics you may want to talk to a graphic designer. (The good news is that I do several very skilled graphic designers, so we can all work together to make your vision a reality.)
The next consideration is site navigation and menus.
Your layout and design make the site look appealing, but how your user will interact with your website also plays a significant role in how effective your site will be. So navigation and menus are important, and you should have options for users to get around the site. Some people prefer a navigation menu along the top, some along the left or right sides.
Content, Content, Content!
This in the most important thing on your website. A website might look pretty and allow users to navigate easily, but if you don't have the content that your users are looking for, it won't do anything for you. I can make the site work how you want it to work, but since it is for your business or brand, you are the expert when it comes to content. At minimum, most sites have "about" and "contact" information, and likely more based on the intent of the site. Five unique pages is standard, you may have more or less.
Will you want a blog?
Blogs are a very popular additon to most sites. This is an additional feature, but can be done without much trouble.
Will your site be selling anything?
If you are building an e-Commerce site you are entering into the world of advanced websites. You will need a database to house your products, and you will need a secure payment processor. There are many options here, and we can discuss what will be best for your needs.
And a final note regarding SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO is probably the most popular buzzword that floats around out there for website owners, and many people make a lot of money advertising SEO services. Truthfully though, if a site created is properly, it is not something you need to be overly concerned with. A page that has strong, concise content and is property coded with appropriate keywords and tags will eventually be indexed by all major search engines. The only exception would be if you want a high page ranking from day 1, then an SEO expert may be able to help by submitting your site to special services or setting up a network of reciprocal links.
Interested? Contact Me
Email : russjstrong at gmail dot com
Twitter : http://twitter.com/russkw/