If you haven’t already done so, please read the first and second installments titled Identifying Your Site’s Purpose and Audience, Go-Live Date, Your Budget, and Your Technical Aptitude and Identifying Your Website Needs and Design Preferences a.k.a. Doing Your Homework before reading this week’s article.
By now you should know what your site to have (at least have some ideas) and know which designers have worked on your favorite author sites.
It’s time to write out your requirements to send to potential designers. Write out the timeline (when you want yours launched), the type of technical solutions you seek (CMS, WordPress, Joomla, template only v. installation included, maintenance needed or not, etc.), and deliverables (graphic files, actual codes, Photoshop files, training if any, other documentation, etc.).
Once you have this, you can email designers and ask them for quotes.
In addition, you can also use a site called eLance to get quotes from other web designers. The registration is free, and there’s very little risk to the people who hire freelancers there.
Here’s a list of designers I found by surfing author sites. The list is nowhere near exhaustive. If you’re a professional designer and want to be included, leave a comment with your designer site info and/or where people can find your portfolio. I will not include you on the list if you don’t have a portfolio and/or experience.
Disclaimer: I’m not endorsing and/or promising anything by listing designers here. The only designer I’ve worked with is Frauke from CrocoDesigns, and I like her. If you want to ask any specific questions about her, contact me.
- CrocoDesigns — Frauke from CrocoDesigns did my site. She has a waiting list for WordPress templates and/or full site design, although she still has some open slots for print and/or MySpace designs. (If you need a site launched ASAP, you can contact her and ask if she can do it. If you have a very good reason, she may work with you.)
- LJ Constantine
- Rae Monet
- Clearly Computers
- Austin Designworks
- Rock the Rock Design
- Amberwing Design
- Waxcreative Design
- Swank Web Style
- Dream Forge Media
- Web Crafters Design
- Twilight Industries
- Elle Media
- Nytshadow Designs
Next week, I’ll talk about evaluating quotes and designers.
[...] Next week, I’ll talk about the actual process of requesting quotes and some of the sites and resources I used. [...]
by Nadia Lee » Blog » Identifying Your Website Needs and Design Preferences a.k.a. Doing Your Homework September 16th, 2008 at 12:04 amI’m a web designer!
I do websites, book covers, myspace and Blogger designs, and I do promotional goodie design from bookmarks to ad design. I also do a promotional workshop called Promotions for the Frugal author, and teach authors how to do a full promo plan for under 200$ a quarter for a single title, and 350 for a 3 book series.
Stella
by Stella Price September 16th, 2008 at 2:14 amI’d love to be added to your list too. I specialize in websites and blogs for small businesses and authors.
(My site is vastly out of date and under construction, because my clients’ projects have come first. Expect a new site and an updated portfolio in the next week or two.
)
by Laurie September 16th, 2008 at 3:19 amOh, and I guess it would help to tell you… My company is Elle Media, and you can view my portfolio here:
http://getelle.com/portfolio.html
Thanks!
by Laurie September 16th, 2008 at 3:45 amHey Nadia,
I’ve been doing freelance web and graphic design for over ten years, specializing in artistic web design with coordinating blogs and portfolios for writers, artists, and musicians. A complete portfolio is available on my site.
by Amanda Church September 17th, 2008 at 12:30 pmEvaluating Quotes and Designers…
If you haven’t done so, please read the previous installments titled Identifying Your Site’s Purpose and Audience, Go-Live Date, Your Budget, and Your Technical Aptitude, Identifying Your Website Needs and Design Preferences a.k.a. Doing Yo…
by Nadia Lee September 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 am