Frequently Asked Questions:

What exactly do you do?

Most web-design firms and freelancers simply create a website to the specifications of their client.  The problem with this approach is that there is a ‘build it and they will come‘ mentality with both the designers and the clients themselves.  The internet is so heavily populated with many competing entities for almost every niche and industry that having a website alone isn’t enough to compete successfully.  Taking the time to craft a strategic plan to not only drive targeted traffic to your site, but to also engage those visitors once they arrive will make your online endeavors infinitely more successful.  This is not an easy task.  It is time-consuming and relentless but in the end it is essential to the success of your website.  These two posts help clarify what it is that I do:

mikejuly.com/2010/02/so-what-is-a-web-marketing-strategy

mikejuly.com/2010/02/what-a-web-marketing-strategy-is-not

Do you offer design services and/or create websites?

Yes.  Along with the WordPress blog services that I offer, if a new or redesigned website is part of the overall package, I can also create a website for you.  I also have firms with which I’ve partnered who allow me to offer that type of service if the project requires it.

Do you offer websites without the Web Strategy Development services?

Yes.  If you’re simply looking to have a site built or redesigned without any strategy or planning, I do provide a web design service on a limited basis.  My sites are built on the WordPress content management system (CMS) so you can add your own content and perform your own maintenance and upgrades.  For larger scale projects, I also work with a few developers locally.  If you’d like referrals contact me by email and I’ll be happy to provide them.

How long does the whole process take?

It varies and depends on a wide range of elements, including but not limited to the scale and scope of the project, my workload I am committed to at the time the proposal is accepted, etc.  Typically, a project takes between 3-10 weeks to complete.

Do you have references I can contact?

Yes.  References are available upon request.

Do you have employees or are you a one-man-band?

While I am technically a freelancer, I do have people locally that help me out from time to time.  This allows me to offer a variety of services that would normally eclipse the abilities of one person.  That said, I do not have any full or part time employees in the traditional sense.  As it stands, I perform approximately 80% of all contracted work myself.

Also, it should be noted that I NEVER sublet tasks that involve sensitive information such as log-ins, passwords or credit card information.

How much do your services cost?

Again, it varies.  It’s impossible to to even give a ballpark figure because every project is so much different than the others. There are simply too many variables that need to be discussed before I can accurately provide an estimate.

What type of deposit do you require before you can get started?

In most cases, I must receive a deposit of 50% of the total proposal at the time of acceptance, with the balance due upon completion or near completion of the project.  For proposals that do not exceed $1,000 for the entire project, the balance must be paid in full at the time of acceptance.

Are there are other requirements before we get started?

Other than the deposit, only the requisite signed contract is all I need to move forward.

I am interested in your services, how do we proceed?

Great!  The first step is that we need to schedule a consultation.  Contact me by phone during normal business hours or by email anytime.  Generally, these meetings last 1-2 hours.  From there, I will draft a proposal outlining our agreement based on the consultation and submit it to you.  After I’ve received a signed contract and deposit, I will schedule your project.