Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use a Freelance service instead of a larger Design Agency?
There are advantages either way depending largely on your project's requirements. For large sophisticated projects, namely those with application development and print campaigns you're advised to use a dedicated team such as will be found in a good agency.
JeliNet offers a personal and dedicated one-to-one service. My prices reflect much lower overheads and I am much more competitive in the sub £3,000 market. It's not that my services are substandard - it's that I provide a tailored service that meets the more basic needs of a large sector of the online world. Often 'freelancing' has the reputation of little long-term commitment to customers. I have kept customers for five years and continue to do so. Personal working relationships you develop with individuals in a large company are no more guaranteed than those with me.
What do I need to supply for a website design / build?
The more preparation you can put into gathering your content, the easier the process will be. I prefer electronic copy (text), original photos (for us to control the scanning quality) or full sized jpegs from digital cameras and audio in wav or aiff format. Obviously I can accept many different types of files so you are not restricted to these. The higher the quality of the source file the better the end result.
I also ask that you take a look around the internet for sites you particularly like. Visual inspiration is often a much clearer way to convey ideas compared with verbal descriptions.
Do you host websites?
No. There are as many advantages as disadvantages when considering whether to opt for a design company that also host's sites. My preference is to use external hosting services to keep ownership of domain names and hosting accounts in your control. Naturally I can take care of all the technical aspects, however I feel it's important that you fully own your site. I also believe that companies which specialise in hosting services are best placed to offer this service. Please see my hosting page for details.
Is it wise to use Flash in my website?
There is no absolute answer to this question. Flash is a powerful tool to present very compelling content not only visually but also aurally. It's reputation has been tarnished through poor design - especially by those who have used fonts that are too small to read, or have designed sites that take an age to load with no progress bar. Accessibility is non-existent for some users and search engine optimisation is only starting to be implemented by Google with dubious results. However, it remains popular and if used well can have a very positive impact on some target audiences, especially a younger one. Just about everything can be done with Flash and the results can be a very engaging experience for the visitor.
So, the answer is yes and no. I advise on a case by case basis and have no bias either way.
Do I need a database on my website?
This depends entirely on what your site is for. Most sites don't require a database - if they do the technology is still relatively expensive to set up and maintain for bespoke designs. Databases don't always make life easier - often sites utilise them unnecessarily. Web design has broadly separated into two disciplines - Design and Development. I focus on Design, or static websites which still make up the majority of sites on the net. However, I have access to some of the best developers in the business whom I can thoroughly recommend for your project.
How do I update my website?
There are two ways to do this - either you can do it, using web design software, Content Management Software or by hand, or I can do it for you as a charged service.
Macromedia's Contribute 3 makes website updates simple for anyone without an understanding of HTML. For approximately £130.00 (per access license) Contribute is designed to work seamlessly with Macromedia Dreamweaver, the software I use to author your website. Do you have more than one website? No problem, you only need one version of Contribute to edit all of them. Most existing static websites can be maintained with Contribute without any adaptation, however I can supply new site designs specifically built to make use of Contribute's facilities. See my CMS (Content Management System) section for more details.
Full details about Macromedia Contribute3 can be found at Macromedia's website here.
Am I tied into JeliNet for ongoing maintenance?
No. I am happy to supply all your site's source design files on CD, or for download, once final payment has cleared. This, along with your ability to access your Server and Domain Name accounts, means you will never find yourself with an inaccessible site.
Can you help with Search Engine placement?
Yes. The key to success in this area is to plan ahead with respect to issues such as domain names and intended site technologies. More information is available in my search engine section.
Please take a moment to look through my Portfolio. My work is our best advertisement.
Do you have examples of your website designs?
All of my website designs are published in the Portfolio section.