Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions. If your question is not in this list get in touch and I'll answer it.
What is your lead time?
I usually have a lead time of around 2 to 3 weeks. Once you have made the first payment I will schedule your project in my diary.
What are your payment terms?
For projects under £500 I ask for the full amount up front. For other projects I ask for 50% upfront and the remaining 50% before supplying the final files.
What do you need to start a project?
To get started I need all the text based content for the website, as well as the images you may want to use. If you already have branding in place, then I will need vector versions of your logo, colour values and any other branding material you may have.
Will my website be search engine friendly?
I code all websites using web standard guidelines (W3C) and clean code. This helps both search engines and visitors. Other factors I take care off are well structured content, human readable URLs and fast loading of the website.
The content of the website needs to be optimised for search engines as well and I can advise you on that.
Can I offer feedback during the project?
Absolutely. This is your website, and you know your business better than I do.
Do you use WordPress?
Not anymore, I have switched to using Kirby.
Do you do eCommerce websites?
Only for existing clients with legacy eCommerce sites, otherwise, no. But I work alongside an associate who specialises in e-commerce.
Can you modify an existing template?
No, I don't work with commercial templates.
What happens after the website launches?
The first month after the launch of the website I wil fix any bugs that may occur on the site. This does not include adding new features. We can discuss a cost and timescale for those separately.
You can also opt to set up an ongoing maintenance package for future amends and additions.
Can I update my website after it has launched?
The website will be built with Kirby, which is a Content Management System. This means you wil be in control of updating your website. I will give you a one-hour in person training session and provide you with a user guide.
If you prefer not to be in charge of updating the content of your website then we can arrange a maintenance package for this.
Do you offer training on how to update my website?
Yes, I will give you a one-hour in person training session and provide you with a user guide. If you have any further questions afterwards I'll be happy to answer them and help out.
Do you offer web hosting?
No, I don't. This is about your website and you should be in control of the hosting and the domain. I can offer advice on choosing a hosting company, and help you set up your website. My preferred hosting company is 34sp.
What is an SSL certificate, and do I need one?
When a website has an SSL certificate it will be served via https:// and show a padlock in the URL section of your website. This will not safeguard your site from hackers, but it will make it more trustworthy for your website visitors to visit your website. It also helps with your Google ranking as they increasingly favour websites with an SSL certificate.
A lot of hosting companies now provide free SSL certificates as part of their hosting packages, and I would advice you to chose such a hosting company. They will then take care of renewing the certificate automatically.