Frequently Asked Questions

We work with WIX and Squarespace, and costs vary depending on which you choose. These days, Wix is the most requested. However, I may suggest Squarespace if I feel it fits your needs better. When you look to outside designers to assist with a new website or refreshing an old one, it's important to know how much you're able and willing to spend, and then be honest with the designer about your budget. Websites don't have to be expensive, but you should be realistic about making sure what you want fits within your budget. The website investment can range from $350 - $1,000, up to prices well beyond $2,000-$3,000 depending on how advanced of a site you need. Investment prices and ranges are listed with the Classic and Advanced packages. Additional Rate Notes: Domains and hosting are not included. Domains are inexpensive and there are many registrars from which to choose, including GoDaddy, NameCheap, Register, Google, Wix, and more. Hosting prices vary depending on if your site platform. Hosting will have to be purchased prior to domain connection. Since we do not request or handle client credit card info, this is one step we cannot do for you, but we will provide steps and support. It's an easy process! Stock videos are charged at the rate at which we have to pay. We do not add an additional fee, but these are not included in the website quote unless you request video(s) before your quote is provided. We purchase the majority of stock images from Shutterstock and Deposit Photos. Up to three of these are included within any quoted price. Additional images are charged at the pass-through rate, which varies from stock site to stock site. Clients may provide all of their own images, but this does not decrease the quoted price. We will look over provided content for obvious errors, but website editing is charged at an hourly rate, outside of the quoted package. We do offer a discounts for certain registered non-profits with proof of non-profit status. Contact Us Today Why are our prices so low? This is a valid question because our pricing is low compared to many website designers. We put a lot of work and care into every website we create, and our prices won't always be this low. However, many of our clients are in creative professions where earnings fluctuate, or they are non-profits with limited budgets, or entreprenuers starting out. We want these small businesses and individuals to have someone they can turn to for help launching a new site or updating an existing one without breaking the budget or sacrificing quality. We haven't yet raised our prices because it hasn't been necessary. When we do, there won't be big increases. Our clients can always expect fair prices and the same quality and care we've always delivered. Please note that pricing is higher for non-Wix websites because Squarespace and Shopify do require more time.

We do not invoice a deposit up front unless there are multiple sites at one time from one client. How it works: Your start date is scheduled once an agreement is signed. All material (copy, images, etc.) have to be to us at least 48 hours prior to the start date or your start date will be pushed back. At the first review of the Home Page, 50% is invoiced. This is to ensure that you are happy with the direction the site is going. Once the invoice is paid, we continue with the rest of the site. Once the final project is approved and the site ready for launch, the remaining balance will be due before we transfer ownership. If the website is already on your account (common for redesigns), then a 50% deposit is required before work commences, 25% at the 3/4 mark, and the remaining 25% will be due upon final approval. Payment Plans We don't allow for payment plans as most projects are completed within a short amount of time. We do not allow for payments in advance of a project start date. Payment Methods Invoicing for Wix sites is done through Wix, which offers several payment options (credit card and digital wallet). Please note that we don't see the actual credit card information. We will never request your bank or credit card information. Offline payments in the form of a money order (U.S. only) is an option on a limited basis. If you prefer the offline payment option, please let us know at the time of your inquiry.

You will find timeframes listed under each package type. Ideally, a Classic Site will be completed within 7 business days, and an Advanced Site within three weeks of the start date. Completion dates for landing pages and one-page sites are planned to be completed within 7 business days. However, we never guarantee a completion date because it depends on your ability to turn around reviews and feedback. If you receive a draft of the site as scheduled, then take 2-3 weeks, or even a month or two, to provide feedback or any missing information, then the completion date will be pushed back. It's important to be sure that you do not commit to a start date unless you know you will be available (except, of course, emergencies). To be fair to all, we will never push one client's start date due to another client's delays. If you have multiple delays, or continuously take a week or more to respond to emails, then your project will either be cancelled or pushed back to the next available start date. The completetion dates for e-commerce sites are variable and determined based on the number of products that need to be added. Ideally these are completed within 4-6 weeks.

If they are minor, and only take a few minutes (one time), then yes, we will help by fixing the errors at no charge (10 minutes or less). However, if the errors due to any changes you make are extensive, and/or likely to take more than 15 minutes, we will invoice in advance based on the estimated time to fix the site. Before we publish a completed site, we will ask you if there are any final updates/changes/additions that you want to the site. It is very important that you are happy with the final site before you give your approval. If you approve the site, and then decide to make design changes on your own, any time we spend to fix the site will be invoiced. If your site is with Wix, and you are okay losing any changes you have made, then we can restore the site back to the version you approved. In most cases, this is done at no charge as the system offers this feature.

This response in two parts because, yes, website design packages come with some training based on the project, but not training for everything and not all live training. Training is entirely optional. We have on-going support options if you prefer not to make updates and changes yourself. VERY IMPORTANT: If you opt to do everything yourself after your site launches (excellent for you!), then you need to be comfortable with computers and learning some things on your own. Trainings cover limited updates and back-end management, but does not cover actual design (moving elements, adding new elements or features, adding pages, SEO, and more). ALL SITES: All Wix sites come with a pre-recorded video training based on a sample site. This covers changing/updating text, images, links, updating page SEO, and using the blog if applicable. Our client resource page provides how-to PDFs (Wix only) and links (Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace) to useful platform resources, should you want them. - Classic Site projects with Wix come with a pre-recorded video training. - Classic Site projects with Squarespace come with a 15-minute Zoom training and covers basic edits to text and images. - Advanced Site projects with Wix come with a pre-recorded video training, plus 25 min - 30 min training (30 max) depending on the complexity of the website. Zoom call training covers managing bookings and/or events if applicable, managing subscriptions if applicable, and adding/updating videos, if applicable. - Advanced Site projects with Squarespace come with a 25-minute Zoom training and covers basic edits to text and images, and updates to features such as blog and booking. We do not offer stand-alone website training at this time as our schedule does not allow for it. If you want to learn how to do more than what the basic trainings above offer, we can provide links to resources. However, if you have an advanced site, and are not computer savvy, then we recommend on-going support.

With the Classice Website package, we will have you complete a questionnaire, and then we take over and design the site based on your preferences. With the Advanced Website package, you have as much or as little say in the design as you want, though don't be surprised is we try to narrow the scope a bit, to prevent a chaotic design. Your website is your website, which means communication is key to understanding your vision. Your input is essential and a designer should be asking for your input. If you already have a logo or brand that you need the design to be worked around, then your designer should be able to do that. On the other hand, some people prefer to leave everything about the design up to the designer. Just be careful not to become a difficult client the designer doesn't want to work with. If it's not fun for the designer, chances are their best efforts aren't going into your website.

Good question, and it comes down to preference. There is nothing wrong with Wordpress, and many amazing websites are built with it. In fact, for some people, we may even recommend it. Because Wix and Squarespace are so user-friendly, I believe these are some of the best platform for host of industries. Hosting is built-in, there are a lot of free plug-ins, and it is easy for you to manage and update post-launch, should you so choose. Many of our clients had their websites migrated from WordPress to one of these platforms because they wanted a site they could update on their own without stress and hassle.

Yes, it will be mobile friendly. We create websites to look great across all devices from desktops to mobile devices. While it's the goal to have the website look exactly the same across every type of smartphone, there can be variations beyond the control of the web designer. Mobile views are condensed for a reason (easier scrolling on mobile screens), which means some of the design elements will appear differently. No, it will not necessarily look the same on all screens and in all web browsers, and no designer can guarantee this. Different web browsers have different code that may interpret your website differently. This is why you'll have some apps and companies tell you that their website is best viewed on ABC web browser as opposed to DEF web browser. Older monitors and computers may also show color variations from how the site is really designed. Individual user settings on monitors and computers (color settings, night light, etc.) may also impact how your site looks across certain screens.

Currently, we only update websites we have previously designed. It is often easier and more cost effective to start with a new website than to fix an existing site.

We work with a wide variety of industries, however, we are selective. Simply contact us with any questions. We do not design or work on wedding, engagement, or political-related websites. We also do not work on sites that feature, sell, or promote hate speech, violence, sexual activity/goods, or illegal activity.

We do not write website content due to insurance reasons, but we can connect you with talented copywrighters. We know what we're qualified to write and what we aren't, and we will let you know either way. We do look over content for punctuation and grammatical errors, but we are not professional editors. However, we work with professional editors, whose information we are able to provide to clients, if the client elects to have that service. They invoice clients directly, and their services are not included in any Potterton quote.

Not at this time. Keep in mind that app designs can range from somewhat affordable to extremely expensive depending on what you want.

Does Creative provide domain and hosting services? We do not. If a web designer says they offer this service, it's likely they are the middle person between you and the hosting company and charge you a markup for their trouble. We can help you purchase your domain and obtain hosting, but this is independent of the design project. You communicate directly with the company where you purchased the domain and you work with Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify directly on hosting. All three platforms offer great hosting options that are easy to understand and we can help you decide which one will best fit your website.

The short answer is: That's entirely up to you. The long answer is: Blogs are meant to be updated on a regular or semi-regular basis. If you can't devote some time to your blog (even just once a month), then you'll want to rethink having one. Blogs are a fantastic way to keep potential clients and customers informed about what's going on with your business. Some businesses find blogs useful while others don't, and that can depend on the nature of your business. Search engines like websites that are regularly updated, and if you're not refreshing content on the site itself, a blog can help keep your content fresh. Another great use for blogs is to use them for new item, sales, or special offer notifications only. This way you keep your site relevant for search engines while building a client email list. If a blog isn't for you, a news section or periodic newsletter sent out to customers and/or clients is a great alternative.

Initial consultations are done via phone. However, we are computer people, not phone people. We do not provide a direct number. Instead, clients are provided with a conference call number for the purpose of the initial consultation and other scheduled calls. Let us explain . . . Due to the nature of our creative and analytical work, work that requires a lot of focus, our phone ringers are usually turned off. We may also be on another phone consultation, and we don't think it's fair to any client for that limited time to be interrupted. Phone calls need to be scheduled, and we are available during the hours of 10:00 am and 11:30am MST, Monday - Thursday, unless special circumstances apply. We communicate primarily through email, so as not to disrupt the flow of our work. Less time spent on phone calls means being able to keep costs down for our clients. If you prefer regular communication via phone calls, then additional rates for time involved may be applied to your final invoice.

Yes, you need one. If nothing else, it's good practice to be up front with your website visitors and customers about how you do or don't track them and gather information on them. Do you have a blog or website that requires a login to comment? Do you collect emails for a newsletter or blog, or have an online store or mailing list? These any many other situations requires the need for a privacy policy on your website. Privacy policies are pretty standard for most websites, but we are not legal professionals and therefore do not guarantee or customize privacy policy. We will create a page for your privacy policy, and provide you with a general policy, but you will be 100% responsible for ensuring it meets your website/business needs. It's never too late, so if you don't have one now, consider putting one in place today.

This happens. Really, it's a part of business and not everyone is going to have a great working relationship. Difficult clients may find that web designers choose not to work with them or end a project because the client is unreasonable in demands or is not professional. On the other hand, a client may elect to stop working with a designer who is unprofessional and does not communicate. It could also be that the designer and client are not connecting on a creative level. If this happens, it's not ideal, especially if you're trying to finish a website, but it's all right. If we, as the designer, are unable to fulfill our obligations to the client, or if we feel the working relationship is not helping the client, then we let you know. If the client uses the site we've built, then there is no refund on work completed. If the client elects not to use the site, then any deposit already paid will be refunded. If the client gave approval for the website, even if they elect not to use it, no refund is given. If the website is for some reason already on the client's account, we will delete the website and notify the client that they may remove our access from their account. Once a site is transferred to a client's account, no refund is given. If the client provides approval of the site at any point, no refund is given. We want our clients to be happy with their websites and their experience working with Potterton.

We are not social media experts (completely different talent), but we'll answer this the best we can. We believe that whether or not to be on social media is a personal choice, and that is regardless if you're an individual or a small business. Many find value in it while others do not. Our own social media accounts are only periodically updated because that is not how we get new clients or communicate with existing ones, so it is not a priority. We'd rather be working on websites. We have seen successful businesses without social media and unsuccessful businesses with social media, and vice versa. Social media can help a business grow, but you should have a social media plan in place before you get started so it doesn't take away valuable time from doing what you enjoy most.

All the content for your website! At least three days prior (one week is best) before we begin work on your site, you'll need to have all the text, images, videos, etc ready to go. It sounds like a lot, and it can be, but don’t panic! We'll provide you with the steps, process, and an online folder to upload all of your content. If all you are providing is text, and we are sourcing images and video for you, then that is less you need to provide.

No. A lot of industries don't need them. Text logos work great, and there are a plethora of font options (some free, some paid). If you have a font you currently use that is considered part of your brand, we can use that font for your website, so long as you already own the file, it is free for such use, or can be purchased for such use. If you do want a basic logo, then that is an add-on service. If you want a fully customized or illustrated logo that can be tradmarked, then we can connect you with a great designer. Custom logos can range from somewhat affordable to expensive.

We schedule anywhere from 1-3 months in advance, so the simple answer is: on our next available start date. Mini and Classic sites, and some Blog designs can be fit into the schedule sooner than Advanced and E-Commerce sites. For debut authors, your website should be live 2-3 months before your first book is released so you have time to promote the site in your marketing material. As such, we recommend securing a start date as soon as you have a release date. For all other entrepreneurs and small businesses, your website should be live as soon as you need one. We may have last-minute project dates come available, and if one project has to be rescheduled, all other projects have the option of moving up, so please get in touch.

If you've looked around at our social accounts, you'll notice they don't get a lot of love. We're pretty busy just with websites, so this is not a service we currently offer.

Thankfully this is not a common question, but one that requires a response. We go out of our way to make sure each client is happy with their experience and their finished website, and we expect the same consideration and respect that we offer our clients. However, yes, there are circumstances under which we would end the working relationship with a client. If a client is difficult, demanding, inconsiderate of our time, and constantly changes their mind about what they want, or have unreasonable expectations (pay for a Classic site, but want Advanced features). Okay, that sounds harsh, and it has been our great pleasure not to have let a client go, but it doesn't mean the potential circumstances don't exist where we would.

We have had the pleasure of working with clients in various countries and across many time zones. However, due to scheduling difficulties with significant time differences, we are now only able to work with clients in the following time zones: Alaska time, Central time, Eastern time, Hawaii-Aleutian time, Mountain time, Pacific time, Atlantic Time, and Newfoundland Time.