Helping Hand
Helping Hand
If you need help at any stage of building your website, look no further. This is the formula most frequently chosen by customers - an ideal compromise between advice and design. My builders of choice are Squarespace and Hostinger, but I work with other platforms.
A little help goes a long way
Maybe you already have a website and would like to revamp it. Or perhaps you would like to build a new site from scratch. Did you lose or accidentally delete your website? I can assist or mentor you to whatever level you require.
Typical help includes modifying the code generated by online website builders for advanced design purposes, launching and promoting your website, integrating email accounts, social media, etc.
A browser interprets the code delivered to it by a web server and turns it into what we recognise as a website. The code is complicated, but it's unlikely that you'll need to learn more than a few basics to build a website. Web builders generate the code for you; some let you customise it to a greater or lesser extent.
Modifying the Code
HTML - the Building Blocks
The various elements of a web page (a text box, a title, a paragraph, an image, etc.) are assembled using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Online platforms, by their nature, allow only limited access to core code, but some make provision to add custom HTML blocks within pages.
I can add code to suit most requirements, for example, tables, accordion text boxes, tabulated menus.
CSS - Adding Style
The design of an element (position on page, size, colour, text etc.) is defined by CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). All online website builders have palettes which allow you to apply CSS without knowing the underlying code. Some of them also provide for the addition of custom code on top of the default options.
I always add my own CSS for hover effects, page alignment and spacing, etc.
JS - Animation and Extras
Many 'extras' (interactive content, online forms, etc.) are coded using JavaScript (JS). Most online platforms include built-in JS effects but few offer the option of modifying the underlying code. In any case, many of the effects traditionally provided with JS can also be achieved using CSS and/or JS libraries (e.g. jQuery).
Where JS is absolutely necessary, I can provide code snippets.
Once the design and content are ready, it’s time to publish your site. Most platforms give you clear instructions on how to do this, the various pricing plans, linking your domain name and adding email and social media. You’ll also be encouraged to gauge your site’s visibility and performance on Google and to ensure that it adheres to legal requirements.
Launch and Promotion
Pricing Plans
You will be offered a choice of pricing plans. Price will vary depending on the type of website you are putting up (e-commerce, interactive blog, ‘static’ site), the design freedom you require (custom code, ad removal), the add-ons you need (domain name, email) and whether you intend to pay monthly or annually.
I research the available options and accompany you through the launch process.
SEO - Being Discovered
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a series of practices designed to make a website more visible and to improve its ranking among search engines (usually Google). Most platforms include tools which handle a lot of the SEO and there are online tools which analyse your site and tell you how you are doing.
I can implement the SEO essentials, but it is also worth considering an SEO specialist for help.
GDPR and ePrivacy
Websites are subject to legislative provisions under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy Directive (EPD - known as the ‘cookie law’). Websites should contain a privacy policy, a cookie banner and opt-in consent for contact forms. All website builders will point you in the right direction.
I can help with the basic privacy requirements, but you may also wish to consult a legal expert.
I've helped many people with problems related to websites, domain names, email accounts and other technical issues. I have even retrieved and rebuilt websites which had been lost or accidentally deleted. It turns out that most things are possible in the digital world. Give me a try ... and I'll try to give you a helping hand.