Rancho Mondo - web design

I know everyone always wants to know how much it's going to cost. I don't blame them. But web sites are so variable, it's hard to put a simple figure on them.

I don't have any set number of pages for a site (or images, or graphics, or tables, or links, or applets, or features). Because each site is different and unique, the requirements of the site determine the number of pages. However, a typical site might have a minimum of 8 or 10 pages, and upwards of 100 or more. If it's a portfolio site, there will be lots of pages to display the items.

Common page headings (or sections, with links or graphical buttons) might include (and not all need be used!): home - about - news - faq - contact - links - company - portfolio - products - ordering - prices - services - information - miscellaneous - newsletter - specific info pertaining to your business - and whatever else you can possibly think of.

Well enough stalling. The typical small to medium site currently costs about $1000—$1500. Many of my recent larger, full-featured sites (some ecommerce enabled) have cost $3000 and up. You can certainly find cheaper (but probably lower quality), and I am just as sure that there are plenty that cost more (who knows, maybe you aren't getting ripped off, and they can provide expertise I can't). Remember, every site has different needs and requirements, and so your site could possibly cost less (or, much more, if large and feature-laden). These are just average prices for complete sites with average requirements.

Also consider that web sites are constantly in development. I like to develop relationships with my clients, and continue to grow and enhance the websites I manage. It is impossible to conceive from the beginning of every bit of content or features that a website might evolve into needing. Many of the sites presented in my portfolio started at a much smaller scale and grew over time. We can do the same for yours. Like I say, if you are interested, and we'll talk about your specific needs.

This is your "basic" site. It will contain all the content you determine is necessary to present yourself on the web, at least initially. All sites should be constantly expanding, at minimum adding (or changing) fresh content often. If you want return visitors, you need to give them some reason to return.

The typical SEO/maintenance fee is $100 a month. This provides for general maintenance of your site (see below), about 3 hours of attention from me per month on your site. Any time not spent on maintaining the site is spent on SEO efforts (which are numerous and continuous), and on general website betterment.

Basic monthly maintenance on your site includes:

check the operation of the site often
respond to any site problems as soon as they are discovered or reported
repair broken images or links or applets
check links
minor updates to text (generally news or specials)
submission to search engines (but with absolutely no guarantees with search engines)
slow, continual updates to site (added content)

Over the years this is how a payment structure has developed. It costs nothing to talk about your site, for either construction of a brand new site, or a remodeling of your existing site. (A site may need remodeling because it has gotten stale, uses old techniques and looks it, or new pages or features need to be added)

If you are local, we can meet and talk. If not, I also have some clients I have never met, all communication done through email and postal. After some conversation and discussion of your site and it's requirements, I will give you my ideas as to what I think your site needs for an initial launch, and a rough estimate of cost and schedule (time to completion). If we both decide to continue the project after my rough proposal, I require a deposit, generally $500 (or more if it is expected to be a very large site, incorporate ecommerce, or have numerous features) before I undertake additional work.

Upon receipt of the deposit, I proceed with a much more detailed proposal. I generally work up a sketch (or 2 or 3) of the site layout (home page, and an interior page or two). This gives you a good idea of how I envision the site looking: logo, header, navigation, and other page elements (text, photos, and more) are laid out. These will look like working pages — but they will just be images (the links won't work, etc.)

I will also provide a much more detailed outline of what I think the site structure should be. This will include the major sections of the site (indicated by the major navigational links), sub-sections, and some indications of content. Specific features of the site are explained. I list the content that needs to be provided to me by the client (text, photos, and any other materials). A time-table, or refinement of the work schedule, is also given.

Generally a tweak or two is needed to one or more elements: layout, structure, contents, features, etc. There is much communication, and a refinement of everything until we are both satisfied. Upon approval of the site design, a draw is requested before work is begun on the actual code and graphics work required to turn our design and concept into a functioning web site.

At this point the site structure is uploaded to the web for your review. Most (if not all) of the pages are blocked out — common elements are in place such as page headers, logo, navigation, footer, etc. If content has been received, much of it is in place (text and any photos used). The navigation works, and you can get a feel for how the site actually looks and operates.

Additional tweaks are done if necessary to ensure that you get exactly what you want. I develop long-term relationships, and want you completely satisfied with your site. If you have a large site, or there are extra features which require lots of work, another draw may be requested. Otherwise, as long as I have been provided all necessary content material, any site contents and features not already in place are added to the site.

(Note that I am capable and prepared to create the content of your site, including copy writing — however that this will typically increase the cost of the site anywhere from 40%—100%. I prefer that you provide the content for your website as you know your business much better than I ever could.)

After review of the completed site and you are completely satisfied, the balance of the agreed price is paid. Upon receipt, the site is uploaded to your server (or if hosted by Rancho Mondo, is already in place) and you have a fully-functioning presence on the World Wide Web which can be viewed by you, your associates, and your customers.

I continue to service your site. I monitor it for proper operation. I hand submit your site to the key search engines and directories (Now that you have a site — we want it to be found) And we start making plans for the next steps your site might consider taking. A website is dynamic, and to succeed requires continual care and feeding — what we call maintenance.

Maintenance for a site can vary greatly, but expect to budget at least $100 a month, which is my minimum fee for site maintenance and SEO efforts. If you want to derive the fullest benefits from your site, you cannot just build it, put it up on the Internet, and forget about it. Do that and the Internet will likely forget you — probably not what you want.

The portion of the initial month online is free. Maintenance thereafter is to be paid quarterly, in advance (it's how I'm billed and web presence has to be paid for). Any work not included in maintenance will be assessed separately. This would be stuff like opening up major new sections (pages) that needed to be done quickly, instead of spread out over 3-6 months, or more, of maintenance work.

§ web design: about § services § thoughts § prices § contact §

§ home § about § news § misc. § art gallery § cabinets § web design § computer basics § compost § gourds § back pages § contact § links §