I have used Marj’s services twice now and talked with her on several occasions. Marj is very knowledgeable on how to build a website and upload information or plug ins to your website. Her service is excellent and she is very fast and efficient. She truly is a delight to work with and knows how to “fix about anything” my website needs. Hooray! That is not my strength!

Get in touch with her if you have any needs for your website. She is certainly very capable and delighted to do the job for you!!! Her prices are very reasonable as well. She delivers plenty for the amount she charges.

If you are lucky, she might even sing for you! She has a beautiful voice!!!

Sincerely,
Hollye Clardy
http://naturalremedies4dogs.com

MLM-theWholeTruth.com

Also, of huge benefit to me, was the fact that Marj Speaks English (her 1st language), writes it well, and is available by phone in the U.S.

I certainly intend to work with her long-term.

Lou Abbott
Founder of MLM-theWholeTruth.com

      Web Designers are not mind readers.  During an initial interview, a developer may ask questions that make no sense to you but they are trying to scope the effort.  A good developer can advise you and make your concept better but they can’t make it up.  Put your ideas into writing so everyone is on the same page.  A website designer needs samples of sites that you’ve been attracted to or some sort of wireframe layout to start with.  Color choices matter so it helps to have some ideas about the colors that appeal to you, or a feeling you want the website to convey, so the designer can create a palette.

2)  Stick to the scope that you have defined
     
      Website development is a process and not an event.  When you ask a designer to create a graphic for your page banner, don’t expect them to re-work it infinitely at the same price.  If your website developer agrees to port content for you, don’t keep looking for more content and adding it to the list without expecting a push back.  If you’ve picked a template that has features you say you like, please don’t “change your mind” and ask the developer to re-engineer the website without offering them additional compensation for their time.

3)  Stick to your area of expertise

     You hired the developer because you didn’t have the technical expertise to do what you need to have done, right?  If you don’t understand why something is a certain way ask, by all means.  But phrase your question as a question and avoid words like “usually” or similar terms that have potential to set a confrontational stage.  If the developer has a rational explanation for the behavior on the site, appreciate the time they have taken to explain it to you. 

4)  Price negotiation
   
     Promising future work or referrals that you don’t plan to deliver so you can get a discount on your project is not ethical behavior.  Self-employed people rely on referral business or future projects and will sometimes bend their pricing rules for the opportunity to have that.  It is dishonest to say that you’ll deliver something you have no plans to deliver.  How would you feel if the developer took payment for work they did not do?

5)  The Past is Irrelevant

     If you feel you’ve been snookered by a developer in the past, don’t continue to remind your current developer about the money you have already spent when there is still development to complete.  The work left to do must be done and it is not the developer’s responsibility to ease your budgetary woes for bad decisions you’ve made in the past.  If you inform them that something is 90% complete and they let you know it is not, you need to believe them.   Also, don’t try to get them to fix a price before they understand what is left to do and expect to pay for the research time.  You don’t work for free, do you?  Why should a technical expert?

6)  Project Initiation

      When you inform a website developer you will be using their services on a project, be clear about when you want it to begin.  Freelancers may appear to have free time but they really don’t and they accept or reject projects that will inhibit the delivery of yours, or they may even hire staff to work on your project if they feel you have an agreement.  If you expect delivery by a certain date and delay the initiation of the project, don’t expect miracles.  They schedule their workload just like you schedule your meetings and they factor that workload in when they provide estimates and proposals.  If you delay the project, the delivery of your site will also be delayed and this is NOT the developer’s fault.

7)  And if the developer is a friend of yours

     Don’t continue to ask them “quick questions” that take hours from their working days.   If they give of their time freely and it affects commitments they have made to others, the least you can do is offer to buy them a Starbuck’s.  The best thing you can do is send them referrals!

You’re right, I think the effort upfront to identify and fix bugs has made this a really easy upgrade. You instructions for excluding pages were good, thanks.

I also wanted to compliment you on your code. It’s very well laid out, and extremely easy for me to read and work with. Thank you for doing such a good job on that! I’m really excited to have such a clean theme to start with. You made it easy for me to take care of some of the tiny design tweaks myself.

Vanessa Law
http://crossdresserheaven.com

Mamur looked me up on Skype and we had a 2 hour video conference to learn more about each other.  He decided then and there to hire me for his project, even though he knew he could find a less expensive developer in his own country or done the work himself.

Circumstances have changed for Mamur and he is re-thinking his business direction, as well as relocating.  We remain in touch through Twitter and I’m looking forward to the launch of his site.

But that’s only part of the story. There are a lot of website designers, but working with you has a distinct advantage for me. I know you have had a business exposure in sales. That’s important to me because you discuss business issues rather than just concentrating on a design. You ask for the information first and then build a website around that information. And because you have a knowledge of sales, you know what questions to ask.

I would say that is a very effective way to produce website results, rather than just a website design. I’m like a “one stop” kind of person. I had no idea you had so much extensive knowledge in website  maintenance. It’s the maintenance issue that becomes so important.

Your ability to use search engine optimization is crucial to have people visiting the web site. And the same holds true even more for the blog link you created on my site. Your methods definitely drive traffic to the site.

And with all our conversations, you have insisted I write valuable content for visitors. That’s a challenge for me because it forces me to ask questions that a typical person would ask when they begin a search. You have really increased my internet visibility. I would not hesitate, not even for a nanosecond, to recommend your talents to others.

Thank you,
Bernie Rubin, President
Sunset Home Inspection, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ

My idea worked in ways I couldn’t have imagined.  I applied the face lift less than a month ago.  Since finishing this project, I’ve acquired three new accounts.  I’ve also been experimenting with different ways to drive traffic to my content there with remarkable success.

If you’d like to know more about how to energize your online presence and drive traffic to your blog, I am available to help you.  Complete the Contact Form.  I will respond to your request within 24-hours.

Discount Talk Australia

Geoff Surtees
Sydney, Australia
http://discounttalk.com.au

Goal for the Green's Cafepress Storefront

Goal for the Green's Twitter Page

I’m lucky to have one of the best looking widgets on the web. I decided , I wanted to use “my ladybug” to brand myself and my blog.  I met Marj Wyatt in a Skype chatroom.  I viewed some of her work, and was very pleased with here keen eye, for knowing just what I wanted.
 
Marj created a CafePress store, customized my Twitter page, familiarized me with “squidoo”, to use as my advertising platform, and set me-up with my own you-tube channel!  Everything coordinated beautifully with my main site. 

I highly recommend Marj’s ability in both SEO, and as a “branding consultant”!

Barbara Rae
http://cafepress.com/goalforthegreen
http://twitter.com/goalforthegreen