In order to make the design as close to your vision as
possible, please provide as much information as you can.
Although some information can be delivered when the design is actually
scheduled, some information needs to be submitted to give you an
accurate quote. Primarily what I will need from you is:
An Outline of the content
For an accurate quote a good, color copy of your logo
is essential, if you have one.
Perhaps you have a brochure with much of the
information you wish to include in your site, which you can send,
email or fax.
The outline should also include as much of the
following information as possible:
Text
Included expected number of pages (remember pages
refers to same content - not the number of screens to view one page),
including a brief description of the text for each page. This
will help determine the number of pages you should have for your
site as well as the navigational links.
This should include contact information for you, as
well as for the site (address, phone numbers, email address, website
address, etc.)
I shall be glad to enhance the basic text with
keywords and embellishment, but as you know your area and/or business
best, the main text needs to come from you.
Logo
A color copy of your logo is preferred. The logo
generally determines the website's colors. This is so that when
finished you have an overall eye pleasing site. If no logo is
available, please advise if you would like one designed. Images
should be sent in .jpg, .tiff, .psd, .ai format. Do not use
.gif as this will limit the range of colors to 256.
Specials Request
Special requests, such as designing a logo, slideshows
or flash, a particular style of navigation, etc. To give you an
accurate quote, these items should be mentioned beforehand to be
included. Before deciding to include these items, please be sure
you have read my comments on good website
design.
Style
Please visit several website that you find very
attractive and depict the style, mood or feel you wish to project.
Let me know why you like each site - the color, navigation, page layout, etc.
Also, please include several websites that you really do not like and
the reason why.
(URL's of 5 sites that you DO like and why you like
them. URL's of 3 sites you DO NOT like and why.) For a
complete list of suggested materials, please view this
document.
Type of Site
Personal, profession-based, or commercial, etc. - This
will help determine the aggressiveness of the metatags.
Photos
For the quote, I would like photo copies of the
pictures you wish to include in the site - actual copies of the photos
would be best, if you can arrange it. (Materials may be returned
upon completion of the quote, or when requested.) This will help
determine if the site will require any stock photography.
These maybe digital or actual photos to be scanned.
Note if you want the photos returned. I can also scan from
negatives and transparencies. Computer printed photos (on
regular printer paper) are not acceptable for the site, but are for
the quote.
Images should be sent in .jpg, .tiff, .psd, .ai
format. Do not use .gif as this will limit the range of colors
to 256. Only use a .gif* file if the image contains
transparent area - and you cannot convert it to a .png file.
Web images should be scanned/created at 72 dpi.
When printing an image the higher the dpi, the better quality of the
printed photos. Not so with websites. If the images are
scanned at 300 or 600 dpi, then the file size is larger and the load
time is significantly higher. The only time hi-res photos
should be put on the web are when they are intended for the press,
magazines, etc., to download them for printed articles or
advertising. If you send in hi-res photos, I will optimize
them for load time before using them in the website.
*.gifs limit color to 256 colors of the spectrum,
but allow transparent backgrounds and areas in the image as well as
animation. .tiff, .jpg and .png allow for 16 million colors; .png's
allow for transparency in the image, but .jpg does not. .tiff,
.psd and .ai files allow for more than one layer in an image file.
.psd files are PhotoShop files, and .ai files are Illustrator
images.
Access
Please provide the URL to your current site if you
have one, as well as username and password to access it. If you
don't have a domain and/or hosting setup, I can provide space on my
website and send you a link to view the design. Once the site
is complete, I can then transfer it to your hosting.
If you don't have a hosting service already setup, I
generally recommend DomainsPricedRight.com for hosting and domain
purchases. I also recommend DotEasy.com.
When To Start?
How soon do you wish to your website design scheduled?
Do you have a set date that the site must be available by? Is
this a firm date, or are you flexible? The average design
takes 4-6 weeks to complete once materials are received and the
initial design template is completed and approved.
Will You Require Site Maintenance?
Do you have a website technician in-house, capable
yourself, or will you be requiring your designer to make updates to
the site for you? I am happy to continue working with any of my
clients and maintain your site for you after the design process is
complete.
The Quote
Once your outline materials are available and have
been sent to me, so I can actually determine exactly what your needs
are, I will gladly give you an estimate of the amount of time I expect
to spend on your website. I shall also include a basic idea of
what I have in mind for the new website.
Redesigning Your Existing Website
If you already have a website that you know will be to
revamp and/or enhanced for search engines, I shall be glad to use the
site as a basis for the quote, or you can take advantage of my free
website evaluation.
Simply advise if you are intending to change or add
new text, photos, flash, slideshows, etc. So I can give you the
best quote possible. Be sure to include your domain URL.
Design Rate
My rate is $30.00 per hour. In order for
work to begin on your site, I require a 50% deposit, based on the
quote. As work progresses, if additional items are requested -
not included in the original quote - you will be advised that
additional charges may apply. Once the site is complete and
ready to be placed on the internet, the balance of your account will
come due. Upon full payment the site will be delivered to you
on a CD, or I will upload to your server.
Mail here is very slow and unpredictable, especially
during the winter months. Please send your materials by UPS or
FEDEX. Regular ground route would be fine, or you can go 2 or 3
day, if you prefer. We do not qualify for next day air. I will
not be held responsible for lost or undelivered mail through the post
office.
Upon completion of the design, the site will be
metatagged with basic titles, description, and keyworded for search engines.
I shall require a link on the site to KMB WEB DESIGN as the designer.
I allow all my clients to copyright their site, as long as my link
appears at the bottom of the home page.
Please note that I do not provide any promotional or
SEO support. The metatags, page titles and alt tags are only
optimized in a very basic form. For detailed site
optimization, I suggest you research companies that are
professionals in this area.
Support is generally available during the design
process only. I will be glad to fix any issues on any website I
have designed for a period of 30 days. However, if the errors
were caused by another entity working in the website, there will be an
additional charge to fix the
problems.
