Let's clear up a few things first. This is not another template site. We know that when you choose a template site, you're going off of visual preference and not necessarily considering all the back-end strategy .. and that's okay because that's not your job, its ours!

We also know that when you choose a template site you're left to customize it to your brand and often get lost in all the fine details and maybe even realize you're in over your head call it quits (it happens) ... and that's okay, because we are not going to make you endure that. On the contrary, we're determined to set you up for success!

Our semi-custom sites are intentionally made with very specific service providers in mind, which allows us to create sites that are backed by strategy right off the hop! 🐰

We'll use this existing framework as a jumping point to customize it to your unique brand identity and with messaging specific to your unique audience.

02. How is a semi-custom site different than a template site? 

Client Feedback

Sign-off on visual layout application

Sign-off on copy

Apply Basic SEO + Formatting





Any Final Revisions or tweaks

Present Final Web Wireframe + Visual Layout Changes for Approval

Transfer Site ownership + connect URL

Launch graphics & any training necessary

03. What's the process like for a semi-custom site?

A thirty minute Warm Up Sesh (call)

Choose the functionality you require

Choose the layout that speaks to you, we  will then customize the colours/fonts to match your brand (between the 3 unique layouts available for this series) and book your start date

A brand questionnaire and copywriting prompt form will be sent and completed 1 week before our project start date

All brand assets must be sent 1 week before project start date




Collect all brand data and assets

Approve layout and theme (fonts/colours)

Create and approve how brand elements as translated to web (fonts, colours) etc.

Upload all Assets to the Site

Build and Apply Copy

Client Approval/Feedback EOW

Short answer, no. Here's why; the semi-custom site solution is ideal for young businesses looking to establish a solid and supportive online presence from day one.  We recognize that young businesses, while understanding the value of professional branding, may not always have the same kind of resources readily available as established brands to invest in a fully custom solution (we know because we've been there, and because we've encountered this with prospective clients in the past!) That's why we created this series, to support you in your growing years and to give you a solid foundation with all the basics to get you started.

But because our semi-custom site designs require that you come to the experience with basic branding already, we recognize that may be another gap that we are more than happy to fill for your young brand, allowing you to start off on the right foot with all the basics of a strong, visually cohesive brand at a price point that matches where you are in your journey.

04. Can I purchase Lite Branding on it's own outside of the semi-custom site package?

Wednesday:
You will receive 2 concept options with the opportunity to provide 1 round of feedback

Thursday:
You will be asked to provide any feedback by the EOD Thursday

Friday:
A revision period if necessary with revisions sent EOD, feedback required first thing Monday morning.

The following Monday EOD:
A wrapped and ready-to-go brand complete with guidelines and final files exported in all the appropriate formats.

05. What's the process like for lite branding?

To Start

Reserve your Lite Brand.
Book a start date.
Schedule a quick 30 min warm up call.
Complete a brand questionnaire 1 week before our project start date.
   
A Quick Overview of Project Week:

Monday:
I look over our questionnaire and start to gather inspiration and do competitor research 

Tuesday:
Concept Development Day

Of course! We welcome it! We do acknowledge that this is an additional expense to hire a brand photographer and we have a few we'd love to recommend to you. If you choose not to work with a brand photographer, we do recommend a few things to be done at least semi-professionally if you can (headshots, team shots, if you have office/clinical space you'd like to show) On-brand imagery and brand photography fosters a sense of trust and connection with your audience so we will always recommend using this type of imagery where you can but there are plenty of ways we can use a well curated stock imagery library to fill in the gaps.

06. Can I still hire a brand photographer for on-brand imagery even though we're doing a semi-custom experience?

These templates are built on Showit — a powerful drag and drop website builder that we've been using for almost of our studio's site designs. A ShowIt subscription is required to use our templates, which includes hosting for both your site and blog, use of the software to customize and manage your site, and tech support along the way. We love using ShowIt for its creative freedom and flexibility as well as it's live tech support chat team who are available to help you if any issues arise while you're making small updates to the site after our work together. A great perk in my opinion!

07.  what platform are these templates for?

Yes! All of our sites are created pre-optimized not only in their user flow but also with SEO in mind. We sprinkle in keywords as organically and as often as we can to ensure Google loves your site as much as we do, the website platform we use, ShowIt, has powerful, built-in SEO tools on the ready to help you rank. Maintaining excellent SEO requires more than just a one-time task however, in order be on Google's radar, it needs to know you're continuing to serve up useful information to your audience, that's why we highly recommend utilizing your blog. More on that here.

We even made a little freebie to help you determine whether or not your current site is working as hard as it could be. Check it out here!

08. Is this site going to be good for my SEO?