answers

How much does a web site cost?

No two custom web sites are completely alike. This question is similar to “how much does a car cost?” It really depends on what kind of car we are talking about. Do you want a Kia Rio, or a Mercedes SLR McLaren? Is it going to be a coupe, or an SUV? In other words, what does this site need to do? What is the main purpose of the site? Does it need a lot of bells and whistles? Is it large, or is it small and basic? Before any kind of price can be determined, we have to figure out what kind of site you’re looking for. Let’s talk about it.

How long does it take to design and build a web site?

This one really depends on you, the client. You are the most important component to the timeline of the site. After the site is designed and developed, it needs to be filled with content, which comes from you. On average a site can take 4-6 weeks, depending on content delivery time.

How much does a logo cost?

There are a lot of myths about logos, one being that since a logo is small, it’s cheap, say $5-$75. But a logo is a graphical representation of your business, and it must do a lot of things. It has to be memorable, it has to be scalable, and it has to communicate. A logo is part of a company’s brand, and like a business, it must be unique. Your logo will be used everywhere, so it also needs to be effective. In order for it to accomplish all of that, a number of tasks must be completed for it to be created:

• Information gathering, either by phone, in person, or even over the net. We need to talk about your goals.
• Researching the company/organization and its industry, history, and competition.
• Looking at what has already been done in the field and analyzing what works.
• Conceptualizing with sketches of ideas based on the research.
• Checking up with our initial goals: does the logo measure up to its purpose?
• Design execution: digitizing the logo concept.

A logo costs more than a trip to the movies, because it’s going to last a lot longer. A $75 logo will not acomplish everything you need it too, so it will cost more than that.

I cannot afford a web site right now, will you still help me create one?

I am happy to help you design a web site. You can hire me as a consultant and I can tell you what I would do to the site, sketch up a few mock-ups, and tell you what materials you will need to go about building your site. Unfortuantely I do not have the time to instruct the ins and outs of HTML and CSS, the backbone of the web.

Do you offer SEO (search engine optimization)?

Interesting question. While I can offer some SEO tools, SEO is a whole other beast separate from web design. There are a lot of immitators out there who claim to be SEO experts, and I am not one of them.

 

However, I am referring my clients interested in beefing up the SEO to Search Optimizers, an American SEO company based out of Orange County, California. Search Optimizers have been around since before the term “SEO” was coined. They are professional and offer excellent service and results. Contact me to learn more.

Money is tight right now, but I still want a professional web site/identity/print collateral. Will you work with me?

I am happy to work within a realistic budget to get you the best web site, logo, or print collateral possible.

I’m having email problems/computer related issues. Will you help me?

I am happy to help with design related issues, such as web site maintenance. Any other issues, like email problems, photo issues, etc. do not fall under the scope of design work.

Will you do a trade?

Trades are very uneven, where one party is usually owing the other. Though I am not completely opposed to a trade, I do not encourage them either.

I need a web site for a non-profit. Will you offer me a discount?

While your cause is very important and I might even want to contribute in some way, I cannot offer discounts at this time. I am happy to talk to you about your web site budget and how I can work with you.

Do you offer any discounts?

True Northe is owned and operated by one person, so the discount is built in. I do not have employees, inventory, a building lease, or an expensive marketing campaign. The cost savings goes to you.

How is your fee less than the competition?

Honestly, it may or may not be less. There are other individuals out there who probably offer graphic design services for less money. But a hamburger costs less than prime rib, though both are beef. When you hire True Northe, you will get high quality custom design at a reasonable price.

What does “valid XHMTL/CSS” mean?

My web sites are built using clean and efficient design standards, ensuring that they work across browsers and are search engine friendly. By clicking the valid XHMTL/CSS link, it will take you to the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) which runs a scan on the site to check to see if the site is built with valid code.

What is CSS?

A Cascading Style Sheet describes the presentation of a web site, in appearance and formatting. It also makes design much easier, cleaner, and better for web sites. In the old days sites were constructed in tables, which were cumbersome and created a lot of markup. CSS has simplified everything, making the web a much more stylish and faster place to be.

Why “True Northe”? Why is there an “e” at the end of north?

Proper graphic design sets the tone for a company, which gets them the customers and clientele needed. True Northe points the company’s graphic design in the right direction. You’ll always need to know true north to know where you are and where you are going. As for the “e” that’s my way of making my True Northe unique.

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