New Websites & Web Projects
Need a website?
Let’s build the right one.
From a simple site that gets a business online to a larger WordPress site with custom content, forms, integrations and functionality—I’ll help figure out what you actually need before we start building it.
Not Every Website Needs to Be Big
Start with what the website needs to do.
Not every business needs a $20,000 website. And not every project should be squeezed into a five-page template. The right website depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, who needs to use it and what needs to happen after someone arrives.
Simple website
A focused site or landing page that clearly explains the business and gives visitors a way to act.
Could be WordPress, Carrd or another appropriate lightweight platform.
Business website
Multiple services, stronger content, lead generation, portfolio/work, forms, SEO foundations and room to grow.
Usually WordPress.
Custom website/project
Custom content structures, directories, member areas, integrations, e-commerce or functionality specific to the business.
Platform depends on the project.
Build
What can we build?
The platform and scope should follow what the project actually needs.
Business websites
Service companies, manufacturers, restaurants, professional services and organizations.
WordPress sites
Flexible sites your business can actually own and update.
Member / private sites
Resources, directories, dashboards or content for specific users.
Landing pages
Focused pages for campaigns, products, services or lead generation.
E-commerce
Products, payments and online selling when the business needs it.
Something unusual
Have an idea that doesn’t fit neatly into one of those boxes? That’s fine too.
Before I Start Building
First, we figure out what we’re actually making.
A website isn’t just pages and colors. Before building, we need to understand the business, the visitors and what the website needs to accomplish.
Who is it for?
Who needs this website and what are they looking for?
What should they do?
Call, contact, buy, visit, book, apply, download—or something else?
What should they understand?
What needs to be obvious when someone lands on the site?
What does the business need?
Easy updates, leads, integrations, products, private content, analytics, etc.
The Process
A clear path from idea to launch.
We make the important decisions before they become expensive changes.
1
— Define it
Goals, audience, requirements, pages, functionality and what success should look like.
2
— Organize it
Site structure, content, user journeys and what belongs where.
3
— Design it
Visual direction, typography, colors, layouts and reusable components.
4
— Build it
Responsive pages, WordPress/CMS setup, forms, functionality, integrations and testing.
5
— Launch it
Domain, hosting, analytics, final checks and getting the site live.
Build
What goes into your website
Everything needed to plan, create and launch the right site.
01
Foundation
Domain/DNS setup
Hosting
WordPress/CMS
SSL
Backups
02
Design & content
Responsive layouts
Reusable components
Typography, colors
Content formating
Image preparation
03
Functionality
Forms
Tracking
Analytics
Integrations
Custom content
04
Launch
Testing
Mobile checks
Redirect
Basic SEO setup
Deployment
Latest and Greatest
Read our latest blog articles
Learn the latest and greatest in WordPress site building. We’re offering tutorials, tips and tricks, and video walkthroughs on our blog.
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Farmers Markets Need Good Design Too
Farmers markets are not just a summer thing. In Chicago and many other cities, they happen throughout the year, from outdoor neighborhood markets in warm weather to indoor and holiday markets during the colder months. For vendors, that means constantly needing materials that are clear, attractive and easy to update as products, prices and seasonal…
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Building One Web Nerd with WordPress, Gutenberg and the basics
How I built One Web Nerd without overcomplicating it When I rebuilt my own website as One Web Nerd, I intentionally tried not to turn it into a technology experiment. I wanted the site to feel modern and custom, but I also wanted it to stay practical. That meant using WordPress, Gutenberg and a relatively…
Already Have a Website?
You may not need to start over.
If the foundation is still good, we may be able to improve what you already have.
Own Your Website
It’s your website.
Your domain. Your content. Your accounts. Your website. I can manage those things for you, but they shouldn’t become inaccessible because your developer disappeared or an agency controls the keys.
When the project is finished, you’ll know what you own, where it lives and how to access it.
Own your domain
Registered in an account you control.
Own your website
Built on an appropriate platform without unnecessary lock-in.
Own your content
Portable and accessible—not held hostage by a vendor.
Own your accounts
Hosting, analytics and important services set up with clear ownership.
Have Something in Mind?
Tell me what you want to build.
It can be a detailed brief, a rough idea, an old website you want to replace—or simply “I need a website and don’t know where to start.” We’ll figure out the next step from there.