How to be annoyed with your clientsI’m pleased to say James Chartrand from menwithpens.ca has kindly edited and posted a guest blog by me entitled, ‘How to be annoyed with your clients’.
Men With Pens is acclaimed web design, web copy, and marketing business Men with Pens. One of the Top Ten Blogs for Writers.
Read the full post at http://menwithpens.ca/annoyed-clients/
Why do I have to pay for web hosting?
If you’re clear on the difference between a domain name and web hosting you may still want further clarification and ask the question: why do I have to pay for web hosting?
Without web hosting your site would not be visible to the outside world. When you pay for a hosting company to house your site you’re paying for space on one of their servers. A hosting company performs many important services. Here are their core functions:
How to spot a good web design portfolio
A web design portfolio is to a web designer what an exhibition is to an artist: the chance to show off his or her work to the general public via a carefully selected cross–section of work. Just as artists’ exhibitions vary in quality so too do web design portfolios. So, here is how to spot a good web design portfolio.
How to spot spam emails: the obvious and the not so obvious
Once your site is launched it’s not uncommon to be plagued by spam emails. Spam email, also known as ‘Junk email’, is any form of unsolicited mail. Such messages are as old as the Internet itself. Some are obvious to spot and some are not so obvious.
Thankfully, the ones that are obvious never usually even reach our inboxes because most mail servers can filter them out. Sometimes though, a few do slip through. I’d regard the obvious ones as:
How and when will I have to pay for my website?
Websites vary in size and as such so do the ways you pay for it. The information herein relates to how I get my clients to pay for their sites but you’ll find most freelancers and agencies operate in a similar manner.
Although I am flexible in such matters, payment terms should be appropriate to the size of the site and they are there as a security measure for the web designer and to show commitment on the client’s side. The main ways to pay for a site are:
Why do I have to pay a deposit to start my website project?
Lots of large purchases require a deposit; a car and jewellery to name a couple. The deposit is paid for two reasons. First it secures the item preventing anyone else from buying it—and second it shows you are committed to paying the outstanding amount.
A deposit on a website is no different: the web designer can put aside the right amount of time for the project, maybe even turning down or putting back other offers of work. It also shows the designer you are think they are the right person for the job.
Once paid, If you then decide to cancel the web project you would of course lose your deposit. On the other side of the coin, however, at this point the web designer can’t decide they no longer want to do the project and keep your deposit.
Why have your website in your web designer’s portfolio?
At last that moment of elation has arrived. It’s been a long time coming but finally your website is online. Although it’s easy to underestimate all the work that goes into designing and building a website hopefully you’re happy with your site and although the process was a little time–consuming—all that effort was worth it.
Now the site is up–and–running this is not the end. Quite the opposite: it’s the beginning. Amongst the flurry and excitement you get an email from your web designer (or web company) asking if they can have two things:
A link from your site to theirs (e.g. Designed by Texelate)
Your site in their online portfolio
You may ask yourself, is that a good or a bad thing? Well, there’s no yes or no answer; it really all depends on the circumstances. I maintain in most cases it’s a good thing. First, let me cover the core two instances when I think it isn’t appropriate.
I have launched a new knowledge baseSeeing as the blog was getting quite big (it’s approaching fifty posts!) I thought I’d consolidate all the most useful links into one page. I have categorised them too to make them easier to navigate.
So, here it is:
If there is anything you would like to add to this page fill out the form on the contact page.
Information for when I’m on holidayThis information is for use when I go abroad. If you’re a regular client of mine you will receive at least a month’s notice by email before I go away.
During holiday time I have limited phone and Internet access. Any computer access I do get during these periods will be on my phone or in Internet cafes so I won’t have any of the software I need to do any design or development work—including site updates.
If you anticipate needing any changes during holiday periods please send them to me as soon as you can.
When on holiday I can still help out with any urgent hosting issues. Since web hosting companies use online and email-based helpdesk facilities I can arrange to have any hosting issues resolved from my phone. When emailing me please put ‘HOSTING’ in the subject line—as it will allow me to see it more easily among the other mails.
What’s the difference between a domain name and web hosting?
After submitting a quote and discussing clients’ requirements with them I find this question is very commonly asked:
Why are you charging for web hosting? We’ve already bought our domain.
Your domain name and registration are actually two separate things and here I answer the question: what’s the difference between a domain name and web hosting?
I’ll start by saying that if you’ve made the mistake in thinking they’re both the same you can be forgiven. Why? Most hosting companies offer domain names and a web hosting package together—and they may even appear as the same item on your invoice. I can assure they are different though—and here’s the explanation.
“I've been hugely impressed with your technical
input, patience and professionalism throughout
designing the site”
Dr. Christian White
ModernFirstEditions
» More Testimonials
I have clients all over the world and the UK but I primarily work around the Leeds area:
Adel, Alwoodley, Bramhope, Calverley, Farsley, Guiseley, Harrogate, Headingley, Horsforth, Otley, Pudsey, Rawdon, Ripon, Rodley, Yeadon
