• One thing I always suggest to new clients, which will save time, hassle and money - is that they to start "preparing their materials" as soon as possible.
By doing this in advance you can help make it easier for any designer to create the site you want.
This means:
a) Gathering and organizing the photos etc. that you will want on the site.
b) Finding or writing up biographical text or other written content.
c) Start thinking about how many pages you think your site might want, and what they will be called (we can work on this together).
d) Start collecting examples of web sites that you like - and reasons why. The exact reasons don't matter - it might be the color scheme, the layout and presentation, anything. The more of an idea I can get for the styles that you like and the overall "flavor" you want the site to have, the faster I can make a website that you will be thrilled with.
e) Locating and making a note of login information the designer will need - such as the usernames and passwords of you domain provider and hosting account (if you have them).
Please browse below for portfolio, list of services offered and rates.
(Hover mouse over picture for additional info about the design)
• Either "Built from scratch", or maintenance / updates of existing sites. Can also set up blog platforms such as Wordpress.
• I am a "real" web designer - I program sites from the ground up using HTML and CSS in a code editor; not just using pre-existing templates, and not using Dreamweaver (which has limitations).
• I won't boggle you with techno-babble. I'm used to working in "the real world" with real people, and keeping explanations simple and clear. I won't attempt to either make you feel inferior with tech-speak, or confuse you with complex options.
• I also have much experience purchasing domain names and hosting - and can help with this.
• First things first: I can do fancy Photoshop graphics, but am not a "frustrated artist"! I won't try to convince you that you need super-flash-mega-bling when you don't. It's a common misconception that a web site needs to look expensive to be successful / make money for the client. It depends what industry you are in - but remember that some of the simplest looking web sites have made the most money - such as Google! What's more important is how easy you make it for people to get what they want from your site.
• Did you know that studies have shown that over 50% of web site visitors leave because they cannot find what they were looking for? I specialize in making sites that the visitor finds clear, comprehensible and easy-to-use. I won't spend days on fancy graphics unless you specifically want me to - or unless you are in an industry (i.e. entertainment) that may demand them.
• Another thing worth noting is that graphic-heavy sites take longer to load. If your site is intended for an international audience, bear in mind that many users in other countries are still on dial-up and may leave a site that takes too long to load. I always use image compression utilities that greatly reduce the load times of graphics without loss of visual quality.
• Note - I can create "animated gifs", and embed existing Flash, video or Javascript but do not do custom Flash, Javascript or PHP programming.
• If you are in business, your web site exists for one primary reason: To make money. Yet, many people order expensive web sites that do not make money. Why is this? Often, it is because they think "If I build it, they will come."
On the internet, this isn't how it works. You need to promote and market a web site in order for it to reach its audience, just as you do with any form of business.
• I have much experience in Search Engine Optimization, and in traffic generation systems from Pay-Per-Click to banner advertising, link building and viral marketing. I can help you create a plan for how to best promote your web site - both online and offline - and can help you optimize the return on your advertising budget.
• I am experienced in setting up e-commerce systems such as Paypal shopping cart and Google Analytics. I also have much experience in helping web sites with existing traffic to achieve advertising revenue - I run my own e-commerce sites and can set up and maintain advertising solutions such as Adsense, Neverblue, Adbrite, Kontera, Widgetbucks, Bidvertiser, Amazon Affiliates and other forms of web advertising.
• Most web sites don't need audio - but if you do, I am a composer and record producer who has produced and co-written 9 albums - and can either compose music or offer non-exclusive licensing of existing material.
• Poor written English makes a bad impression on some people. The good news is that this is avoidable! I have worked as a professional researcher, writer and proofreader to a professional author. I have many years experience in this field - in addition to being a top academic scholar from an elite English private school. In short: I can help either spot spelling and grammatical mistakes, including the ones your spell-checker will never find; or help draft new text if required.
• $35 per hour.
• Before agreeing to commence a job, I will always give an estimate of how long I think the work will take.
• I am known for my ability to work fast. Depending on the complexity of the project, sites may cost as little as $200, or as much as thousands. Typical range is $400-$800.
• "No job too big or too small"! There is no minimum charge - if you want an update that is 15 minutes work, I will bill you for 15 minutes work - not an hour. I can receive payment either by check or Paypal (recommended for small orders).
• Graphics are the main thing that add to time and expense. We can always start with a simple design that fits a modest budget, and then "add fancy" - and more pages - later!
• I may require an initial deposit of $100 or more to commence work on a new website.
Please contact me by email for any further info or to discuss a project - alex [at] alexalcyone [dot] com
Copyright notice - this page is © Alex Newman July 2010. All rights reserved.
