Ok, so it took me awhile to realize this, but the fact that I finally found a way to bypass the usual hurry up and wait syndrome with website content is ground breaking. It’s call “web content gathering” and it’s listed under the services’ tab.
In essence, I’m now utilizing that God-given talent of reporting to help my clients with the most IMPORTANT aspect of their website – it’s content. I have always offered content writing as a service, but it wasn’t all inclusive and I surely didn’t stop by your office and take your picture.
Now, I’m a one-stop-shop, full-service boutique web design firm. That means – you hire me to build your site and I’ll do it all. I’ll interview you, writing all about you, take photos of you and your office, decide how you should be marketed, design a logo, plan how your site should function, construct a layout, translate the art into code, add in the programming to make the magic work and tie it all together with a little bow when it’s all done! Sure, I’ll still need your help gathering random items here and there like product photos or employment applications, but I’ll give you a check list so you don’t have to do much thinking!
I’m so excited to announce this new service since content gathering has traditionally been my clients’ jobs and the job that sucked the most amount of energy OUT of projects. And I surely do hope that it helps speed the process of web development along, not to mention making the end result that much more appealing and real, which will make us all happier in the end!
If the smell of oil alone is any indicator, the Mississippi Gulf Coast may soon be home to millions of gallons of unwelcome oil showing up on waves from the Gulf of Mexico. I don’t feel the need to educate anyone on the up-to-the-minute happenings of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All that matters at this point is that the potential for this accident to become a major catastrophe is high and the affects of the oil slick would affect us all on the Gulf Coast – our environment and our way of life.
Much like Hurricane Katrina not even 5 years ago, the oil slick is wide-reaching and is the type of event that engulfs people’s lives. Having already experienced life before and during Katrina, I understand exactly what a major disaster does to a region in shock. Having opened a web business nearly a year after the storm, I also know how such events can trigger woulda, coulda, shoulda regrets once the shock wears off and the rebuilding starts.
One of those regrets I have heard often in this line of work is that of updating one’s website. I can’t tell you how many businesses and organizations told me how they regret not taking the time to maintain their websites during and after the hurricane to let people know what they were doing and how others could help. These people always say that they missed out on a great opportunity to both raise awareness and money for their causes by not considering communication as a priority in the aftermath of such a major event.
So, here we are again, facing a slow-moving hurricane that may or may not hit us. Chances are, this oil spill has or will affect your business or organization in some way if you are located on or near the Gulf Coast. Chances are high too that you and your business are doing what you can to protect our area and will do your fair share to help clean up if it’s needed. So, tell others about it!
If you helped put out booms or are learning how to handle the toxic oil for the potential clean up, post that on your website. If your business or organization is directly impacted by the Gulf, let people know this and what they can do to help you. Take pictures, write stories, and get the information out.
I realize the reason most businesses or organizations fail to do these things is because they are focusing their attention on the crisis at hand. They don’t have the time or energy to worry about web updates and can’t afford to put one of their team members on it. But now-a-days, people expect to get up-to-date information from your websites and times of emergency are definitely no exception. Believe me, you won’t come across as being “too busy” to make updates. You’ll come across as being out-of-touch and irrelevant. So, updating is actually something you can’t afford NOT to do.
Email me if you have any questions about updating your content or re-designing your website to account for any changes the potential catastrophe could have on your business or organization. I am always happy to help.
So, you decided you need a website or that your current site needs updating and have contacted me or another designer for quotes. Great! I love the energy of a new project and enjoy discussing what “can be” with an excited client.
But, having built 50+ websites for a variety of people, I know what lies behind the handshakes and high-expectations of the initial meeting can be 3-4 months of nail biting and tooth pulling. So I want to give potential clients the information they didn’t know they didn’t know to help make the experience a good one for everyone involved.
Most business owners think their job is done once they’ve hired the correct person to develop the business’ website. Understandably so…. they pay the money; we do the work. But much like your accountant, your web designer can’t do good design without accurate information and open communication from you. Truth be told, hiring a designer is only the beginning of what can seem like a new part-time job for the duration of the project.
The following is YOUR JOB when when getting someone else to design your website:
Gather Content: It is a lot easier to design a house if you know what it going in it. Same goes for a website. So sit down for a few days and really think about what information you want your customers to have access to and write it. It saves your designer time if you give him or her the content you want on your website BEFORE the layout is created. Remember that the content doesn’t have to be the “final” draft, but having a good idea of what you want on the site will make the project run a heck of a lot smoother.
Get Professional Photos: Want a fantastic website? Send your designer lots of great pictures.. and not the ones you took yourself (unless you are a photographer, of course!) Most designers will have access to stock photography, but they should only be used to fill in the gaps. Great websites have real photos and professional photography does not have to be expensive. Before your photo shoot, ask your designer what “types” of photos he or she recommends. This attention to detail doesn’t cost a thing, but will make your website stand out from the rest. If you are in South MS, check out: http://ellajreesephotography.com/
Stay Involved: Most designers will give you plenty of opportunities throughout the building process to insert your opinion, stop something you don’t like or add something you think is missing, but they can’t read your mind. You have to communicate it and you’re not going to know what you think if you don’t pay attention to what’s going on. If your designer isn’t giving you time to talk, let them know you want a say in all major decisions. This is YOUR site, not there’s, so you should stay involved every step of the way.
Make Time: I know you have a job and it isn’t web design, but your designer NEEDS you. Find out when the designer plans to work on your site and schedule a little time off to be more available. The project will go faster and be more successful in the long run if you give it the attention it deserves during the building process.
Well, I hopes this helps you to better understand your role in the web design process. You have quite a job, so get to work…
Thinking about scoring big online? Don’t anticipate big wins if you aren’t planning a sister mobile site. According to this site, 32% of Americans have accessed the internet on a mobile device. That number is only increasing. Still not sure why you should spend the extra money and time getting your business mobile ready? Here are my three (3) main reasons:
Accessibility – A good number of handheld phones don’t render websites the way your laptop and desktop computers do. When someone accesses your site on these phones, your site is probably jumbled up and unusable. To give these users at least the basics, you need a separate mobile site.
Efficiency – People on-the-go are looking for different information that people at a desktop. So even if your entire website is rendered appropriately on a user’s phone, chances are the entire site isn’t what your users are looking for. The screen has only a few inches of real estate, so fill it up ONLY with what is most popular for your mobile audience – contact info (phone, email and map), links to your mobile ready blog, and maybe an optimized list of services. Do get too wordy or you’ll lose them.
Image – Like it or not, your mobile users will judge your business based upon how you come across on the web. If your site is inaccessible or inefficient, you are behind the times. Chances are they won’t be coming back unless they absolutely had to.
So stay relevant, gives your visitors an accessible site with exactly what they are looking for and they’ll come back. Not doing it will only put your business even further behind. And that’s why being mobile ready is a must-have for 2010.
So my redefining has finally come full circle. After two months of brainstorming and self-analysis, I’ve launched my new brand: Jaimee Designs – Your Web Connection.
A quick tour around the homepage reveals the new brand. It’s an emphasis on how my business can help yours with all things web – design, programming, mobile, social, and training/consulting. Most of these services aren’t new. I’ve been designing websites and providing custom programming since Jaimee Designs’ inception in 2007. And in one way or another, I’ve helped each client with social media accounts and basic training too. Designing sites for mobile web is definitely my newest service, but it’s not the only reason to get excited. The re-branding is all about the entire package.
A website is just a tool and so are all of my other web services when they are looked at individually. As my new branding suggests, Jaimee Designs is now using all of the tools on the web to connect my clients to both their goals and their customers.
Web Design – Your Design Connection.
Your web site will be more than functional, more than beautiful. The emphasis throughout the planning and design process is on the end-user and calling them to action. We will figure out exactly what it is your visitors are looking for and how to get them that information quickly and efficiently. If your goals are to make a sell, then your site will be designed to make that process intuitive and easy. What we want is for you to make a great first connection with your visitors so that they will come back and visit often.
Programming – Your Innovation Connection.
A great website uses the best technology available to give and get information. Jaimee Designs has an experienced programming team ready to help you plan and execute any custom programming project you have. Have a great website idea, give us call and see how easy it really easy to connect your wildest dreams to an online reality.
Mobile Web – Your Anywhere Connection.
Today, websites are viewed on both desktop and handheld devices. In fact, there’s a growing number of people who only access the web on a smartphone. At Jaimee Designs, we are helping our clients connect with their customers via the mobile web by producing mobile-ready sister sites that are viewed only by handheld devices. It’s a smart way to make that online connection with your on-the-go users who have different needs than their desktop counterparts.
Social Media – Your Personal Connection.
Connecting is about all communication. And Jaimee Designs is here to help you do just that. We can help you start socializing online with your customers through networking sites like facebook, twitter, Youtube, and linkedIn. We’ll not only start the account, we’ll show you how and when to use it. Already tweet or update facebook often? Jaimee Designs can integrate your social media profiles with your website to consolidate updates and connect your customers to all of your links in one place.
Training/Consulting – Your Information Connection.
A lot of what we do as designers is help our clients know what tools are out there and how those tools can improve our clients’ business. That’s what our new information connection is about. We want to keep you informed with the latest and greatest ways to connect your business with the wonderful world of the internet. Heck, we’ll even show you how to get started and pass on some tricks of the trade to make the transition smoother. So subscribe to our blog feed and reap the benefits of having a web connection.
Ok, so it took me awhile to realize this, but the fact that I finally found a way to bypass the usual hurry up and wait syndrome with website content is ground breaking. It’s call “web content gathering” and it’s listed under the services’ tab.
If the smell of oil alone is any indicator, the Mississippi Gulf Coast may soon be home to millions of gallons of unwelcome oil showing up on waves from the Gulf of Mexico. I don’t feel the need to educate anyone on the up-to-the-minute happenings of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All that matters at this point is that the potential for this accident to become a major catastrophe is high and the affects of the oil slick would affect us all on the Gulf Coast – our environment and our way of life.
So, you decided you need a website or that your current site needs updating and have contacted me or another designer for quotes. Great! I love the energy of a new project and enjoy discussing what “can be” with an excited client.
Accessibility – A good number of handheld phones don’t render websites the way your laptop and desktop computers do. When someone accesses your site on these phones, your site is probably jumbled up and unusable. To give these users at least the basics, you need a separate mobile site.
Web Design – Your Design Connection.