Better, Modern Web Design

Hand crafted ...

I specialise in hand crafting modern, static websites in cleanly coded HTML and CSS. I do not use Dreamweaver nor content management systems. See my technical section for further details.

Read on to find out why I consider this approach to be better for small businesses or individuals and the unique options I offer for creating your website.

A complete web publishing solution ...

As well as creating animated flash displays and graphics for your website, other services I provide include content writing and editing, search engine optimisation, and photography. I also give tuition and support enabling you to become a webmaster, creating and maintaining a better website using free software.

Web Design Options

An alternative approach - appointment based website publishing:

I offer an alternative approach to web design that involves designing a website from scratch with you, the client, on your computer via a series of appointments. This way, rather than trying to plan every aspect of your website in advance, you can build it in manageable stages, with my assistance, and be involved in the whole process from start to finish. I can also help you to compile, edit and optimise content and design graphics for your website.

I believe this to be the ideal web design and publishing solution for small businesses, organisations and individuals.

Traditional option, plus ...

Alternatively, after a preliminary consultation, I can produce your website remotely, as most designers do, but with the added option of content writing and editing as a complete web publishing solution.

Less overheads and more control ...

Whether I design a website for you or we design it together during appointments, the basic software tools are free. Your new website will have search engine friendly, static pages comprising of neat, modern, compliant code, and devoid of performance hampering, outdated junk. Also, you won't be reliant on expensive, proprietary software.

Modern Web Design: What is it, and why is it better?

Modern website design involves adhering to practices that comply with the W3C's strictest standards. The W3C is the World Wide Web Consortium - the organisation that creates website standards.

As well as giving you total control over presentation, designing your website using modern principles will improve its overall performance and accessibility. For example, cleanly coded designs have a much higher text ratio which helps search engines to spider and index your content; also, static pages are more reliably served than dynamically generated pages and are less vulnerable to changes in server technology.

When such principles are implemented using my methods, the additional advantages of reduced costs and assured longevity of your investment are also realised.

Better than what?

Other websites are designed using proprietary software such as Frontpage, Dreamweaver or content management systems (CMS), often using restrictive, proprietary templates. The main purpose of such software is to automate the coding process, which may sound appealing, but to use such software makes you reliant on it and involves a steep learning curve. You'd spend more time learning how to use bespoke software features and less time learning web design.

When you use such software, you don't regularly look at the source code; it's often a disorganised soup of unnecessary and proprietary code, scripting, and deprecated table based layout tags. The site may look OK in your browser, but it's slow to load, difficult for search engines to follow, and generally an outdated underperformer.

The often unrealised advantage for small businesses, organisations and individuals

Large businesses and organisations often consider they need to use content management systems because of their requirements for user interactivity, multi-level access for content writers, e-commerce and similar. But if you simply want a neat website that will be easy for you to maintain and for search engines to index, then you'd do better avoiding the complexities of content management software and data derived content altogether.

It's better to keep your pages cleanly coded and static where search engine robots can easily find them.

Free Remote Consultation

I would be happy to give an initial consultation to discuss your requirements, either by phone, or email correspondence. You may already have a website in need of updating or redesigning, or perhaps you want a new website?

Further On-site Consultation

If required, you can arrange a consultation appointment involving my calling to see you. During the meeting, we will discuss your requirements and ideas, and I will advise of your best options.

See the costs and payment section at the bottom of the page for pricing details.

Website 250

If you don't want to produce your website by the appointment method, then my Website 250 is the starting point for a complete web design, graphic design, content writing and publishing package.

As the name suggests, the cost is fixed at £250. Your site will comprise of a dedicated external style sheet, a main index page, and one further page of your choice such as "contact" or "about". I have designed a simple but elegant layout for Website 250 which I will colour to suit your supplied logo and requirements. I make flexible provision for some basic graphic design within the price, so if you don't yet have a graphical logo, I can create one for you.

Firstly, I call out for a one hour consultation to discuss your requirements and options. I will either collect any draught content you may have, or take notes to compile content from.

After the meeting, I will prepare and edit your content into a pleasingly coherent and web optimised presentation including up to 700 words of text, three supplied images and six hyperlinks. Basic search engine optimisation will involve my writing suitable title tags, meta description tags and content for each page featuring the keywords relevant to your website's topic. Where appropriate, I will also provide a temporary link from my site which will enable search engine indexing of your new website.

Having discussed your requirements, I will arrange a domain name and hosting for your website (including email) which is a separate and annually recurring overhead. See Hosting below.

There are no hidden costs, nor recurring "maintenance" fees - that's it! For just £250 (plus separate annual hosting subscription), you will have a throughly modern website and worthy, maintainable resource for the future.

The Future

Later, if you wish to update or add to the content, presentation, or any aspect of your website, you have the following choices: ask me to do it (from £25), or ask me to teach you how to do it (from £50). Alternatively, your site's development could be resumed by any competent web designer, as it comprises of clean, standards compliant and semantically ordered code.

Copyright of design, and that of any content I provide, will remain with myself; however, you will have my full permission to alter either design or content anytime post completion and payment.

Additional Pages and Features

You may want a larger website including more pages, directories, content and features, and requiring a larger navigation structure. This, of course, will involve greater cost for which I would be happy to quote. See Technical #Additional Features for options and details.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas and requirements.

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Domain Names and Website Hosting

For most situations, I recommend a professional website and email hosting with a top level domain name. I will be happy to arrange and configure this for you, either during appointments, or as part of Website 250.

The company I use and recommend is Heart Internet. Hosting costs around £40+ VAT for the first year; each subsequent year is then around £30+ VAT.

Costs and Payment

On-site consultation appointments

My call out charge is £30 to £60 (depending on your location) and includes up to one hour of my time.

Design and tuition appointments - 2 hours

My call out charge is £50 to £80 (depending on your location) and includes up to two hours of my time.

Design and tuition appointments - 3 hours

My call out charge is £75 to £105 (depending on your location) and includes up to three hours of my time.

Payment - appointments

I collect payment in cash on conclusion of each appointment and forward a receipted invoice by email on my return home. Other forms of payment, such as BACS or cheque, are available by arrangement.

Remote design - costs and payment

Once we have discussed your requirements and you are ready to place an order, I require 50% of the total price in advance; the balance is due on completion.

No VAT to pay

Because I work from home, I have low overheads and do not need to be VAT registered.

Where?

I am based in Irlam and cover most areas of Greater Manchester and Cheshire including Glazebury, Hollins Green, Cadishead, Irlam, Eccles, Worsley, Monton, Walkden, Swinton, Pendlebury, Salford, Trafford, Urmston, Flixton, Carrington, Stretford, Sale, Altrincham, Wythenshaw, Cheadle, Hale, Lymm, Culcheth, Warrington and Leigh.

Further afield, I also cover areas of Bolton, Bury, Heywood, Rochdale, Oldham, Aston-Under-Line, Hyde, Stockport, Wilslow, Knutsford, Northwich, Runcorn, Widness, St Helens, Newton-le-Willows, Wigan and Skelmersdale.


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