My Design, Development & Marketing Services

Listen

Listening involves understanding your needs to their fullest. This begins with a request from you and continues with a chat, phone call, or an in-person meeting (Skype or Facetime can also be arranged) to discuss the exact project requirements. This is where you need to talk (and keep talking!) about what you really want, and I can answer any questions you might have.

A word about budget: it helps to be upfront with what you're expecting to spend on a project. This gives me a clear understanding of exactly how big the scope of the project is, and how much detail it requires. There may be exceptions - for instance, if this is your first time hiring a designer or this is your first time working on this type of project. It's important to note that the majority* of my work is done in-house. This not-only means that there are less 'middle-men' to pay, but that I understand you - and your project - better, making me more efficient.

*From time-to-time, something will come up that's beyond my area of expertise and requires a third-party programmer. In this instance, I'll work closely with a specialist to ensure they know just as much about the project as I do.

Create

This is where I take what we spoke about and make it work. The process depends on the type of project it is:

• Web Design and Development - I'll begin with rough sketches, then move on to wireframes that show the basics of where all the elements will be on each page of your site. Then, taking this information, I design your website's interface. Once your happy with your design, I design your site using the latest ideas in standards compliance, browser compatibility and SEO principles. If you need a content management system, I have years of experience building sites with wordpress, and with some plugins and custom programming, I can make sure your wordpress site does everything you want it to . For more complex e-commerce or database-driven online businesses, I have my own system called goodray. It's powered by Adobe Technology (a giant in the creative world), so you know it's good. If you're a designer or developer yourself and would like to know more about goodray, feel free to drop me a line.

• Print Design - Some web designers do print design, and some print designers do web design. Some even specialize in one of the two. I started out in print design, proving myself early on by working tirelessly on brochures, posters, catalogs and more. Once I discovered my passion for multimedia design, I knew I needed a way to combine my passion for creating websites with my love for the printed word. So, just like before, I still enjoy creating newsletters, booklets, brochures, flyers, posters, banners, point-of-sale material and signage. I haven't forgotten all that technical mumbo-jumbo like bleed, white space, cmyk, spot colors, dpi, kerning, vectors, outlines...have I forgotten anything?

• Branding and Identity - n our media-heavy marketplace, every business needs a brand - but how can you expect it to sing if it doesn't have a voice? If you don't have a logo, you're in luck. And if you do, a logo revision can bring it back to life. Since your brand is more than just your logo, don't forget that I can supply you with complete identity sets including business cards, letterhead, stationery, branded products and more.

• Social Media Strategy - Social Media - it's not just a passing fad, and it's more than just having accounts on twitter and facebook. To effectively harness the power of the social web, you need to find a voice that will be heard - and use it to tell the world all about you. Together, we can develop a campaign to build your social media currency until it's worth its weight in gold (or at least - sales).

• Advertising - Advertising is expensive and time-consuming, so don't waste it with something that people will ignore. A properly conceptualized, well-designed print ad can help you capture your audience - making your message pop out of the printed page.

• Email Marketing - Email can be one of the easiest ways to keep in touch with friends, family and customers. A well-executed email campaign can send your message out loud and proud - starting with engaging design created with best practicesand multi-reader support, and ending with exciting content and strategy. I can help you set up broadcast email software to make sure you never miss a click. You can integrate it with your website to capture new leads,track statistics, or create an automatic email newsletter to keep your customers coming back for more.