The High-Tech Coach Philosophy
My goal is to provide quality, maintainable websites to small and mid-sized businesses and entrepreneurs (with a special focus on life coaches, counselors and other mental health practitioners, and private practices) using high-quality WordPress development frameworks and best-in-class plugins.
I keep costs down for my clients by using off-the-shelf website components where possible, and only using the highest quality third-party software. Also, I engage my clients in the design process early on to make sure the sites I develop meet my clients’ needs, and provide instruction to them to help them maintain their own sites. This includes access to a clients-only help area on this site, providing community answers via forums and tutorials to get site owners up to speed.
All my sites are done in WordPress, because it now powers 22% of all new websites created in the USA. WordPress is no longer a simple blogging platform … it’s evolved into a full-blown Content Management System (CMS) that’s ideal for most small to midsized business sites.
The High-Tech Coach Approach
We start the design process with identification of your unique requirements (this can be accomplished by filling out the Request For Quote form), then I’ll work with you to pick the best components to meet those needs. This will include stock images and photography, as well as any imagery you provide from other sources. Your site’s content will be made findable by performing keyword analysis using SEO tools like Scribe.
I’ll develop a design for your site, and propose it to you. This will include overall structure and general appearance of a site that will meet your requirements. Once we’ve agreed to this, I’ll move on to implementation (actually putting the site together).
I’ll develop your site on my testing server, where we can jointly review it using the live collaboration tool Twiddla. Once the site is complete, it will be moved to your live server using special backup and restore software that seamlessly handles the migration. I manage the whole design and implementation process with a project management tool called ProjectPier.
Because of my background in counseling and coaching, I understand the ethical issues involved with advertising services online, and am very familiar with HIPAA security requirements for websites. I’ll advise you on the best way to approach development and marketing of your online presence.
I also provide a number of resources to my clients via the Support page at no extra charge to them, now or ever. This will help those who want to take over some or all of their site’s design and content after project completion. You’ll have access to the Support resources as long as this site exists.
A Few Things I’d Like My Clients to Know
You’ll need to be involved in the design process … I’ll propose ideas to you, and you’ll need to review them in a timely fashion to keep the project on track. My expectation is that you’ll want some control over your content, and I’ll teach you how to do that.
I design for modern browsers; I will not guarantee performance or appearance on Internet Explorer 6, or any other obsolete browser.
I develop with WordPress only; if you have a site you want developed or modified in Adobe DreamWeaver or some other platform on Windows or Mac OS X, I’d be glad to suggest places where you might find help with your project. I no longer develop or maintain hand-coded sites. However, I’d be glad to give you a quote for replicating your existing site in WordPress.
Your initial quote will cover an agreed-upon set of features for your site. If these change in the course of a project, I’ll need to provide you with an estimate for any additional work. The good news is, we can develop an initial site that fits your budget, and add more features to it down the road as your site needs change.
What Else?
I can provide you with consulting on technical solutions for your practice or business, and help you select the right hardware and software for your requirements.
I’ve been researching and studying provision of counseling and coaching services online for a number of years, and can provide you with advice in this area, as well.
If you or your organization needs custom technical training or documentation developed, I have strong skills in the training and documentation specialties, too.
Send me a message via the Contact page, and I’ll be glad to discuss your specialized needs with you.