Website Design and Development

Yes, having your branding (logo, color palette, typography, patterns, etc.) completed prior to embarking on website design and development is crucial as it lays the aesthetic foundation for your website. It also helps drive the tone of voice throughout your website.

I offer branding packages, and I will also work with the brand guidelines from the designer you've worked with previously.

Before we can begin designing your website, we'll need to have all of your content. This includes text, images, and any other assets that will be included in your website.

I will connect you with my trusted copywriting partner* to ensure your content is well-written and properly structured for the web.

Content is the #1 step in the website building process that prevents a project from moving forward efficiently and per the agreed upon schedule when clients choose to write their own copy.  

*I require all clients to work with a professional copywriter.

All of our websites are custom-designed to fit your branding, industry, target audience, and content.

The Foundation Website is an informational website that includes five essential pages: Home, About, Services, Blog, and Contact.  The finished product will be a professionally designed and built online home you can be proud to show off to potential and existing clients. 

If you need to add a few pages beyond the standard five pages, we can mostly likely do so (for an additional fee).  If you need to add more than just a few pages and/or other advanced features, your project will be better suited for The Works.

The Works Website involves Discovery to get clear on your goals and needs.  Following Discovery, we'll put together a customized Project Roadmap and proposal.  The Works Websites may involve more pages, custom post types (i.e. a unique page for each staff member), ecommerce, additional forms, and/or a plethora of other potential features.

With The Foundation and The Works, your website can grow as your business scales.  The core structure of your site will already be built — and built well — making it easy to add pages and features when you're ready for more.

To sum it up: you don’t know what you don’t know. And by “you” I am referring to all parties involved.

All web design and development clients go through some sort of discovery. Clients who have signed on for The Foundation Website will complete a questionnaire and have a strategy session after the project begins (meaning, after the design and development contract is signed and the first invoice is paid). The reason for this is that I already know what the project entails, and the goal of the questionnaire and strategy session is to clarify design details.

Clients who have signed on for The Works Website will go through paid discovery first. Since these types of websites are more complex, I am not able to provide a quote and contract until we go through discovery. Part of the discovery process involves research and planning (for pages, additional features, and/or advanced functionality). After discovery, both parties will be clear on the scope of the project and I will be able to provide the Roadmap and contract for design and development. Click here to read more about what's involved in discovery and why it's so important.

We will do our best to accommodate your requests, but please keep in mind that anything outside the scope of your contract may incur additional fees and delay the launch of your website.

• I’ll send over your Website Owner's Manual, which includes all of your logins and other important credentials so you can have full access to your own site.
• I will be available to fix any bugs and answer questions during your post-launch support.
• You will have access to tutorials only available for my clients.
• You’ll get 2-3 months of hosting and maintenance included (depending on your website package) and have the option to continue this same level of excellent service for $125+/month.

The Works Websites include four weeks of post-launch email support + three months of the Website Hosting and Maintenance Plan (WMP). The Foundation Websites includes two weeks of support + two months of the WMP.

If you sign up for the WMP, you'll have access to me for email support (included) as well as we website updates, consultations, and trainings (at your WMP client rate).

For sure!  Shortly after your website launches, we'll provide you with a personalized Website Owner's Manual (WOM). 

You'll also receive access to tutorials, which are in a private area on our website only available to clients.

Between the WOM, tutorials, post-launch support, and the option for additional training, you'll be all set!

Keep in mind that some clients don't have the time or desire to make updates to their own site.  Heck, you're busy running your own business!  For some websites, there may be features that require code or other work that is best left to a developer.  In any of these cases, let us do the work for you so you can focus on what you do best.

Websites are extremely similar to your home and car.  They not only require ongoing maintenance, but there are fees associated with all of the parts of your website that make it whole and keep it up and running.  Here's what you can expect to pay annually or monthly:

• Domain: $12-$14/year
• Email: $6-12/user/month
• Website Maintenance, Hosting, and Premium Software: $125+/month
• Website Policies (privacy, cookie, terms, etc.): $12/month or $119/year

Setting up professional email with Google Workspace is super easy and straightforward. Check out #13 in this post to get the scoop. In a nutshell, you'll set up your account, and I'll help you connect your new account to your domain. 

Wellll...I can think of lots of reasons:

1. Do you have the time, energy, and/or skills to design and build a website?
2. Do you know which platform to use and how to get everything set up? There are tons of options out there from WordPress to Shopify to SquareSpace to Wix to Weebly to Showit to Webflow...and more.  Just understanding the differences between each one is a feat, let alone learning your way around each one.
3. Are you prepared to set up your email marketing, Google services, SMTP, SEO, schema, etc.?  If you're asking yourself what some of this stuff even is, it's probably best to hire a professional.

Sure, you CAN build your own website.  You can also fix your own A/C, toilet, television, or car.  You could build your own dining room table or house.  But, if you have other things going on in your life or business that need to take priority, it makes much more sense to hire someone who does this stuff every day.  Someone who has spent years honing their skills, learning how to use the best tools, and staying up-to-date on trends and best practices.

Doing something right the first time is almost always going to be better than making a mistake and having to start all over again.

Great!  Bring it on!  You can email me at hello@exhaledesignco.com or head over to my inquiry form.