Sample Website Package
from Sienna Moonfire Designs
This sample website is designed to give you an idea of my basic website package. The pages that make up this site (listed in the menu at left) are what I consider a starter package. To set up a simple website you will not need much more.
Click on the topic that interests you for more information:
- Look & Layout
- Images
- Search Engine Optimization
- Bells & Whistles
- Budget
- Website Maintenance
- Hosting & Domain Name
Look & Layout
The first task in developing a website (after we agree on a budget) is settling on a look that will work for both of us. I usually make a home page using a description of your preferences, company mission & any pictures with which you can supply me. I can post this on my own website if you do not already have yours set up. Once we settle on a layout & look that we both like, I can start making the rest of the website.
The look of this particular page is based on the first incarnation of one of the websites I created. I updated it at the beginning of 2005 but I used the same bones: Heartsong Farm Healing Herbs. For a more recent project (a collaboration with my webster dad), check out Canopy Lodge.
The background image, font colors (& style, size, etc.) & content can be changed to suit your preference. I like this layout (complete menu at the left; mini-menu at the bottom; somewhat narrow page to accommodate varying monitors; text-based with liberal-yet-careful use of images) quite a bit, but it is not the only one I use.
Visit my Links List for some of the possibilities. To see a page in progress, take a look at the Blazing Trails sample page.
Images
I believe images are a valuable part of a website. While I am not trained as a graphics designer, if you provide me with the images, I can make them the right size (visually & byte-wise) for website use. I do know a few tricks & can easily make custom backgrounds & buttons to liven things up.
A few summers ago I created a website for Boistfort Valley Farm (in exchange for a summer's worth of certified organic veggies!) based on the brochure that they happened to mail me. I can do quite a bit with something that you already have & it's always wise to match your web style to your print style.
Search Engine Optimization
Though I do not spend the endless hours on this topic that it is possible to spend "keeping up," there are several basic tricks that will work wonders for the visibility of your website. You may notice as you click through some of my sites that each page has its own title that displays in the top bar of the browser (the title of this page is "Sample Website Package: Sienna Moonfire Designs"). This is just one way of personalizing your website.
You can't see them, but each page also has its own "keywords" designed to make it easier for search engines to list so that the site is easy for people to find (especially the right people, the ones who are looking for what you've got). I also include a brief description that may be used in the listing to make your focus clear.
Images & links can all be personalized as well, making the website communicate your mission as loudly (yet subtley, of course!) as possible. These details make your website easier to use for search engines & people.
Bells & Whistles
In the past year I've learned quite a few tricks (I could say that every year). My most recent language love affairs have been with css
& php -- both very simple & very powerful additions to a website.
& php -- both very simple & very powerful additions to a website. Other than that, I prefer the simplest, smallest bells & whistles for my sites. I love to play with the behavior of links (mouse over this to see), but that's a perfect example: the trick (last I checked) only work with IE. They don't interfere with other browsers, but the point is that if you want to get fancy you're going to have to spend a lot more time getting it right for all the different browsers, computers, operating systems, & individual users out there. Most people have no trouble with text, carefully chosen colors & moderately sized images, so that's what I like best. Then again, the possibilities are endless -- for certain purposes it would be worth the extra expense to increase interactivity. For my ever-evolving philosophy of web design, click here.
Budget
In general I work for an hourly fee, but I am happy to work out a project fee for the initial website set up. If your budget is very limited, we can see if we can work out an arrangement. A simple page or two might suit your needs for now & it is always possible to add more later.
It's always hard to know everything that we will want until we get going on the website, but it's important to come up with some guidelines so that my time is spent well without putting you in the poorhouse.
For a website such as this sample site (with up to 10 similar pages), I would charge $2000. If you think you will need more than 10 pages, or if you need special capabilities, let's talk.
The set up fee includes:
- creation of a blank or sample page to be used as homer, including background image, general look & a certain amount of tweaking to get the look you like
(if this takes longer than 2 hours we need to rethink the budget)
- up to 9 additional pages in the same style as the homer
(if this takes more than 8 hours we need to rethink the budget)
- a reasonable amount of image manipulation using pictures you provide (or buttons we might need)
(if this takes more than 2 hours we need to rethink the budget)
- a contact system like mine (check it out) -- this is possible with my hosting package but may not be so easy with another host so I can only include this if the host is compatible (if it isn't we can go with simple email links -- for a lower price -- but that's how the spam builds up in your inbox)
- search engine optimization for each page
- advice & help getting your domain name & host (this cost is not included)
Website Maintenance
It is important to remember that there will be maintenance to be done after the initial set-up of your website. Even if you do not choose to change the content regularly, there are bound to be little things to fix or change. You may want to add a page now & then. A more positive way of thinking about it is that you can always add things on as whim & budget direct. It's not paper, either -- you can change little things easily. For example, I could change the font, or the color of the links on this page -- as well as every other page in this site -- in less than a moment.
After the initial set-up, I will work on your site at my hourly rate, but I will continue to work with you to stay within your budget as we go.
Domain Name & Website Host
I would be happy to work with you to register your domain name. Even if you're not quite ready to set up your website, if you've got the best idea for a domain name, go get it! I get great service from dotearth.com.
It is important to have a host who is easy to work with, so if you do not already have a host, I would love to include a hosting package to go with the design. I am very happy with my host & I am pleased to be able to offer hosting in addition to the web design package.
