Carlson Web Design & Consulting is a NJ website design and development firm located Bergen County in the northeastern part of the state, just a few miles from New York City. We service regional businesses, but also have clients throughout the USA.
The majority of the projects we take on are completed individually by myself, owner and operator John Carlson, although I am fortunate to have a number of talented and trusted graphic designers, illustrators, copy writers and programmers with whom I sometimes collaborate.
Typically, however, I’m responsible for all of the graphic design, layout & information flow, coding, programming, CMS integration & customization and search engine optimization.
Where to get started: How I work
If a prospective client is considering engaging my services after the initial contact, I then employ a three step process:
- I schedule a consultation meeting with the client to discuss their goals, objectives, design preferences, etc. The purpose of this is to get a clear idea of the size and type of project that we’re looking at and the general scope of work. This initial consultation is typically about an hour long, and may be conducted face-to-face or over the phone. Ideally, all stakeholders involved in the project will be present in order to minimize back-and-forth and facilitate better communication between all involved parties.
- If the client and I think that we may want to work with each other, I’ll then write up a very detailed proposal outlining all the particulars and specifics of the project discussed during the initial consultation/meeting. This serves to clarify what we’ve talked about and narrow down and refine the scope of work. In this proposal I’ll also include my fee, exactly what I’ll be doing for the client and the time frame for delivering the finished product.
- If my proposal (scope of work as outlined, deadline for completion, fee) meets the client’s approval and they wish to hire me, then he/she/they must sign the agreement and return it to me before Carlson Web Design & Consulting begins working on the project. Generally, a deposit of 30% to 50% of the total fee is required, along with the signed agreement at the outset of the project. At this point the services of Carlson Web Design & Consulting have been engaged and the project will begin.
Listen, learn, then design
Before beginning a project I need to learn all I can about your company, your market, your competitors, and your design likes & dislikes. In other words, I do much more listening than talking at the outset of a project.
It’s only when I have clear understanding of your requirements and preferences that can I start I’ll begin the design and development process:
- Typically, one to three initial design & layout compositions are presented. These comps are simply static images that are created in Photoshop and no actual coding or site functionality is added at this point.
- Based on the client’s feedback, another one or two rounds of revisions are made and then the final design is created. The number of designs presented and rounds of revisions are dependent on the client’s budget, but this is always spelled out clearly in the contract.
- The static Photoshop design is “sliced” and the code architecture is created using, primarily, XHMTL and CSS, and often JQuery or JavaScript as well. I sometimes use Adobe Flash animations, although infrequently because it is not a search-friendly technology.
- A database is set up and WordPress is integrated to serve as the back-end content management system to facilitate easy site updates.
- The site is tested against all major, modern web browsers to ensure that it renders correctly and consistently.
- The website is reviewed by the client, and any final adjustments to the design and functionality are made.
- Search engine optimization is completed to ensure maximum search visibility; your website is then submitted to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and all other major engines and directories.
Thorough, comprehensive, professional Web design
Carlson Web Design & Consulting offers a level of service and attention to detail that you simply won’t get with most other web design companies and freelancers. The sites I create are attractive, perform well, and thoroughly tested on numerous browsers and operating systems.
The expertise I’ve gained through many years of hands-on experience, ongoing education and commitment to excellence is passed on to every project I undertake for my clients. I do this because I care intensely about the quality of my work, and I truly, honestly believe that an outstanding website is absolutely crucial to the success of your business.
Call today to see how I can help your company get the most from the Web!