Website Design: Elements and Options

SweetGrass Design specializes in creating very attractive and technically superb websites.

Recession Special: a basic website is only $988 $888 and includes:

• Free one-hour consultation
• An 8-page custom design website based on your preferences
• Additional pages are only $25 each
• A drop-down menu, if desired
• A website that performs well in multiple browsers
• $25 Google AdWords coupon*
• One month of free minor updates (see Updates below)
• Your logo on every page if desired
• Up to 10 scanned images
• A form, if desired
• Three free search engine submissions
• Up to 7 email addresses (e.g., info@yourcompany.com, jdoe@yourcompany.com). The number of email aliases depends on the web hosting company you select.

*Note: Coupon is only available with the web host company recommended by SweetGrass Design. (See below)

Domain Name Registration

By registering and paying for a domain name yourself, you ensure your ownership of the URL. If you require assistance, SweetGrass Design is happy to help. The yearly costs of domain names (website addresses) are approximately CAD$12 for a .com address and CAD$20 for .ca address. The first step is typically the domain name registration. This ensures that your desired website address is available and cannot be taken by another party.

Website Hosting

Web hosting costs have dropped dramatically in recent years. You can now get hosting for as little as CAD $6 per month. Website hosting companies typically require payment in advance for six months or a year. Two-year subscriptions are the most economical.

These are two of the most affordable hosting companies: StartLogic and IPOWER Web

IPOWER Web now uses environmentally-friendly wind power!

Optional Enhancements

Flash Animation: A website that is created entirely in Flash often does poorly in search engine rankings because search engines cannot read the links and content within Flash animation. A good compromise is to use small Flash movies embedded in webpages—this combines the sleek, fast-loading graphics of Flash with search engine-friendly HTML text and links. Prices start from $120.

Events Calendar: List events, sales, performances and other happenings at your storefront business.

Bulletin Board/Forum: Visit Mountain Equipment Co-op to see a very functional bulletin board that allows people to buy and sell used equipment. The company facilitates the bulletin board without getting involved in the exchange of money.

Blog: A creative way to add fresh content to your website, a blog helps to personalize a website (when appropriate).

Surveys: A survey can be a good way to collect specific marketing data.

E-newsletters: SweetGrass Design can write and/or design e-newsletters unique to your firm. These newsletters can be used in conjunction with email management software.

Updating Your Website

SweetGrass Design provides one month of free minor updates as part of your website design package. After that, you may opt for an ongoing monthly maintenance starting at $32/month. The basic fee is often sufficient for most businesses. For example, at this rate, SGD could update five to 10 images and insert new text on up to five pages. Please understand that new pages, new photo galleries, and extensive changes would be additional time and cost. As always, additional fees are discussed prior to work being completed.

Why is it important to keep your content fresh and interesting for your clients? Doing so will encourage people to visit your website more often, increase the likelihood that other companies and individuals will want to link to your website (potentially boosting your search engine ratings), and search engine robots will visit your site more often.

View the 'hits' on your website

Statistics are a standard part of web hosting services or they should be! Statistics refers to an automated tabulation of the number of visits to your website, how long people spend on your site, etc. If you plan to get hosting from a friend of a friend, find out first if they would be able to provide you with access to your statistics. Sometimes they are splitting up web server space and don't offer statistics. SGD recommends iPower Web Hosting Click Here for some of the most intuitive, easiest-to-use statistics.

Ecommerce

If ecommerce is right for your company, payment methods include PayPal, email transactions, and credits cards. You may need an elaborate shopping cart or just the ability to sell a few items online. Whatever your needs, SweetGrass Design can provide you with a quote.

The Design Process

Step 1: Free 1-hour consultation

Step 2: Quote based on the client's requirements

Step 3: Creation of a clear contract specific to the project (navigation, features, colours, etc.)

Step 4: Client makes a 'good faith' deposit (typically $200 to $250 depending on the project price)

Step 5: SGD creates three static mock-ups based on client preferences

Step 6: The client provides feedback and is welcome to request revisions to the mock-ups

Step 7: One mock-up is selected to be developed into the actual website

Step 8: Second payment (approx. 30% of the contract price) is due from the client

Step 9: If there is any programming involved, it begins at this point with a final, approved website framework

Step 10: Testing of programming and website functionality

Step 11: Website is finalized and the final payment is due

Step 12: Client recieves a CD or DVD of their website along with instructions and all passwords

Enjoy your custom-designed website!