Monday, June 07, 2010

I can help you set up a blog or simple website

Yes, it's easy - very easy. But isn't everything easy once you know how? 

In fact it can look daunting. There are so many options: host locally, or globally? Use Blogger or WordPress? Windows or Unix? US or Aussie domain? A subdomain? What about support? How do I update it? First up I can provide an initial consultation and work with you to refine what you want - and what you really need. My standard $50/hour rate applies for such new consultations - but if you already know what you want - a simple, effective blog or website on a standard platform - then we can skip the deep analysis. 

So if you do want to set up a blog or simple website and just want some help, I can assist with setting it up at my standard rate of $50/hour (or less for repeat business). That's to say that I'll work with you on theme choice, overall design, navigation and basic "how-to" instruction, including FTP if needed. If you have monetisation already (Google AdSense for example) or want to set that up I'll help with that as well. I'll also cap this standard setup at $300 - if your single domain, single blog - using either WordPress or Blogger, with standard themes - or 5 page web site with a standard template theme (from my stock or yours), basic navigation and up to 5 images isn't up and running for that price then I'll keep working on it until it is - no extra charge. To do this and not go broke I have to add just 2 catches...

Catch number 1 - whilst I'll always give you plenty of options and choices they will be on platforms and using tools that I use regularly, already have access to or are freely available. (Which is to say that at this price I'm not going to buy extra hardware or additional software to meet your specific requirements - however I'm happy to quote on such extras!) My blogging platforms of choice are WordPress or Blogger and I have deep experience with both. For most purposes I recommend Blogger but for deeper customisation WordPress will usually give a better result. (It will also take more time to learn on your part, however.) Use either and it'll go smoothly.

Catch number 2 - for this one-off set up fee I don't provide hosting. But this is actually not a problem for most bloggers or simple web sites. You can get basic hosting free or at little cost; or you can source it yourself. If you accept basic hosting on Blogger or a free or near-free web host (WordPress also comes free in some cases) I'll help you with uploading and customisation how-to until the site works as intended. We decide together at the beginning what 'working as intended' means, so that's not a confusion later.

If you want more, including ongoing support, I can help at my ongoing $40/hour rate for regular customers. I also offer a hosting plan using US servers, or can help you with an Aussie based server if you wish - both at extra cost. I'll quote on your needs. I can also host your pages on my own shared virtual servers, using domains and sub-domains I own (but again I'll give you options).


And if you do want all of the bells and whistles - something outside of the ordinary, standard templates - again I'll listen to what you want to do and quote.

Still confused? Let's chat about it.

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