I’ve been having some problems lately getting paid quickly (or at all sometimes) for work done. Unlike a lot of other design companies I’ve never asked for deposits or signed contracts up front, preferring instead to get started quickly on a project and give a client something to see and be impressed by. This has worked quite well for me and has speed up my whole process nicely. But perhaps it’s naive of me.

Maybe it’s the current climate we’re in or maybe its something else entirely but this approach doesn’t seem to work anymore! Also, I’m getting lambasted by peers for not having contracts and deposits in place before starting a project so I’ve decided to give it a bash to see how it works out.

Here’s a contract I’ve knocked up myself and which I send out with all new project quotes. I’ve tried to keep it simple and concise and hopefully it covers everything.

Comments appreciated:

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT TERMS & CONDITIONS BEFORE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS ESTIMATE.

1. A 50% DEPOSIT of the value of this Estimate is strictly required before project commencement.

2. By accepting this Estimate Price, instructing Reverb Studios to go ahead with this project and paying the 50% DEPOSIT you are entering into a CONTRACT OF WORK. Any work undertaken must be paid for according to the terms of the invoice you will receive on completion of the project.

3. Major additional work required by the client after the project start but not mentioned in this estimate will be billed at an ADDITIONAL HOURLY RATE.

4. Project changes reasonably falling under the QUOTED COST of the project will only be made within the PROJECT DURATION period mentioned in the initial ESTIMATE. This is to avoid open ended project/delays and ensure an end date.

5. The project will be considered completed and an invoice issued after the PROJECT DURATION period mentioned in the initial ESTIMATE barring unforeseen circumstances/delays. Once the INVOICE is issued no further work will be done on the project until the invoice is paid in full..

6. NB – Failure to pay by the due date mentioned on the invoice will result in SERVICES BEING WITHDRAWN. INTEREST on payments later than 30 days from the date of issue of the invoice will be charged at a rate of 0.02% per day. This is in full accordance with current legislation.

7. Ownership of Website Domains, Website Framework, Email, and any other Designs will remain with Reverb Studios until the invoice is paid in full.

8. Ongoing SUPPORT for any project after the project end date will be billed at an HOURLY RATE unless a fault lies with Reverb Studios.

9. Reverb Studios will contact clients from time to time regarding service renewals and other relevant information. All communication will be by EMAIL primarily therefore clients must ensure that current and CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS including a valid EMAIL address are provided to Reverb Studios. Services and Web Addresses lost due to non receipt of invoices at invalid email addresses will not be the responsibility of Reverb Studios.

10. Clients are responsible for the provision of all informational content for a project whether textual, graphic or other. Responsibility will not be taken by Reverb Studios for any COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT on content chosen or provided by the client themselves. Reverb Studios reserves the right to remove any illegal, offensive or obscene content published by a client.

11. All Websites are powered by third party OPEN SOURCE content management (CMS) software that is constantly being updated by others. No responsibility will be taken by Reverb Studios for such software that becomes out of date or software that becomes insecure or unstable over time. Reverb Studios does however offer service contracts at a yearly rate to help keep CMS software updated.

12. Reverb Studios cannot be held responsible for Website hosting DOWNTIME caused by external influences, negligence by the client or Bandwidth/Storage limit breaches. Reverb Studios sub-contracts to a third party SHARED HOSTING company that guarantees uptime within industry standards but some downtime is always expected.

13. Reverb Studios will not be responsible for client DATA BACKUP. Backups of all Website data are made and kept automatically by the Hosting Company sub-contracted by Reverb Studios and can be made available on request. Clients are also advised to export, copy and backup their own data.

14. Web Design clients are expected to use the TUTORIALS and MANUALS provided at www.reverbstudios.ie/blog/category/wordpress-tips/ to learn the use of the WORDPRESS Website Content Management system used for all Reverb Studios websites. No Training will be provided within the scope of an estimate but may be available at an additional hourly rate on request.

15. Estimates are valid for a period of ONE MONTH only from the date of issue and are subject to change depending on current prices and any changes to the design specifications by either the client or Reverb Studios, before or during the project build.

Most potential new web design clients seem to ask the same question: What’s involved in setting up a web site? How does it all work?. Here’s a screen video tutorial I’ve prepared to help explain. I’ve included a synopsis underneath:

In summation so..

The step by step process I personally use is as follows:

1. Choose a Domain Name/Web Address in consultation with the client. Use an Availability checker and Google’s Keyword Tool to help choose.
2. I purchase the Web Address on behalf of the client and setup Website Hosting for them.
3. I install the Website Framework/CMS and plugin the template.
4. Client picks a Design Template upon which to base the look and feel of the site.
5. Client provides text and image content.
6. Client adjustments/suggestions.
7. Site goes live.
8. Client pays (sometimes!).

Simple, Fast and Efficient I think.

I’m currently offering an affordable Search Engine Optimisation package for 395 Euros which should help your existing website to perform a little better online and hopefully bring more sales leads at a time when they might be most needed!

The package includes a Full SEO Audit of your web site including:

• Google Analytics installation and auto monthly email reports.
• Relevant Keyword Analysis.
• Content Review.
• Competitor research.
• Linking Analysis.
• Sitemap Installation.
• Google Adwords advice.

I will provide a detailed report and list of recommendations on completion of the survey as well as making the changes required.

Contact Me for more info.

Leon.

Just came across a very interesting article on the web about choosing a web design company for your small to medium sized business, check out the article HERE.

I’ve been studying the more complicated aspects of the Google Analytics Website Statistical service recently and can now offer advanced help with instalation of this professional service for monitoring traffic to your Website or Blog.

I can add the Google Analytics tracking code on your website or blog and setup the following features:

Basic:

• Your most visited pages
• Referring sites traffic (who is linking to you)
• The Keywords& Phrases that lead people to your site
• Your visitors Browsers and Screen Resolutions
• Your visitors Internet Speeds
• Visitor Locations
• Site Bounce Rate

Advanced:

• Setup Goals and monitor visitors activity on the most important parts of your site
• Setup Funnels to monitor paths taken through your site ie – Checkout process completion
• Setup e-commerce values and visualize your click through rate, ie – total visitors versus visitors that buy from you.
• Block your own website visits

I can either provide access to your own stats or provide detailed monthly email reports.

Using a statistical package like Google Analytics on your site is an essential process to better understand your visitor trends, how they find you and what they do while on your site. The statistics can give you invaluable information on how best to optimize your site and maximize its marketing impact.

Leon

Theres not much point in having a website unless people can find it and its bringing you business or busines leads at least. I constantly see websites or get re-design work for sites that have been built and neglected for years, with outdated design, content and copyright dates at the bottom!

Ideally websites should be built with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in mind. That is to say, while your designer is actually building or installing the site he should be thinking of how the site will do best in the search engines. After that a lot of work needs to be done either by you or the designer or some other expert to make sure the site gains a high profile and keeps it.

Heres a rundown of the Online Marketing services I offer:

FREE SEO Audit/Report on your site including:

• Home page and Website Keyword Analysis
• Title Analysis
• Text Formatting
• Content Relevance
• Linking Strategy
• Google Ranking
• Alexa Ranking
  
• Yahoo & Google Sitemaps
• Error 404 Customisation
• Website Statistical/Log Analysis
• Competing Markets research
• Code Analysis

Based on the findings above I can reccommend and implement solutions including the following:

• Forum Content Generation
  
• Blog Content Generation
  
• RSS Feeds
• Email Marketing
  
• Pay per click Advertising strategies
• Statistics setup

For more info or a FREE SEO Audit, please contact me.

Leon.

Photo Restoration is something I do a lot of here. I’ve been working with Jordan Photo in Boyle, Co. Roscommon for a few years now and I’ve recently established a relationship with their new Carrick-on-Shannon branch.

I can offer the following Photographic services:

Photo Restoration:

We’ve all got a lot of printed photos from way back and unfortunately they degrade and fade over time and thats WITH proper care and storage! If you have old black & white or color photos that are gone sepia toned or faded or if they have scratches, fold marks or torn edges, I can scan them in or accept your own digital scans, and fully restore them for posterity.

Photo Colorization:

If you have an old black and white photo that you’d like to see in full color then send it in or send a a scan and I will apply your chosen colors.

Photo Collages/Montages:

Got a bunch of photos from a studio photo shoot or special occasion? I can arrange them in a nice collage with suitable background.

Photo Compositions:

A photo composition involves removing or adding objects or people from photographs. New backgrounds or locations can also be added.

DVD & CD Slideshows:

I can arrange a themed group of photos in a video slideshow with zooms and transition effects accompanied by the music soundtrack of your choice. This is a very effective and modern way of viewing your photos and will last longer than traditional printed photo albums.

* Printing can be arranged through Jordan Photo.

For samples view the photo editing page on the main Reverb Studios site.

To upload your photos for processing, click HERE.

For other photographic work not mentioned here, please contact me – most things can be done!

Leon.

Website design or installation is what I do most of the time and probably what I know best! Reverb Studios has built and installed more websites since January this year then in the 2 years previous, about 26 to be exact, so we have had good practice lately!

You’ll probably think this is something I should be saying since I’m in the business and looking for business but if you have any kind of company or wish to increase the possibility of generating income by any means or for any reason then you can’t afford to not have a website, especially in this day and age.

A website allows you to communicate exactly how you want to with your existing customers and potential ones and theres no limit to the amount you can say or how well you can say it. And say it with text, photos, video, audio, etc..

When you compare a website with a more traditional form of advertising such as the yellow pages where you get a few lines of a classified for over a grand a year and only to a local or national at best market, a website allows you to say/show as much as you want and its available 24/7 to anyone on the planet who has a computer and internet connection and that figure/market is getting way to high to ignore!

Anyway, heres what I can do for you if you need a site:

• Recommend and purchase a domain name or website address for you.
• Organize professional hosting for your site.
• Setup professional email addresses based on your domain above.
• Build the site for you according to your tastes.
• Include or design your company logo.
• Install a Content Management System (CMS) so you can edit the site yourself, simply.
• Add your content.
• Train you how to use the CMS at your place of business.
• Add extras such as Contact Forms, Newsletters and Multimedia.
• Provide Search Engine Optimization to help your site get noticed in the search engines.
• I do all of this VERY affordably!

Contact Me for a FREE Quote.

Leon