Frequently Asked Questions
Answering Your Questions Upfront
Budget & Pricing
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Why do you need to know my budget?
Understanding your budget allows me to tailor the design and functionality to meet your financial and business needs. It ensures that we utilize resources effectively to deliver the best possible outcome for your investment. For an in-depth explanation, you can read my article on "5 Reasons Why I Need to Know Your Budget" here.
Why should I spend more rather than less on a website?
Your website is your business's digital storefront. Studies show that 75% of consumers admit to making judgements on a company’s credibility based on its web design. Imagine that you are losing business right now with your current site and not even know it. Investing in a high-quality website is crucial for speed, user experience, and SEO, ensuring your business is easily found on Google.
Can you show me the difference between a website that costs X amount and one that costs Y amount?
The difference often lies in the details—what's under the hood, so to speak. A more expensive website typically offers a more robust user experience, premium plugins, custom development, professional copywriting, and SEO efforts, all working seamlessly in the background to make it easier for you to manage your content and for your customers to engage with your site.
What factors influence the cost of a new web design?
The cost of a website is akin to building a physical business storefront. It depends on several factors such as SEO, design, features, functionality, and size. Each aspect, from the prime real estate of SEO to the inviting design and the special services your site offers, plays a role in the final investment.
Can I opt for a smaller initial investment for my website and make changes or additions later on?
Imagine we're building your dream house. Initially, we lay down the foundation, set up the walls, and install the plumbing and electrical systems based on the initial design. This is similar to creating the basic structure of your website - setting up the layout, navigation, and core features.
Now, consider if after a month or two, once the house is built, you decide you want major changes - like moving the kitchen to where the living room is or adding another floor. In the case of a house, this would mean significant renovations, possibly tearing down some parts to rebuild them, which can be costly and time-consuming. The same goes for a website.
If we start with a smaller framework and you decide later to add complex features or make significant changes, it's like moving the plumbing and electrical wiring of a house. We might need to 'dig up' and rework large parts of the website, which can be more expensive and time-consuming than if we had a comprehensive plan from the start.
I understand that investing in a comprehensive website design can be a significant financial commitment. For clients who might not have the resources to invest fully upfront, I offer flexible payment plans. You can spread the cost of the website development into 2-3 monthly installments. This approach allows you to budget more comfortably without compromising the quality and completeness of your website.
By investing adequately in the beginning, and with the option of a manageable payment plan, we can design a website that's more aligned with your long-term vision, potentially saving you time and money in the future. This ensures that the website is scalable and adaptable, reducing the need for major overhauls later.
Design & Development
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What is your web design process?
- Initial meeting to discuss your needs
- Wireframing
- Design
- Development
- Launching
- Ongoing support (available through a support plan)
What content do I need for you to get started?
After our initial meeting, I'll provide a list of content needed, but you can start gathering any images and text you want on the site.
How long will it take to complete the website?
Completion time varies. If all content is provided promptly, the process can be very quick. However, waiting for photography or specific content can extend the timeline.
Can you showcase different websites you have designed?
I can show you a portfolio of diverse websites I've designed upon request, especially those relevant to your industry. Many of my projects are under NDA, but you're welcome to verify my involvement with the companies.
Domain & Hosting
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Why should you handle my domain and hosting?
While you're free to manage your hosting, some clients prefer that I handle everything. This way, if there's an issue, they have a single point of contact to resolve it efficiently. If I need to liaise with your host, a fee may apply for my time.
Training
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Can you teach me and my team to make changes to the site ourselves?
Absolutely! I provide online training sessions specifically designed to empower you and your team to update your website's content and images independently. This training includes:
- How to update wording and images on your website.
- Adding and managing blog posts.
Please note that this training is focused on content management. It does not cover more complex tasks such as website redesign, adding new pages, menus, or other structural changes.
Support & Maintenance
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Why is a support plan necessary for my website?
A support plan ensures your website remains up-to-date, secure, and efficient. Regular updates to plugins and core files, backups, and site analytics are crucial for the smooth running of your website. Additionally, having a support plan means getting timely help if something goes wrong.
What are the benefits of signing up for a support plan?
By opting for a support plan, you receive continuous maintenance and updates, which are vital for your website's health and performance. Plans starting from R300 offer various services, including daily/weekly/monthly full site backups, content updates or blog posts, to keep your site fresh and engaging, regular plugin and wordpress core files update, database and image optimization. Please contact me to discuss your ideal support plan
I haven't had any issues with my website so far. Do I still need a support plan?
Yes, it's important to have a support plan even if your website hasn't had any issues. Preventative maintenance is key to avoiding major problems in the future. Regular updates and backups can save you from potential downtime and data loss.
Will I receive a monthly report?
Your monthly report will include not only all the information on the work that has been done such as software updates, secuirty checks, backups done but more imporatntly analytics of your website's visitors. This provides valuable insights into visitor behavior, traffic sources, and overall engagement, helping you make informed decisions about your online strategy.
Are there different levels of support plans?
Yes, we offer several tiers of support plans, ranging from R300 to R2500, each designed to cater to different needs and budgets. You can choose the one that best suits your website’s requirements and your financial comfort.
Can I upgrade my support plan later?
Absolutely! You can upgrade your support plan at any time to access more comprehensive services as your website grows and your needs evolve.
What if I don’t have any content updates this month?
If you don’t have any new content for a given month, we’ll provide a blog post for your website. This keeps your site updated with fresh content, which is beneficial for SEO and visitor engagement.
SEO & Traffic
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Can you guarantee more traffic?
After the website is completed, I will guide you on ways to promote your site to increase traffic and Google rankings. Remember, even the best website with state-of-the-art SEO needs a push with advertising, social media marketing, and other strategies.
Additional Services
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What else can you help me with in the future?
As a graphic designer, I can create any design you need, from digital business cards to custom artwork, social media posts, video editing, logo video intros, 3D modeling, and mockups. I'm equipped to handle anything related to design.
Choosing The Right Web Designer
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Why should I use you and not another web designer?
Some designers can create a pretty website, but not all understand the nuances of user experience, marketing, and strategic content placement. With my background in film, entertainment, and design, coupled with marketing expertise, I'm not just a designer; I'm a strategic partner. My knowledge in directing attention can be as magical as my past as a magician, ensuring your website not only looks great but also converts visitors into customers.
Content Management Systems
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Which content management systems do you work with?
I specialize in WordPress, which offers flexibility and ease of use for my clients.
If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out.