How Can I Help You?
Here are some of the services I offer to my current clients. If you don’t see what you’re looking for (or you’re not sure what you need), don’t hesitate to ask me.
Jump directly to:
Websites —◊— Newsletters —◊— Interactive Features —◊— Writing/Editing
Every client’s needs are unique, and when you partner with me, I’ll work closely with you to make sure my solutions fit your specific requirements.
Ideally, my clients will:
- Have something meaningful to say
- Realize that a working, up-to-date website is essential to their business
- Communicate with me honestly and openly, treating me as an equal
- Respect my opinions and input
- Understand that a partnership with a trustworthy web professional is the most effective way to meet their web needs
As my client, you can expect me to:
- Be honest and open in all my dealings with you
- Meet or exceed your expectations of my work
- Take the time to truly understand your needs
- Proactively suggest creative solutions to your problems
- Suggest only solutions that are in your best interest
Websites
I can create a website for you, update an existing website, or redesign a website that’s not effective in meeting your online needs. Check out My Clients for examples.
- I test all my websites on all the major browsers and computer platforms. Your website visitors will see what you see, even if they’re using Netscape while you’re using Internet Explorer. (If you'd like to see what your site looks like on another platform and you don't want to buy a second computer, I recommend the great service provided by the folks at BrowserCam)
- Your pages will load quickly, because I write clean, simple code (I use BBEdit on my Mac, if you’re curious) and favor informative, useful pages over flashy graphics and annoying gimmicks.
- I can create custom graphics (navigation buttons and the like), incorporate your existing images and designs, or a little of both.
- If you need web hosting services, I highly recommend DreamHost, which hosts my site, has low prices starting at $7.95/month, and is Green. I can set up your site for you if you'd like. Just ask!
E-Newsletters
An email newsletter is not spam. It’s also not just a marketing gimmick for companies that are in the business of sales. It can also be a way of letting your club members know about upcoming events, requesting donations for your nonprofit organization, or simply keeping family and friends informed of your latest great photos.
Even if you don’t plan to send a regular newsletter, you can use an online sign-up form (linked to an autoresponder) to keep track of requests for information coming from your website visitors. You can even use this type of service to automatically send event announcements, coupons, or other information to visitors who request them. (Of course, you also need a clear privacy policy that lets your visitors know that you won’t abuse their email addresses—not only is it a good idea, it's the law.)
For DreamHost-hosted sites, you can implement a free announcement list at any time.
For occasional mailings or small lists (under 2,000 individual emails per month), I recommend the free, yet powerful, Dada Mail.
For clients with higher volume or a need for autoresponder services, I recommend iContact. Pricing starts at less than $10 per month, it’s very flexible, and it takes all the hassle out of formatting and sending a newsletter to your subscriber list.
I can configure any of these services to get you up and running, or I can manage your newsletter process for you, including formatting, writing, archiving back issues on your website, and reporting subscriber statistics to you.
If you’re already using another newsletter service, of course I can still help you.
Interactive Features
In addition to e-newsletters and email autoresponders, there are several additional features that may be appropriate for your website. If you don’t see what you’re looking for (or you’re not sure what feature would solve your problems), feel free to ask me.
Shopping Cart. If you want to sell products or services online (including memberships and subscriptions), or be able to receive donations and payments, I recommend PayPal.
If you need more features in your shopping cart (such as the ability to sell digitally downloaded products, add customers to autoresponders, or offer several types of discount coupons to select customers), you may want to consider a monthly fee service such as 1ShoppingCart.
Discussion Boards, Chat Rooms, and E-Mail Lists. If you want to encourage a feeling of community among your website visitors, you should consider offering a way for them to interact with each other.
Several free and low-cost solutions are available; your website hosting provider may include some of these features in your plan. Either way, we can work together to create an inviting community for your visitors.
Web forms. Having an online form for your customers to fill out can save you an amazing amount of time and energy. With just a glance at the subject line in your email inbox, you’ll be able to decide how to handle many different types of questions.
Forms are an easy way for prospective customers or members to begin their relationship with you. And if they're linked to email autoresponders, your customer service will be instant—and appreciated.
- Multimedia. If you'd like to add audio or video to your site, or offer audio or video files as digital downloads (for sale or for free), I can help you with that too.
Writing and Editing
I’ve been a freelance writer for more than a decade. I’ve written business articles, essays, and award-winning (fictional) short stories. Different audiences demand different styles, but good, clear, effective writing is a must whether you're publishing a newsletter, advertising a product, or posting an event list on your website.
Communicating your message clearly and memorably is my highest priority. That’s what the web is designed to do, after all—present information in an easy-to-understand way.
Of course, if you already have text for your website or newsletter, I can proofread and polish it for you. Put my nitpickiness to work for you!
If you have any questions about my services or how I can help you with your website, just ask.
