In today's times, it seems like there's
a web site for everything -- every business, every non-profit,
every artist. But the truth is, not everyone does, and those who
don't are often at a disadvantage. Metro Girl can make it so you
too have a web site!
How many times have you heard this?
- "I know somebody who would love to know about your
store. Do you have a web site?"
- "Hi, I'm calling to find out, do you have a web site?"
- "I had a horrible time finding you... I wish you had
a web site with a map."
- "I'd like to volunteer for this -- is there somewhere
I can download volunteer forms? Like, what's your web site?"
If you had a web site, the answer to these people would be a
resounding "YES."
The beauty of a web site is the ability it gives for an organization
or individual to market themselves and services customers 24 hours
a day, without the owners having to do a huge amount of work.
Metro Girl has helped clients leverage their web sites to
make a big difference:
- a wedding photographer
doesn't have to physically show her portfolio to potential clients,
since clients can browse through them online;
- a condo community
can both market itself to outsiders and service residences with
information, like condo rules and regulations, without the printing
cost;
- a poet can provide
fans and media with information about her latest book and book
tour;
- a planning/architecture/landscape
architecture firm can showcase its past and current projects
to potential clients and communities;
- a furniture product wholesaler
can show off not only his products, but give advice on how to
use them.
Building Web Sites
Metro Girl builds web sites from the ground up. Unlike some
companies, Metro Girl doesn't use templates and then simply run
a client's information through the electronic meatgrinder. Instead,
web sites are created based on the client's specific needs.
The development process involves:
- Site Planning
Without a plan, you might as well not have a site! In the planning
stage, I meet with the client and find out their needs, expectations
and dreams. I then share my abilities and lay out the process.
Once that is done, I gather the client's existing materials
and create an initial design document, from which I create a
prototype design, which I then present to the client for feedback
and/or revision.
- Design & Development
During this phase, Metro Girl creates the site design, adds
in the content, adds any extra features the client wants, tests
the site, edits the site to meet client approval, and creates
documentation.
- Hosting
At Metro Girl, I take care of the technical stuff so you don't
have to! As an Interland
web hosting reseller, I can get my clients their own domains
(http://www.yoursite.com) at a generous discount rate
and set up hosting accounts in a timely and efficient manner.
- Promotion
Metro Girl web promotion services include registration with
appropriate services as well as extensive advice on other ways
to advertise, from including the URL on print materials to advertising
online.
- Maintenance
Once you have a web site, you can't just let it sit! Part of
Metro Girl's pledge to customers is that I will maintain your
sites in good working order and keep the content fresh. From
updating content to adding graphics and any other technical
changes to continuing site promotion, I do my best to take care
of my clients' needs. For more about Maintenance, see Web
Site Fixes & Maintenance.
Web Site Pricing
At Metro Girl, we don't have the overhead of a big web firm and
thus, we don't have the prices of those big web firms. When you
pay for a web site, you're not paying for fancy offices or a room
full of computers or secretaries, you're paying for a one-person
company a lot smaller which can nevertheless create a web site
that looks professional and serves your needs.
Most new web sites are billed using a flat-rate fee, meaning
Metro Girl presents the client with a price based on an estimate
of the project scope (how long it will take, what resources it
will require, etc.) After a contract is signed, but prior to starting
work, Metro Girl requires a 50% deposit. The remainder of the
fee is to be paid at completion of the project.
For more information, see:
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