FAQ

The Importants of SEO

Squarespace websites are loved by search engines. They include clean article links, proper tagging, XML sitemaps, and valid XHTML code. All major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo have primary search results, where web pages and other content such as videos or local listings are shown and ranked based on what the search engine considers most relevant to users. Payment isn’t involved, as it is with paid search ads. For more basic but also in-depth advice, read Periodic Table Of SEO Success Factors, it introduces you to all the key concepts you need to know, you can download a copy to print for easy reference! Browse the SEO Channel for the most recent SEO news stories and expert columns.

The Importants of ROI

ROI stands for Return On Investment. This is very important when you are making an investment whether it is in terms of training, capital or equipment. You will always require an ROI when you are investing in something. In fact it is through a good ROI that people claim they have been successful. This allows you to determine whether your advertising or marketing campaigns are booming. The whole idea behind this is to get a higher return than what you have invested. The main thing why an ROI is very important is that it is versatile and is a simple measure which anyone can use. The truth is that if a person does not employ an ROI tracking system chances are that they might not get the profit as was expected. 

The online marketing is an ever growing industry. Many advertisers are using search engines to promote their businesses. Tracking the ROI of an advertising campaign is a wise idea that you should follow. This will help you to identify which campaign has been successful and which ones have not. You can then cease the ones which are performing poorly. When you analyse frequently it will help you to find weak points in the advertising campaign and the websites. ROI tracking will help you to evaluate site visitors so that you can convert the mere visits and hits into Conversion Optimization. Having plenty of information and statistics about your ROI becomes a simple and efficient way to review marketing strategies and tactics.

The Footnote Debate 

Whether or not web designers should place a link to their portfolio in the footer of your website. 

This may seem like a silly thing for people to get worked up about. If you’re a designer, you probably have a firm opinion on this topic already – what’s left to debate? Personally, I find it interesting to see what a client does after work has been completed and files are released or a website is launched. The reasons behind those decisions make most designers feel uneasy. More discussion and conversation around the matter should be brought up. We are all in business to make money, be recognized for our talents and hard work. Why would you not want your designer to gain credit? Most of my clients find my portfolio by the convenient footer on a site so it's imperative to provide this link and it's important for it to remain an active link.

Pros of Placing a Footer Link on Client Sites

Visibility and SEO

Word of mouth is a great referral source for any designer. If someone likes the work on a client site, it’s easy for them to click through the footer link to take a look at what you have to offer. SEO, it’s the least a client can do. Surely a tiny footer link isn’t too much to ask!

Cons of Placing a Footer Link on Client Sites

Reputation Management

This is a designers debate, what happens if you complete a great design and someone else (the client or a new designer) dismantles the site later? Do we really want our link associated with a site that looks bad? Case in point. We both have a risk and if you understand SEO and how Google Web Crawl works you would want your link on your designers portfolio and they in return should keep the footer link on their site, no further debate. Everybody wins!

DESIGNER TIPS

If you have never worked with a designer or if you have had a poor experience with a designer these are important tips that Aundrea would like you to know.

Reliable
You can call on her and she will do her best to assist your needs as soon as she is able.

Fast
You ask for something that is simple (like a text change or a color change) and she can fit it into her work load it will get completed and back to you within 24 hours.

Revolutionary (always forecasting the bigger picture)
Where will your company will be in ten years? Immediate fixes are never a good solution for longterm business. Timeless solutions lend themselves much more opportunity. If you wish for your brand to succeed let's design and produce it right the first time.

Let's face it...

You are in the market to hire a designer to solve a problem. The design you currently have is undervalued or you have a new brand and have realized you just can't get there on your own. Designers are here to guide you. Your brand and your company depends on this guidance. It depends on someone who has been around the block, someone who is familiar with design and knows what will work and attract your specific target audience. Designers are hired to listen, learn and provide ideas quickly by visually accomplishing problems and reaching your specific goals. Aundrea has a bachelor's degree in graphic design and is classically trained in typography, branding, visual merchandising, marketing, display, web design, and much more. She has worked within high-volume design firms, she has worked within fast paced fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, developers, architects, real estate agents, retail markets, advertising and online social media environments.

You are in good hands.

DO
Your research. By using free apps and creative outlets like Pinterest and Google search engines you can easily provide your designer with inspiration. Take screenshots of designs that you have seen that inspire you and the project.

DON'T
Stump the design by unnecessary limitations. You never know, sometimes seeing new designs can bring the job to a whole new level. If you limit your experience by specific fonts, colors, and imagery sometimes you will also find that the end result is not as good as it could have been. Express your ideas but also be open to new ones. Allow the designer to show you at least one or two designs with no limitations, you'll be glad you did.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

In this day and age people are very used to communication via email and text. It's fast. Know that designers have different ways of communication. To make sure you both understand one another schedule telephone meetings and if at all possible schedule in person meetings, especially when reviewing final designs. Know that if you like a design but the texture, color or font is a little off it all can be revised to meet your needs. Let the designer know.

Changes always happen, changes are good!!! Know that we are working within your budget and a contractual addendum might be required if the changes become too frequent, this is also very normal. Trust that you are working with a professional, someone who is trained. Please feel free to ask many questions. Please feel free to communicate good or bad reviews and please provide professional critiques. Always know that most designers have heard it all so your honesty is the best policy.

File Release, Amendment Agreements, and © Copyright Law

If you wish to have possession of final files please be prepared to sign a non-amendment agreement. {on-dree-ah} graphic design has full rights and ownership of all designs even after this amendment agreement is signed. This means even if {on-dree-ah} graphic design has released logos, style-guides, final PDF artwork they are the property of {on-dree-ah} graphic design. You as the client must never change the design or logo after it has been released. That goes for specific colors, fonts or additional items like text, imagery or icons. The design may be produced as it was originally released. If you need different versions, colors or changes to the original files you need to contact Aundrea and agree to a new design prior to the release fees may be included in this request. The last thing you want to do as a client is breach an amendment agreement as then you will be contacted by the designers attorneys and this involvement also means legal settlements are requested.

Aundrea never wants to go this route but for some reason clients feel they have full rights to the design just because they paid for the design time. This is not true unless the design was created inside a design firm and the rights belong to the firm of employment. When you hire Aundrea you are hiring a private freelance designer and all ownership and rights belong to {on-dree-ah} graphic, before & after amendment agreements are signed. 

© COPYRIGHT LAW

Typically the creator of the design owns any rights in it, except where the work was commissioned or created during the course of employment, in which case the rights belong to the employer or party that commissioned the work.