Working with a Web Developer - Pros & “Cons”
Blogging has always been something I’ve done off and on as a hobby. I find something so relaxing about typing away on the computer in hopes to share something I’m passionate about with you all. Theres something so intimate about the words being typed behind the noise of the typing itself. Don’t mind me, just getting super sentimental over this new career of mine. Blogging and content creation have always been something that feels so natural to me!
One part of blogging that DOESN’T feel natural to me, AT ALL, is the web development side. In the past I’ve used ready to use platforms like Tumblr, Blogger and Wordpress.com (yes, there is a difference between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org… annoying, am I right? Wordpress is a NO for me!) to “simplify” blogging because I never wanted to be responsible for DIYing my own site or having to shell out a ton of money for someone else to do it!
At first, like a pro newbie, I used a website called Fiverr (I know… don’t at me!), which contracts out freelancers for whatever you need including web development. I chose a fairly cheap option and quite frankly, you get what you pay for. I was left with a site that wasn’t fast, user friendly and I had no clue how to work the back end! I didn’t even know how to POST A BLOG… *insert face palm emoji*!
After this awful experience, I knew I wanted to do it right with a custom website built by an actual web developer so I teamed up with Lyndsey Woods, an experienced web developer local to Indy, to bring my dreams for kaydaye.com to life!
HERE’S THE TEA!
Pros -
+ A fully custom site - Lyndsey uses code to completely customize your site making it unlike any other! The options are endless. In fact, when I thought something couldn’t be done, it could! This is so much more than a theme!
+ SEO Implementation - If your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is not set up correctly your site will be slow and fall to the back pages of google when searched. SEO’s can make or break a site. Lyndsey taught me the basics of SEO strategy and how to implement them!
+ Domain and Hosting Help - Retrieving your domain and choosing a host can be tricky as lots of the hosting companies throw in hidden fees and things that you don’t want! When working with Lyndsey she will help you find a hosting company that is right for your brand and walk you through snagging your domain!
+ User Testing - You want your site to be easy to navigate from a users point of view. Have you ever been frustrated in trying to use a website? Lyndsey will make certain that yours is user friendly!
+ The details - Lyndsey has an eye for detail. Anything from your favicon (the icon next to your url in the search bar, probably never caught that did ya?) down to the little message that appears after you submit your contact info!
+ Lyndsey will also help you learn how to integrate tools you need for your specific brand into your site while also fitting your style.
+ It will save you SO much time and energy, I promise!
“Cons” -
The only “con” I can think of would be that in some cases you can lose control of your website when working with the wrong web developer. What I mean is, you want to be given the opportunity to learn how to use your site after it’s done. Working with Lyndsey is different because she will coach you on how to navigate the back end of the site when it’s completed! She will also give you custom made tutorials on how to edit, add or change things. This is a huge bonus!
In most cases you don’t want to have to call your web developer every time you have a change or addition to the site. This can get expensive and you’re stuck with what you’ve got if you don’t have the money or knowledge to change it… Lyndsey understands that! She enjoys giving her clients the freedom to take control of their site but lets you know she is always there to help!
Lyndsey not only makes the process of launching your website less intimidating but also so easy and organized. Her expertise comes at a FAIR price in comparison to others I have seen! In this case, it’s almost like getting more than you paid for… a dream right?
The best part is that she really has a passion for connecting with the people she is working with. You’ll hear the term “WE” a lot because she truly becomes a part of your team! If you need a website built for your business, blog or store; send her a message, mention my name and you’ll get a discount on the perfect website!
