Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
I. Am. Appalled.
Being a blog designer myself, I’ve got to say I’ve been truly disgusted by my fellow [mom] blog designers due to the “save-my-blog” cases I’ve taken over the past few months.
Before you hire a blog designer, here’s a few questions I want you to ask your designer.
If the designer is offering to move your blog from free hosting to self hosting…
1. Do you have experience moving blogs? Do you have references I can check with?
Designers aren’t necessarily technical. Many will offer the service and think following an old ebook on how to move a blog from blogger to wordpress will get them through it. The fact is, every move is different and I’ve read through the most well known guide and it’s outdated.
My Teens’ Blog
2. My blog has x00 posts, have you moved a blog of that size?
I’ve had clients who’s designer “couldn’t move all of their posts because their blogs are too big”.
That’s bullshit. It can be done. Luckily my clients still have access to their Blogger blog and we’ve been able to pull all the posts with comments in – with some changes made to the host’s server.
3. Where will my pictures live?
Leaving your photos on Blogger and hotlinking to it from your new blog is no longer acceptable. There are ways to import those photos that were uploaded to Blogger.
If the designer is offering hosting…
4. Will I have cPanel access to my hosting?
You need this.
I have a client who’s designer told her she didn’t need it. That everything she needed doing could be done from within WordPress.
First, let me explain what a cPanel is. It’s an administration area for your hosting. Different services have slightly different cPanel areas but they all offer these basic options which are very important to your blog:
File Manager: Place files on your server for download, manually install themes and plugins, etc.
Back and Restore: download copies of your home directory and database to use in the event u lose your blog and you need to restore it.
phpMyAdmin: database optimization. ( a recent client had 100k spam comments on her blog because her designer suggested akismet and while she was on hiatus akismet performed as usual – it sucked. The site was so bogged down it couldn’t run, we couldn’t get a page to laod to delete comments either, so we used phpMyAdmin and wiped out all the comments. She lost her comments but saved 2 years worth of posts and pictures. and by the way, her designer who was also her host told her that her site couldn’t load because she had too many pictures. really? really? this is one of the many reasons I’m appalled.)
Why not just use WordPress plugins? Hmmph. There ARE lots of freebie plugins that you can use. I have a problem with relying on a freebie plugin to maintain my site. Why? Developers have lives. And if they’re not getting paid for the plugin, why rush to update it? Heck, I recently had a paid plugin fail me because the developer did not update the plugin for WP 3.5. Guess what happened. I had to manually add 40 videos back into the WordPress Training Library.
Also? It will save on your load time if you didn’t have these extra plugins installed.
5. How big is my hosting package?
Now this blog is 2 years old here’s the size of it at the moment:
and 715 photos.
It takes up 2GB.
Your designer could be a hosting reseller as I am. This means she has a cap on how much space she can give you. I charge $4/month, paid monthly or every 6 months, for 3GB of space. If you designer is charging anymore than you might as well go with Bluehost or Hostgator <-affiliate links. They will charge a bit more, payable by the year, but your package will offer unlimited space.
I have a client that I moved over the summer. Her designer charged her $78 for one year of hosting and she only had 500MB of space (that’s half of a GB). When she ran out of space, the designer offered to increase her package size at a higher rate.
Being a hosting reseller is NOT big bucks in the bank. At least it shouldn’t be. It really should be a way to increase the value of your design package. To be a one stop shop for clients. But you can only be such if you know what you’re doing.
When it comes to the actual design service…
6. Will you be installing and configuring the theme?
There’s a mom blog designer out there who is building the design on her computer, having the mom blogger to approve via emailed screenshots and once the design is paid for, she emails the blogger the theme all zipped up. When these bloggers install the theme, they are left spending hours trying to match the design in the screenshots or paying her more to configure the theme so it will match. The designer is only charging $59 for the themes and then $200 to install and configure. I understand charging $259 for a blog design, I don’t understand surprising clients like that.
7. Will we be using a framework and who pays for it?
Genesis Framework by StudioPress and Headway
These are awesome frameworks. Especially Genesis. If your designer is going to build using one of these, that’s awesome. BUT, BUY THE FRAMEWORK AND CHILD THEME YOURSELF! Own your design! Why? Because if you and your designer have a falling out, you’re out of a design and unless you’re paying her an ongoing rate for support, you’re shit-out-of-luck baby. If you don’t own the framework, you have no access to the support offered by the vendor.
Do your designer a kindness and use her affiliate link, it doesn’t change the cost to you, but own your design.
I recently moved a client to Bluehost because she needed more space. The designer said she was free to go but would have to get her own theme. Really? Really? Sheesh.
8. Will you be providing me with a copy of the artwork in editable format and a copy of the theme?
It’s your design, you’ve paid hundreds to have it built, it’s only fair that you have the finished product. It may not be assemble, because most designed are only assembled after everything is uploaded to WordPress, but you’ll have all the elements you paid for and it’s less expensive to pay someone to put it back together than it is for a whole new design.
And those are all the questions I can think of based on all the save-my-blog projects I’ve done recently.
Is there any question you suggest fellow momma bloggers ask based on your experience with a designer?
or
Are you a mommy blog designer who objects to anything I’ve suggested and would like to share your take on it?
Please share in the comments section.
Be sure to ask your designer if she plans to become pregnant while working on your design!
Emily recently posted..for bloggers – register for the February Content Brew course!
:-O ummm haha ummm how about…Do you foresee my blog design taking 9 months to finish?
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
That is a great question to ask! I think getting a concrete timeline of when certain components will be ready for approval is important.
Emily recently posted..Link Up Your Handmade Projects at Whip It Up Wednesday
A website *designer* is as good at maintaining a blog as a perl programmer. An a perl programmer does not know one thing about designing a blog.
People should keep themselves to their expertise.
Maybe this attitute of people is the reason for the zillions of seo-experts, social media moguls and McGyver wannabees that tell you they can fix your online presence using a toothpick and two cotton balls.
JanBierens recently posted..Sex sells, does it really?
errr, Mr. Bierens, I have regular clients who’ve hired me as their web designer, webmaster and search engine marketer. i refer to them as “regular” because some come back with new projects and some keep me on retainer.
Of course I have expertise in all 3, but that’s not the point. It’s great to expand your knowledge and expertise, it’s even good to offer services that you plan to outsource, what sucks is offering a service and not having a qualified person to fulfill the requirements of said service.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Why Google Plus is Better For This Blogger
I think designers should also be upfront about follow ups. After the design has been installed, is there a period (like 1-week post-installation), where the customer can ask questions without the blog designer charging for their time? For example, there’s an update alert for the theme, should I go ahead? I know it’s silly, but most bloggers are really not savvy with all the backend stuff.
I also think blog designers should be willing to charge minimum for minor stuff post-installation. For example, if I want to add a social media icon further down the line, do I really have to pay $50, if I’ve already spent $350 on my design?
Great post, Vanita!
Alison recently posted..Catching The Sunlight
$50? You made me choke on my coffee. that’s insane. i mean, bad of me to pre-judge. i’d have to see how flashy the icons are before i can honestly say if you’re getting ripped off.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Why Google Plus is Better For This Blogger
Well, I don’t know if it costs that much, but if it did, it wouldn’t surprise me. I haven’t asked for a new icon, but I know of others’ experience where they had to pay more if they wanted something small down the line.
Alison recently posted..Catching The Sunlight
i won’t lie, it takes some time to dig through archives and retrieve old projects and then get all setup to work on a new piece for the project, but you’ve got to think about your target audience too. mom bloggers are not small businesses. they’re entrepreneurs and their budgets are tight, $50 is just not acceptable for that. unless the icon does somersaults across the screen or serves coffee when u click on it.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
Vanita, thanks for getting the word out about blog designers who really don’t have the technical background to move a blog. Thanks to you, Mommies In Orbit is now functioning great! Thanks again for all of your help. You know I’ll be back!
Karen Hug-Nagy recently posted..Boomerang Kids!
Karen it’s always a pleasure working with you girl and i’m just happy to see that awesome blog running so smoothly.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Why Google Plus is Better For This Blogger
As a fellow blog/site designer, I agree. These are excellent questions. I have come across so many blogs where people were given incorrect information, told to install numerous plugins to “make things work” or “fix something” instead of taking care of the real issue or addressing things properly. It’s refreshing to come across someone as passionate as I am about how awful it is. Love the post!
well hello girlfriend! it’s great to meet you.
it always ticks me off to find a mom blogger taken advantage of – majority of mom bloggers run their blogs on a very tight budget.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
Good points! The c panel access is really important when you self host. I totally agree.
PragmaticMom recently posted..Newbery Medal Winners Announced Soon!
yep. you need control of what’s yours. and if you don’t know how to use it that’s fine. once u have access to it you can hire someone else to care for it, right? i have a client who can not even export her posts using Tools > Export (basic WP feature) because her host says it conflicts with their severs’ security. such BS.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
Like a breathe of fresh AIR… Vanita you rock – this should be posted EVERYWHERE!!
awwww thank u girlfriend, i truly appreciate your kind words
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
Excellent post! I don’t understand surprising clients like that. And even I know some of these things well I know they can be done but not how to do them. Which is why I hired you lol. And I should be able to start working again finally tomorrow. I’ve been having withdrawals.
Amanda Jillian recently posted..Tips for Group Portraits
yay! i’m available to work with you after the webinar girl! just let me know what u need.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
I will definitely let you know. Once the stomach plague leaves again. Woke up to it this morning. But hey my new (to me) MacBook is here!
Amanda Jillian recently posted..Tips for Group Portraits
I have to say I think you covered all the basis. You should tell people you are available if need be and that you should “watch out” for designers who claim to have enough space on their server to accommodate you but when they don’t you get locked out and have to buy more space or move your entire blog. Some people aren’t upfront and honest like you.
Laura recently posted..My Top 10 Pondering Questions – Task Thursday
hahaha. i wish i could favorite this and make it sticky!
thanks girlfriend.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
Thank you Vanita, for this timely post! I’m working on a new site and all these information is definitely helpful! Just a question, if I have my own hosting, is it critical that I buy the theme (it’s Genesis by the way)? Thanks!
Ruth recently posted..My Son Turned 3!
Hey Ruth, Genesis is a great framework. You’ll want to buy the Genesis Framework for sure. As for the child theme, if your designer will be working from a paid theme, I say buy the theme yourself. However, keep in mind there are lots of free Genesis Child Themes across the web (though I haven’t found one yet that’s as stylish and functional as the premium ones) and your designer may work from that. Or he/she may create a child theme from scratch. Most importantly, buy the framework as it comes with access to the support forums and you’ll avoid issues if you decide to move to new hosting.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Before You Hire That Blog Designer…
Thank you, Vanita! I’ll go buy the Genesis Framework!
Ruth recently posted..My Son Turned 3!
Vanita,
if I had the money, I’d hire you IMMEDIATELY!
Cause You ROCkkkk the Blog.
xxxx
awww thanks girl hugs to you!
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Shed Negativity From Your Life (And Your Blog)
This is a must read for everyone before they hire a blog designer. That extra $50 info from Alison literally made my jaw dropped to the floor. I have never hire a professional blog designer but this is very handy and like I said, a must read.
Maureen recently posted..Not A New Year’s Resolution
haha that’s what i said! good to see u sis
Vanita Cyril recently posted..Shed Negativity From Your Life (And Your Blog)
Hi there Vanita.. first of all I wanna thank you for this wonderful tips! I am awestruck because honestly, I just realized how LIMITED my knowledge is in terms of all this technicalities in blogging. alright, I am using a self-hosted blog from 3ix that a friend suggested before. Even if I have been using this for a year now, I am still a little off track in terms of optimizing each and every applications that comes with it. I have little idea what are those for. I feel bad in a way because I just know the basics and I mostly rely on wordpress apps.. I am so behind and outdated. sigh!
I love this post! And thank you for your honesty, as always. I understand that many moms do want to earn a living by offering design services, but it’s unfortunate that so many do so without knowing much of what they’re doing. Thanks for this!! I had to share on Twitter because I think we all need to know this!
p.s. How do you like Feedblitz over Feedburner? I’m thinking of making the change but wanted to hear from you first!
Jessica recently posted..Short Little Bits
girl i have not tried feedblitz, but reach out to @artchoowit as i believe she made the switch. sorry for the late reply. had oral surgery last week. recovering now.
Vanita Cyril recently posted..My Heart Hurts For You