Building your Site
There are any number of ways to build a web site, from a straight static html web site to a comprehensive content management system. I build sites using html, css, php programming, mysql databases, and open source software applications. The type of site I build for you is loosely based upon the following:
- features required: blog, rss, e-commerce,
- structure of content: simple static pages or dynamic content
- client’s skill/willingness to take on site management,
- the cost for various options.
It almost always makes sense to build a site within a content management system (cms). The advantage of a cms is that it provides nice web site functionality out of box. They are easy to install, and building custom templates for site presentation is a straightforward process. The cms provides the client a way to manage their content without having to contact me or some other web site maintenance person. After a short learning curve, you can manage your own web site on a daily basis. Open source cms’ will not fit the bill for all web sites, and your site might require a custom built site that will suit your needs exactly.
There are a number of open source, php based cms systems widely deployed and with robust communities of developers. The two I prefer to use are Wordpress and Textpattern. Both of these applications are essentially blogging software, but with enough flexibility and additional available components to make them fairly comprehensive web site management tools and suitable for a lot of web sites. I also use Joomla!, a fully fledged comprehensive capable of managing larger web sites. If your site does not fit well into one of the open source cms’ we can build a custom web site using a php framework such as CodeIgniter.
Site Design
I approach the design process with an eye towards building a site that will make you the client happy. I don’t consider it my duty to tell clients what constitutes ‘good design.’ I do try to steer clients away from making decisions that will make their site less usable and flexible. But in the end, it is your site, and you need to be happy with it.
The first step in developing a design is by talking to the client about the site. I try to get a sense of what they envision for their web site. This includes aspects of a site such as color, layout and functionality. Using other web sites as examples is a good way to identify these design parameters. The client will then send me assets they have that can be used on the site. This includes, logos, images, pictures, document headers and any other items that may be of interest. I am not an original illustrator, and if logo design or other illustration work is required I have colleagues I can work with to the original artwork.
I also build sites using the client’s design. In these instances, I try to promote good web site design practices and also show possibilities for the site that someone without web design experience might not be aware. I have noted in the work section site samples where the design is primarily the clients.
Cost
The cost of a web site varies considerably, and depends directly on the features you need. Costs for sites that I tend to build can range from $500 at the most basic level to over $5000. After we talk either by phone or email about your site requirements, I will provide a written estimate for the cost. I stick to my estimates, but if the scope of the project changes during development, the cost will change. I will let you know as we proceed that the cost for the project is changing. My base billing rate is $75/hour.
Additional Services
In addition to design and building of web sites, I also provide the following services:
- Maintain sites that I did not design or build.
- Build email templates for clients.
- Design web site banner ads.
- Assist photographers on the technical aspects of managing their electronic images
If you would like to talk to me in greater detail about your web site, you can contact me either by phone or email.