You do of course. You paid for it! We hear stories of companies that charge to build sites and then charge them again if they wish to take their site to a different hosting provider. We think that’s just plain crazy. While our designs are custom to your business and the content and page structures are developed by following a thorough and proven process, the website files, pages, and content are all the property of the client once paid in full. Should you need to take your site and host elsewhere for whatever reason in the future, you have the freedom to do so. Know why? Because you paid for it! It is your responsibility, should you decide to leave, to transfer all content and images into your new site.

Because each site is uniquely customized, the amount of time it takes to complete a website can vary greatly. The first draft of the design can take up to 1-2 weeks to complete. We then go back and forth with each client to tweak the design to make sure everything is to your liking. Once the design has been approved, we begin work on putting it into the system. This process takes another 1-2 weeks. Once the design is in the system, we enter the content phase. This is where we will collect the content you want us to transfer into your new site and input/modernize it for you. We also tweak the website system around your specific needs. The completion time of this content phase is unknown because clients can take anywhere from 0-52 weeks to get us all their content. All in all, from start to finish, you can have your website up in about 3 weeks, but It depends on how quickly we are given all the content and communication on changes needed. What would make the process go longer than average? Besides the outlier example listed above, the most frequent reasons for the delay in the website process are: Employee turnover – the person responsible for managing the process on your end either leaves your company or assumes another position. Lack of assets – like staff photos or pictures and videos from case studies, previous work, or testimonials. Multitasking – the business gets busy and the website gets put on the back burner Communication delays – decisions can’t be made in a timely manner and rely on infrequent committee meetings or some formal process. A Global pandemic – that just happens in the movies, right?

No. Your site build is paid for in advance, so we do not require any formal contracts. All content you provide, is owned by you and you are free to use it anywhere. Any content you paid for belongs to you.

Once you have created a free WIX account and the website is completed, we will transfer ownership to you. It's a super easy process done by email and will immediately enable you access to all the features that come with the site. LMA can stay on as an administrator for as long as you need, but you are free to remove us the moment you take site possession. Your designer will go over how to manage the website so you can take control and made edits, add pages, move items etc... If you require additional training on how to maintain your website, we have an add-on service for that where you will have one-on-one or group training (through Zoom) with the person who built your site, so you can make changes yourself as needed.

Training is not required, but we do offer one-on-one training, if needed, for an add-on fee which will allow you to make changes to your site as needed. Most of the features are simple and straightforward to manage and can be used by anyone with minimal computer knowledge but If for any reason you need help or have problems, schedule a training session. Most people find that it’s easier than they expected and that their anxiety was greater than it needed to be. Our training is focused on the most common editing functions to help you best understand the basics as well as address any special needs or questions you may have regarding your site. We find that after training many clients are able to perform the edits they need without assistance. However, we are just a phone call away should any questions or special needs arise

We follow a comprehensive quality assurance check to make sure the website we build with you functions as it should and works as it should in a variety of browsers and on multiple devices. Should an issue arise that is directly related to the programming and development of the site, we will work to correct the issue at no cost to you. Should issues arise from deleted content, deleted pages, or errors while updating the site that require our services, we will discuss prior to engaging and billing. Bottom line is we want to be fair and want you to trust that your site will work as it should.

A content management system (CMS), such as WIX or WordPress, is an online platform designed to help you create, upload, and maintain digital content without having to use any code. Ideal for creating blogs and business websites that need to be regularly updated, CMS are typically very user-friendly, providing a simple interface.

SEO stands for search engine optimization, and refers to the process of optimizing your website to give it the best chance of appearing high up on search engine results pages (SERPs). Using organic methods (i.e. not paying money to the search engine), you can improve the position of your website on search engine results pages and, as a result, increase the number of clicks and visitors to your website.

Web design is important because it can affect your business performance. A poorly-designed website that’s hard to use will reflect badly on your brand, and could negatively impact your sales. Alternatively, a professionally-designed, user-friendly website should help to keep visitors on your site and increase sales. Considering over 2.14 billion people worldwide are expected to buy online in 2022, this is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss out on.

We get this question a lot and most likely the answer is yes we have–or we have at least worked with a business modeled like yours with similar goals and challenges. While we can never replace the experience and expertise you have within your business, we can offer a promise to ask intelligent and meaningful questions and lead you through the process with purpose and focus. Every business is different and unique so our development process combines the best practices of website design and small business marketing with your unique needs, goals, and vision to deliver a results-focused website marketing tool.

Yes. We integrate Google Analytics into all sites and as part of that process can set up access for you to view the results any time you need on your own.

Once the site is built and content is added, it’s time to review and prepare for the world to see your work. Our ‘go-live’ process involves the following components and is done by our team: We test our work in current versions of major desktop browsers,a including those made by Apple (Safari), Google (Chrome), Microsoft (Internet Explorer 11 and Edge), and Mozilla Firefox. We review links and images to ensure they work and present as intended. We ensure the domain is properly set to point to the new hosting environment. We test logging into the website. We test logging into any special feature areas. We test website forms to ensure they work and go to the right person. We set up Google Analytics to make sure we’re able to track and measure activity once the site goes live. We check any 301 redirects that were set up to make sure Google will see your content even though the location has changed. Several other smart and techy things are done by talented folks with fancy computers to make sure all is right for launch.

In summary, it includes the following: Overall Goals. Communication and collaboration between the project manager and the client to map out the features and functions of the website. Who are your customers, how will we add value and attract more of them to your website? Menu & Page Flowchart. Mapping out the menu, its main pages, and supporting pages that will make up the navigation for the website as a whole. We want visitors to get where they want to go as easily as possible. Interface Design. The custom process of creating the look and feel of the website based on the business brand, the goals of the project, and the intended audience or audiences involved. We want visitors to quickly understand what you offer and how to get where they need to go, regardless of the device. SEO Worksheet. The keyword-focused approach used to ensure individual pages within the website are constructed with the purpose of being found in Google. Utilizing best practices of content, programming, and planning, we can help increase the opportunity that Google will respect your site. Content Management System (CMS) Integration. Programming the custom graphics, features, functions, and page flowchart into the content management system. This is the brain of the website and how you will edit and manage your pages moving forward. Content. This process will typically take the most of your time. Content Review. A thorough review of grammar, forms, and functions to ensure your site is ready to be seen by the world. Quality Assurance / Go-Live Process. Includes testing to ensure all links work as they should, the website appears as it should across multiple browsers and devices, that the overall functionality desired is operational, and that the site is ready to be published for the world to see.

We will transfer over all text on all the pages of your website. Not only do we transfer it but we organize it and make it nicer looking, formatted better, and more modern, if we can. If the site has usable images on the content pages, we will also transfer those and oftentimes enhance them in photoshop to make them look more professional.

As you can imagine, the answer to this question will vary from project to project. However, we do our best to manage each project as efficiently as possible. That being said, we do not expect to develop the site without your participation, insight, experience, and assistance in helping us understand what will work best for your business and your goals. Our experience is only as good as the collaboration we have with you. We need your insights, your experience, your expertise, your customer relations, your unique advantages, strengths your weaknesses, and opportunities. You see, we’re not just building a thing. We’re building a tool that is the digital hub for your voice of authority. The place where you build trust, confidence, and connections with folks who haven’t met you yet. Where you stand out from the crowd and pull away from the competition. And we can’t bring that to life without you. So yeah, we have a framework and a process. But it’s not on autopilot. It’s a series of collaborations we do together to deliver a site that delivers value to your customers and return to your business.

Yes. All websites we develop are built on a content management system that will allow easy access to edit pages as frequently as you need while connected to the internet.

Yes. We started using WIX in 2020 and love the system for many reasons like it's cost, it's ease of use for clients and it's constantly growing features. Key Wix Stats and Facts Wix was started in 2006 and went public in 2013 Wix hit the 1 million user mark in 2009, 10 million in 2011, and 50 million in 2014. Wix’s market cap was estimated at $4.5 billion in 2017. In 2019, Wix had more than 120 million users, 4.2 million of which being premium users. Wix has had 61.65 million visits in the last 6 months. Over 22 million mobile sites use Wix. Wix powers over 600,000 e-commerce stores. Over 44,000 apps are downloaded daily from the Wix App Market. Wix is the most visited Wix-based site, with 61.65 million visits in the last 6 months. Among all websites using a content management system, Wix’s market share is 3.4% according to W3techs. This makes Wix the third most popular website building solution after WordPress (64.1%) and Shopify (6.4%). Looking only at the simple website builders category, Wix is the leader and captures 45% of the market share (according to BuiltWith). Squarespace (16%) and GoDaddy Website Builder (10%) are the second and third-biggest competitors.

If you are a business owner, your website is absolutely one of the most important tools you have in your arsenal to get more - and better - clients and customers. So what separates a good website from a bad website, or a good one from a great one? Here are 10 qualities that a great website will need. 1  Navigation The website design should be easy to navigate and the menu items should easily accessible from any page. The viewer should always know exactly where they are on the website and have easy access to where they would like to be. A site map is a great idea and will be used if available. This sounds elementary but most websites could be improved in this area. Remember, there is a fine line between an interactive menu and an annoying one, so functionality should be the idea. 2 Visual Design People are visually oriented creatures, and utilizing great graphics is a good way to make your website more appealing. Your website has about 1/10th of a second to impress your visitor - and potential customer - and let them know that your website - and business (by proxy) - is trustworthy and professional. However, it's important not to go overboard with too much. Scrolling text, animation, and flash intros should be used sparingly in your web design and only to emphasize a point for maximum effect. 3 Content This is the backbone of your website. Not only does your content play a major role in your search engine placement, it is the reason most visitors are seeking from your website in the first place. Your website text should be informative, easy to read, and concise. Well thought out web content and copy will do more than anything else to make your website design engaging, effective and popular. 4 Web Friendly No matter how informative, beautiful, and easy to use your website design is, it's useless unless it's web-friendly. It is important that your web designers know the keys to making your website work on all the major browsers, and that they utilize meta tags, alt tags, are fully versed in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Many factors effect your search engine placement and visual appearance of your site, so make sure your web designers know their stuff. 5 Interaction A truly effective website design engages your visitors immediately and continues to hold their attention through EVERY page, as well as influences them to contact you. This is called 'conversion', and is probably your website's ultimate goal. Again, there is a fine line between ʻinteractionʼ and ʻannoyanceʼ, so the level of interac- tion should never outweigh the benefit. 6 Information Accessibility Not all visitors to your website are interested in, or have the time to peruse the entire site. They may need to access only a phone number or address, or just a certain bit of info. For this reason itʼs important to place key information in plain site, in an area thatʼs easily accessible. Weʼve all had the experience of not being able to locate some needed information on a website, and the result is always a frustrated visitor. The experience is annoying at best, and a disgruntled visitor wonʼt stay on your site very long and is unlikely not to return, much less do business with you. 7 Intuitiveness A great website anticipates what your visitor is thinking and caters directly to their needs, and has elements arranged in a way that makes sense. If a visitor is searching for one of your products or services on a search engine or directory where your site is listed, it's important that your website have a landing page that is directly relevant to what they searched for rather than forcing them to filter through all of your information. Remember, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. 8 Branding Your website should be a direct reflection of your business and your brand. Your visitor should immediately make a visual connection between your logo, print material, and brick-and-mortar location. A website that does this not only contributes to the memorability of your branding, but adds a level of credibility and enhanced image of that of your overall business. 9 Turnaround Time The number one complaint of website design customers is the time it takes to get the site up and running. Unfortunately, a firm that takes unusually long to complete your website is par for the course. The longer it takes to complete the website, the more business - and value - you lose. A website that isnʼt on the web isnʼt and working properly isn't going to bring you any business! 10 Conversion Your website can be the most important client generator your business can have, and must place the primary emphasis on bringing in new clients and making additional services available to existing clients through increased awareness of all the services you offer. Providing them with the tools they need to do business with you in an easy and enjoyable way will increase your website conversion and bring you the kind of success you seek.

Yes. If you want to update your site with a completely new design after the initial site has been released, it will cost $199. All your content will be incorporated into the new design.

Both! When we are doing the design, we will provide our own stock photos or use yours that you provide, as long as they meet a certain standard (we can attempt to enhance the photos in photoshop if needed). This allows us to maintain the high quality of the website look. Because we set ourselves apart from other website designers by not only offering an easy to use content management system but by also offering extremely high quality designs and layouts, it is important for us to have this control during the design process. Once you go live, you are free to add your own photos within the site, but we just ask you be mindful to try to use as high a quality of photos as possible 🙂

A lightbox is a pop-up that enlarges and brings one section of the screen into focus. They’re typically used to enlarge images, but also to inform visitors about promotions, surveys, and PDF downloads, or to simply highlight certain areas on the web page that the user might be interested in. The lightbox feature either fills out the entire page, or dims the page background to shine the spotlight on the pop-up area.

Responsive web design is very important because it improves the user’s experience by reformatting content to fit on a mobile screen. It’s also a search engine ranking factor, meaning search engines will rank mobile-responsive websites higher than non-responsive sites to give search engine users a better experience. With smartphone usage rising year-on-year, responsive design is something your business can’t afford to skip.

The content process is one of the more complex components of building a new website and one key area where guidance from an experienced firm has significant value. So there are no rules on what to focus on first and what is needed before launching your website. There are however a couple of truths to take into consideration. When planning to build your website, content is typically the area that takes the most time. Since the pillar pages are the foundation of your company and your revenue, it may be in your best interest to start with those. Resource pages, by nature, will expand and grow over time. These pages are never really “complete” as they represent the bulk of the ongoing content creation process. If you’re building a new website, it’s probably best not to have these pages hold up progress. However, a website that has only the pillar pages is functional. But much like that “all white paint” apartment you moved into once, it will lack personality, perspective, and authenticity if not complemented with resource pages.

Your website should feature a variety of page types, depending on the size, type, industry, and more of your business. For simplicity’s sake though, there are two types of pages you should be thinking about as you put your content plan together: Pillar pages and Resource pages. Pillar pages – Think of these as the foundation of your site. The frame of your house. They contain general information about the who, what, where, and why of your company. These are needed and important. They will most likely be edited slightly over time but most will not change tremendously. A majority of these pages will be in the primary navigation menu. Examples of pillar pages are; Your core services Your contact page Your mission, vision, values Your team page Your origin story page Directions & locations Resource pages – If we continue the analogy of the house, these would be the furniture and fixtures. They provide personality, comfort, features, and tone. They bring experience to light. Help teach, educate, and guide customers. They are ever-changing, and expanding, and have served very specific purposes. These pages typically don’t show up by name in the navigation menu. Examples of resource pages are: FAQ articles White paper downloads Testimonials Your insights Blog pages Events & News

Organization Make things easy to find. Instead of putting all your products or services on one single page, create an individual page for each. On each page, focus specifically on that product or service and create copy that answers questions and helps your potential customer see experience and expertise in your company. Give specific examples of how your product or service helps solve problems for your customers or of the features and benefits it offers. Value Put your customer first. What would you want to see for information that would help you feel good about choosing your company over your competition? Better yet, what are they asking about, and are you answering? Look at each product or service page you’re creating and ask yourself if you’ve provided the information most customers need to make a decision. Remember that you will be more comfortable and knowledgeable about your products and services than most of your customers. The things you may think “everyone knows” are oftentimes the best content to put on the pages. Relatability Context is important. When creating copy for your pages, be sure to use language that your customers use. Avoid industry terms and acronyms that may not be familiar to the people who buy your products. If you can, use stories or provide real examples of what you’re talking about. Add video, images, and graphs if it makes sense. If you’re speaking to a particular industry, use terms that help them connect their needs with your experience and expertise. Demonstrate that you understand what problems or goals your customers have and how your business can help.

Our talented team works to ensure that each website we build is a valuable marketing tool geared toward achieving your goals. In summary, our services include: An account manager who will take a keen interest in your business goals Design & marketing advice to make your website a promotional machine A project managed with purpose and precision so you know what to expect Google-friendly content strategies to help you rank high for search results An enormously detailed go-live review to ensure it works and looks good in all browsers Support when you need it, answers when you ask, and prompt, personal attention throughout Each web design is designed to provide value to the client by following a structured project management process. We sincerely appreciate being a part of your search for a website design partner and we do want to make sure we are the right fit for your company, your chemistry, and your goals. To help you come to your own decision, here are some things we’d like you to know upfront: We try our best to relate and to be relatable. We’ll ask you questions about your customers, your business, and your profits. We’ll want to know what makes you tick, what makes you different, and where you want your business to go. We believe your website should be designed and developed with a strategic marketing focus to help you make more money. There are lower-priced companies, templates, and tools for websites available. Many of these are fitting alternatives for a number of businesses. The work we do for our clients is more involved, more strategic, and we believe, more valuable than these options. It’s our goal to not only work hard to give you a fantastic website that will help you find new customers and make more money but also to make the experience of crafting it easy, efficient. and valuable. We stand by our work, support our clients with professional advice, and if we happen to make a mistake, we promptly address it and do all we can to make it right. Our website proposals reflect more than just pages, pictures, and paragraphs for your business. It represents our commitment to help you grow your business. If this is the kind of experience–and the type of company–you’re seeking, then Sutherland Weston may indeed be the right choice for your business.