Hello! Thanks for reaching out about the possibility of working with Profoundly Purple on your website, branding and/or business.
I’m Karissa Skirmont and I tame technology for entrepreneurs who are overwhelmed and tired of trying to figure it out by themselves. I’ve been in business for over 17 years (started in 2005 at the ripe age of 21) and love helping clients take the pain out of technology, control of their business and bring their vision to life!
Outlined below are all the basics about how I work. Please read through the entire page carefully to ensure that my processes work for you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
If everything looks good, the next steps are outlined at the end!
P.S. I only take on 2 websites a month to ensure a timely process and reasonably undivided attention. So when we talk, I’ll let you know my current availability or if you will be put on my wait schedule for the coming month(s).
Office Hours
I live in Omaha, Nebraska (Central Time zone) and work Monday-Friday but not any set times. It’s usually afternoons to evenings and late nights.
To be honest, I have a rare sleep disorder called “Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)” that makes it so I can’t fall asleep till early in the AM hours and sometimes it later and later each day around the clock. You can read about my experience on meetkarissa.com/sleep. So it’s not likely for us to be talking or to get a response from me in the morning unless I haven’t gone to bed yet. 🙂
I do my best to reply to all communication regarding active projects within three business days. If you have a simple urgent question, add {Urgent} in the subject so I know the priority.
During your project, we will primarily use email/Trello/Zoom to communicate. This helps us keep everything organized.
When it’s stuff that requires action, I prefer to have it as an email or Trello (with my username tagged) rather than text message and never Facebook, preferably in the same thread if we were already communicating about it. That way it’s better retrievable for reference, and the email acts as an action item.
If you’d like to chat via phone/Zoom, you can schedule an appointment here: https://profoundlypurple.com/client-area. This page is also linked in the drop-down menu under Contact. Scheduling calls keep my work from being interrupted and allow me to focus on your project!
If at any time either of us hasn’t replied in a timely manner via email (check junk folder), then the next contact points to try (in this order) are phone, text, Facebook messenger. Every once in a while, the stars align where there may be an issue stopping communication.
What’s Included
A gorgeous and functional custom website designed to sell your products and services. This website will be built using WordPress and the Genesis Framework which means you’ll be able to update it easily!
I’ll also include my recommended plugins to help backup and secure your site, as well as a few I’ve found that just makes updating your site easier.
Besides the tech stuff, we’ll also meet for a strategy session via Zoom, to nail down all your needs and get us both 100% on the same page. After the project begins, we’ll have meetings every week to review what’s been done so far, and where we’re going next.
This website design and development does not include any font, image, or premium plugin licenses, so if there are specific fonts, images, or plugins you want to use, let me know right away as you’ll need to purchase them before I begin work.
What I need from you:
Before we get started, depending on the scope of the project, I’ll need the following from you:
Inspiration board (If doing custom branding. If picking from a template, this is not needed.)
I need to see what inspires you! If we agree to work together, you’ll make a Pinterest board of images that match the aesthetic and feel you want for your website.
Login Information
I’ve created this sheet of what I initially need from you. It is not secure to send these via email, so I have a couple options.
- My preferred way is through a password keeper system.
I’ve been using RoboForm every day since 2007 and could not work without it. It has the option to securely send/share passwords. It is free for unlimited logins on a single device, or $19.95/year for all devices. I HIGHLY recommend it and my affiliate link is http://kki.co/roboform to sign up for either. Also if you use LastPass, I do have an account that I don’t use, so as a one time we can use that. - Or you can fill out the spreadsheet locally and paste the info into https://onetimesecret.com. Leave the “Passphrase” box empty otherwise, you will need to make sure to include what you typed, it in the email so I can open it.
Answers to some Questions (I promise it’s not a pop-quiz!)
I need to pick your brain! I’ll send you a questionnaire to get an in-depth look at your business, so I can strategically plan your site.
Content
To build your website properly, I’ll need your content before we begin. This includes text copy and any images you wish to use.
Starting with the content will let me focus the design around your content and highlight all the important aspects to funnel visitors where you want them to go.
Things to Note:
File Naming Convention
When there are files that we are going to go back and forth on
I use for instance “filename_v1.pdf” “filename_v2.pdf” etc. This way we are clear of which file is newest, as its always at the bottom.
With files that require dates, I use the Year/Month/Day format: “filename_2016-02-12.pdf”.
Trello:
Trello is a digital sticky note board… on steroids! If you don’t have an account already, go to https://trello.com/meetkarissa/recommend to setup your account. You will then need to share with me, your email you used with it.
Mailchimp
I highly recommend you use Mailchimp as your email marketing provider. Their free plan is up to 2,000 contacts and includes ‘automation’ which handles ‘lead magnet’ opt-in offers that are very important to have on your website. Go to http://kki.co/mailchimp to set up your account.
Under “Settings” > “Users”, you will need to “Invite a user”. Use karissa@profoundlypurple.com as the email address and select “Admin” as the user type.
Process and Timeline
Here is the standard process. The timeline may be more or less based on your unique situation and what we decide together.
Before Project Begins
- You – You make a down payment to get on the schedule
- You – You sign the Website Design agreement (Preview an un-customized version HERE)
- Us – We have a strategy session to determine the goals and features of your website
- US – We will look through the theme selection and choose one.
- You – You’ll choose one of the themes to use as a base and provide feedback
- You – You begin the homework I’ve assigned as well as gather all website content
- Me – I schedule your project and am available if you have questions
Week 1
- You – All content and homework due
- You – Login info for the domain, host, email marketing platform etc. due
- Me – Start outlining the site
- Me – I’ll install and customize the theme based on your feedback
- You – You’ll answer any questions I have as I tweak the theme and initial pages
Week 2
- Me – I’ll continue customizing the theme and developing the site
- You – You’ll answer any questions I have as I create the site
Week 3
- Me – I’ll send you the site for review
- You – You’ll review the site and provide feedback
- Me – I’ll tweak the site based on your feedback
- You – You’ll sign off on the site
Week 4
- You – You make final payment
- Me – I’ll launch the site on your server
- You – You’ll celebrate!
Payments
- 50% of the projected* project cost due before work begins and to secure your spot on my schedule.
- 25% remainder of the projected project cost due 30 days** after the initial payment.
- 25% remainder of the projected project cost due before the website launches and I transfer it to your hosting server.
- 100% of additional costs (fonts, images, licenses, and anything we’ve added to the project) due before website launch.
*Projected costs are simply that, projected. Your quote is based on the scope of work at the beginning of the project, as well as the timeline outlined and may only be in 2 parts. If you wish to add or change the scope of work, and if the timeline changes due to these changes or additions (or lack of response on your part), these costs will be billed as additional and must be paid before website launch.
** If the website project is ready to move to your server before this time, then it will be the remaining 50% instead of 25%.
Cancellations
Sometimes things just simply don’t go the way we expect them to. If at some point, either of us decides our working relationship is failing, then we can submit the desire to part ways in writing and payment for all work completed at that point will be due. For example, if the website is 75% complete, you will be billed for 75% of the total project cost, and 100% of any additional expenses must be reimbursed.
You will own any completed or partially completed files and may use them in any way you choose. I retain the right to use anything I created in my portfolio.
FAQ
How long will my website take?
It depends on a few factors: schedule openings, complexity, and your response time. Most website builds are scheduled to begin approximately one to two months after the first contact. This allows time for you to complete any text copy, take any new photos, and do the homework required for me to create your site.
The complexity of your website is another factor, while some sites can be completed in as little as a month, others (especially e-commerce or membership sites) can take as long as three to four months to fully plan and construct.
I’ll give you a better timeline quote during our strategy session. The final factor is your response time. During the project, you will need to respond as quickly as possible to my questions and provide feedback. Delays in your responses will result in a delay in the launch of the website and may increase the overall cost of the project. If you have any vacations or offline time planned during the time we’re supposed to be working on your website, please let me know before you sign the contract so I may alter the timeline accordingly.
How much will my website cost?
In general, a very basic website starts at $2,500 and go up in price based on a few factors: complexity, scope, and timeline. More complex sites cost more as there are more work and knowledge involved in building them. Complexity also applies to strategy—a design that looks simple for a site that has a complex sales funnel costs more than a site with no sales funnel. The scope of work also affects the overall price.
The price quoted at the beginning of the project may not be the final price as changes to the scope of work (adding, removing or changing features) may result in the final project cost changing. Finally, the timeline affects the price. The price quoted is based in part on the amount of time I believe the project will take to complete. Delays due to failure on your part to provide content or feedback will result in a “holding fee” for each week the project extends past the timeline. If you have a tight deadline, a “rush fee” may be charged to complete the project on time.
Wrap Up
Thanks for reading!
Please shoot me an email at karissa@profoundlypurple.com if you have any questions.
Everything looks good? Let’s schedule our introductory chat so I can create a personalized proposal.
Look forward to working with you!