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ShireWorks Tough Love |
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Client Prep |
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It is extremely helpful for clients to read the entire Client Prep page. In fact, I dare say it's mandatory in order for potential clients to not only gain a clearer understanding of me as a designer, but gain a solid understanding of what is required on their end. |
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| Digital Materials | ||
| It is important that any text or graphics forwarded to me are in a digital format, i.e.; emailed, saved onto a flash drive, or saved to an external hard drive (generally reserved for larger projects with multiple videos, photos, etc.). The primary reason for this is simply to ensure that the majority of time spent on your website is designing! This is again why the Client Prep page is so important. The more you are able to prepare, the more time I get to dedicate to making your site look great! | ||
| Quality of Materials | ||
| It is important that all text and images are of an appropriate caliber. Client-supplied photos need to be crystal clear, and where representing a series of products, it is strongly recommended that all backgrounds be of a consistent, neutral color, and unimpeded by any visual background imagery. As timestamps must invariably be retouched/removed (at a cost of $50/hr), it is strongly recommended that this camera option be turned off for all client-supplied photos. | ||
| Computer Literacy | ||
| In order to successfully field inquiries which will result from creating a new website, it is important that potential clients understand that they will be required to monitor and field potential customer emails. While clients may use the native web server email interface, it is generally recommended that Microsoft Outlook be procured (for under $100) to streamline the email process. Please know I can't accept 3 1/2" diskettes, and working with someone who is using a PC with Windows 98 or earlier is extremely time-consuming and ultimately counter-productive, and in such a case, I'd recommend that a client first procure a more current computer before embarking on the process of creating a new website. | ||
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In order to strengthen the branding of client companies, it is important that the look and feel of any website I may design be carried through to additional materials and supporting documents such as business cards, advertisements, stationery, brochures, one-sheets, etc. So... if I happen to create a new logo for your website, please simply ask me for a master logo if you're going to be working with a printer on creating business cards, etc. Cohesion is truly important when establishing your business image. |
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| Overnighting Packages | ||
| Many of my clients overnight materials on a regular basis. If you wish to overnight a package, please give me a heads-up to make certain I will be present (er... or awake!) when it arrives. | ||
| Website Demos | ||
| If I am actively working on your website and you schedule a demo with... say a banker, as one client did, please give me a heads-up so I will stay out of the site and off the server during the demo. | ||
| Third Party Vendors | ||
| If a third party is introduced to the web development process, and specifically given access to the web server, such as a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company, a clear website version control plan must be outlined and integrated in order to avoid contingents stepping on each other's digital toes. | ||
| Web Server Correspondence | ||
| I walk all clients through the process of registering their own website in order to ensure that they are indeed the owner of their own site. As such if I walk you through such a process, you will be the primary contact, and will be responsible for keeping up with website domain registration and webhosting renewal. | ||
| Spam Email/Snail Mail | ||
| There are an infinite number of web bots which hunt and seek out new websites and any email address therein for the purpose of sending unsolicited email. There are two specific recommendations I make, and encourage implementing for each website I create. Firstly, registering the new domain name with a privacy feature, which makes it far more difficuly for web bots to procure your email address. Secondly, incorporating a "captcha" utility into your email address within your new website. Essentially what this does is force someone to type a random word/words in order for your full email address to be displayed. As web bots cannot "see", they are once again impeded from access to your email address. If you suspect you are being consistently targeted with suspicious emails, please contact me to discuss several follow-up and response options. | ||
| A few notes regarding Snail Mail: There is an old domain game afoot wherein naive and unsuspecting website owners receive what appear to be bills from a web server. These are nearly always bogus, and are actually designed to confuse you under the auspices of soliciting a webhost change. I deal ONLY with www.ipower.com , and when it's time for either re-registering the domain name, or paying for an additional year or years of webhosting, they will forward you an email. | ||
| Teamwork | ||
| My entire design team consists of me, myself and I... and where necessary webhost or software technical staff. Any attempts to dictate that I work with some other team will be futile. | ||
| Get Rich Quick Websites | ||
| I create websites for genuine clients with genuine, wholesome products and services. If you're looking for someone to help you create a pay-per-click website, or a site wherein if you "click here, pay only $9.99 for such-and-such"... suffice to say, I'm not your gal. I have learned that such projects simply hurt my heart. | ||
| Single Point of Contact | ||
| It is important that there be a single, paramount point-person for all website development projects. So if there are multiple partners involved in the website, one specific individual needs to be designated as the primary contact. | ||
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Emergencies |
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| A quick note about design items deemed an "emergency": To the extent possible, I will happily drop as much as possible to address such projects immediately (e.g. an ad with an imminent deadline, etc.). However, these will be emergencies not just for me, but for the client as well, and the client is similarly expected to drop what they're doing in order to continually avail themselves for direction, edits, and proofing until the "emergency" is completed and submitted or resolved. |