Custom
SQUARESPACE WEBSITE
for your
one of a kind
business

For online business with only a few items in a store, I use Squarespace, the most powerful drag and drop website building software for online businesses. Specifically, I use the newest version of Squarespace, which is 7.1.

In using this software, you'll be able to easily update all your content yourself after it's set up, which will not only save you money, but will also make you feel just as empowered as when you find the perfect pair of jeans.

For e-commerce stores with many items, I recommend Shopify, which will make it easier for you to integrate shipping and fulfillment.

Every custom web design project is different, and therefore doesn't have a set price.

However, the minimum budget to work together on any custom project is $5,000.

Before any prices are suggested, you'll meet with Ashley so you can share all the details of your project with her, as well as see how your personalities get along!

After the initial meeting, if Ashley decides your project is a good fit, she'll send you with proposal with 3 different pricing options, and you can choose the one that suits your project and budget the best.

Whether you choose to host your website on Squarespace or Shopify, there are costs to use the software.

You can pay for Squarespace on either an annual or monthly plan. You'll need a business plan or higher to be able to use certain features, which starts as low as $18 US per month. If you choose an annual plan, you'll be able to choose a new domain name for free for the first year.

Shopify starts at $29 US per month, and goes up with the more features you need. We'll decide together what plan and paid features will work best for your business.

Both Squarespace and Shopify take a certain percentage of any online sales, which we will discuss if you sell online items.

No matter what platform you use, you'll have to renew your domain name each year. You can generally renew your domain name for as little as $20 per year.

There may be other pieces of software that are recommended based on your business goals and needs. All software comes with an additional cost, but that will be discussed before anything is implemented.

After your project has been approved by Ashley, and you've been presented with your proposal, you can choose the price and scope option that best suits your business.

If you decide to work with Ashley, you can provide a 50% deposit to hold your dates (generally 6 to 8 weeks).

After the project has been completed and approved by you, you'll pay the remaining 50%. After it's been received, Ashley will connect your domain name to the new website (so it's live), transfer ownership, and give you a complete walkthrough.

If you need a different payment plan, just let Ashley know, and you can come up with an alternate option that works for both of you!

At this time, I'm booked within 2 weeks. That being said, you'll need to have your branding and professional photos ready to go, as well as the copywriting for all pages.

If you aren't hiring a professional copywriter, you'll be provided with some copy templates, which you are welcome to use or not! Your website will be completely custom, and the design will be inspired by the copy, so you're welcome to write in whatever style suits you and your business.

The project will last at least 6-8 weeks, depending on the details.

There are many moving parts in a custom web design project, which is why it'll take 6-8 weeks.

Before we start your project, you'll be invited to complete a discovery questionnaire, which will help Ashley design a strategic website to help you achieve your business goals.

In addition, Ashley will request your branding, professional photos and copy a minimum of one week before your scheduled design period. You'll be sent a secure hub to upload everything to.

Ashley will be giving you updates at the end of each week as to what was completed so that you're in the loop, and you'll be invited to provide feedback at certain times.

Here's an example of how the 6-week design period could look:

Week 1: Website Strategy

During this week, Ashley will assimilate all the information you gave her in the discovery questionnaire, along with your current brand assets and copy.

By the end of this week, she'll present a website strategy document for you to review, which includes:

• the brand mission

• target audience

• website approach

• sitemap

• website inspiration

• website direction

• website style boards

The style boards are mockups of key sections of your website so that you can start to get a feel of how it's going to look.

You will have a chance to do 2 rounds of feedback on your website strategy before moving onto the next step.

Week 2: Wireframes

After you've approved the website strategy, Ashley will move onto website wireframes.

A wireframe is a mockup of each page of your website, including all sections, photos, buttons, and features.

Once the homepage wireframe is completed, it will be sent to you for feedback. You'll be invited to completed 2 rounds of editing on your homepage.

After we've narrowed down the direction for the homepage, Ashley will design the wireframes for all the other required pages on your website.

You'll be sent all these page wireframes, and will receive 2 rounds of feedback and editing before they're finalized.

Week 3-5: Website Development

Now that your wireframes have been approved, it's time to build your actual website!

Ashley will provide you with updates at the end of each week (Friday), so that you can keep track of the progress.

During this time, Ashley will be busy building out the basic structure, as well as custom coding any special features that were brainstormed during the strategy and wireframe phases.

Ashley will ensure that all links, opt-in boxes, buttons, and any other features are working.

Week 6-8: Website Feedback and Hand Off

When all pages are completed, you'll be invited to view your finished website, check all operations are working correctly (links, buttons, opt-in boxes), and to give feedback.

You'll be allowed 2 rounds of feedback and editing, to do any final tweaks of your website before it goes live.

Once every page is approved, you'll complete the remaining payment, your website will be connected to its’ domain so it's live, and ownership will be transferred to you.

You'll have a live walkthrough of the backend with Ashley, and you can pop the bubbly and publicly launch your website!