Flat Rate Web Design Services

We will work with you to review and discover your needs. Based on the extent of requirements included in the final website design, we will offer you a few quotes to choose from.

Sample Fixed Price site:

• Site design +
• Content added +
• Contact +
• Bio/About +
• optional blog +
• in-site Search Engine Optimization +
• Google Analytics
• ~ Starting at $599 CAD

Priced By The Hour

This type of web design service tends to work best for small enhancements and customizations.  It can work equally well for phased roll-out of larger projects.

Get A Free Quote Today

Let us review your requirements and offer you a reasonable quote. Click here.

For more information on our flexible pricing read A Tale of Two Options.

SEO or search engine optimization

The major search engines, specifically Google, use complex algorithms to rank web pages. It is crucial to optimize your posts so that they show up in the first few pages of Google for a given keyword or key phrase.

While most outsider web developers aren't fully aware of all these ranking algorithms a few SEO tactics seem to provide better optimization than others. One such tactic is the structuring the web page address - the URL - around the main keyword for the post. Here's how:

Title of the post

Decide on the title of your post once you have completed the content. This way you can read it and identify what keywords or key phrases get repeated often enough. Several WordPress plugins allow you to analyze the keyword density of the post. For example this chapter is about setting up the URLs sot that they provide some level of search engine optimization. So I'm calling it: Post Categories, Permalinks, SEO.

Setting up the appropriate category

Now that you have chosen the title of the post you can decide what category it should belong to. In this case I am trying to explain how to set up the permalinks to achieve better SEO in the process to adding a new WordPress Post. So I have a category called WordPress and a subcategory called WordPress User Guide. So the final URL or permalink of my post looks like this: ../wordpress/wordpress-user-guide/post-categories-permalinks-seo/

What actually defines a web designer as the best of the breed is based on the individual client need. Some only require a simple site to provide information, others need elaborate interactive web sites. Some want to spend a few bucks, others appreciate the time spent on designing their web sites.

Toronto web designers are generally faced with a dilemma, despite the fact that they are skilled and they would have to spend days developing a web site, clients don't want to spend the money. In fact many Toronto web design clients want their web site to be developed for free.

To have a tight budget is a legitimate business need but to want something for free or to be willing to pay less than the minimum wage is arrogant and cheap.

Every job has a salary range. The lower end generally applies to junior, recent graduates with minimum experience, and the upper end of the salary spectrum covers seasoned professionals with many years of experience and a broad range of skill set.

What Should You Expect to Pay for A Toronto Web Designer

• Junior Toronto web designer or recent graduate: $35 - $45 per hour
• Mid-level Toronto web designer with 3 - 5 years experience: $45 - $70 per hour
• Senior Toronto web developers with more than 5 years of experience: $70 to $100+ per hour

In addition to their technical skills mid-level to senior developers bring a high degree of retail experience to the table. They also have a full understanding of User Experience standards.

Choose your Toronto web designer wisely. If you are looking for free or cheap, under-priced web development don't be surprised if your site never shows up in Google search or has very low conversion rate. As the saying goes 'You Get What You Pay For'.

Remember that WordPress started out as a blogging platform, and each Post is essentially a single article, whereas Pages are pieces of information that generally don't change much.

Let's compare Posts to Pages:

The efficiency of a web designer is generally defined by a few characteristics, none of which is bound by a geographical limitation. These make or break characteristics - regardless of whether the website designer is in Toronto or halfway across the globe - are:

1. The web designer's excellent command of the language - in our case - English
2. The web designer's expertise in the use of latest technology and tools
3. The web designer's willingness to learn and adapt
4. The web designer's capacity to imagine, visualize and translate
5. The web designer's ability to listen and hear and to comprehend requirements
6. The web designer's understanding of positive user experience
7. The web designer's full realization of the importance of prompt communication

I often come across ads or potential clients who are skeptical to work with a Toronto website designer merely because of the physical distance. However, after a short conversation with us, and a review of our previous work, they are generally hooked.

We are one of Toronto's most experienced web design crews. We adhere to all of the 7 principles of a good web designer and that means we are also one of Toronto's most competent website design crew.

Wherever you are, if you are here, odds are you are searching for professional and competent web designers. So get to know us and read about our expertise in our About page, or take a look at our full list of  Web Design Services.

If you are on a budget take a look at our Affordable Pay As You Go Website design plans.

If you're not sure where to start take a look at this questionnaire, and read our post about how to Identify Your Goals.

What users can see when they arrive at the Dashboard page is based on the limitations of their user access. For the purposes of gaining an in-depth understanding of WordPress we are assuming that the user has full Admin privileges; i.e. access is allowed to all areas.

Mouse over the images to zoom

Figure 2.1 - Dashboard Overview

The WordPress Dashboard is divided into a few sections:

WordPress Main Menu

• Main menu - is displayed on the left of the screen. The main menu itself is sectioned into the following parts:
  • Posts
  • Media
  • Links
  • Pages
  • Comments
  • Appearance
  • Plugins
  • Users
  • Tools
  • Settings

We will explore each of these sections in their own chapter.

Dashboard Main Content Area

• Main content area - by default several panels are loaded in this area. At the top right of the main content area you can see 'Screen Options'. You can expand this to select the panels you would like displayed in the Dashboard.

Figure 2.2 - Dashboard Screen Options

What you choose to display in this area is a matter of personal preference. I generally use the WordPress menu much more than the panels in the content area. And I don't like clutter, so my preference is to only display a few of the panels that may come-in handy. My personal choices are:

• Right Now
• Recent Comments
• QuickPress

If I am managing a content-heavy site such as a blog I may also add:

• Recent Drafts
• Incoming Links

Option 1 | Use An Existing Template | Affordable

To make an affordable option possible we chose a number of templates, and tweaked their design so that they can be easily adapted to small business, portfolio, personal blog or e-commerce websites.

Option 2 | Fully Customized Web Design | A La Carte

1. Business or Purpose Discovery
2. Wireframes + Review + Approval
3. Design Draft + Review Cycles
4. Final Design Approval
5. Development + Testing + User Acceptance
6. Final Approval + Launch

ONE. It will be completely tailored to your needs. TWO. At mindtripz.com we take pride in our fair and reasonable rates.

"We can make your site rank in the first page of Google." If anyone ever promises you that: Hide your money!

• Proper use of page titles
• Adequate use and density of keywords
• Relevant content
• Limited use of Flash

What is clean code?

Does it really make a difference?

• It adds quality, no matter how many people claim that it may not have an impact, a higher quality website will rank better.
• It is more manageable. Valuable websites are dynamic, and fresh.
• It is scalable. The major browsers, including I.E. are becoming more and more compliant and strict. Sooner or later code errors will poke their ugly heads out.

Secrets to a Great Web Design

1. Always use common sense
2. Always start with functionality
3. Always test usability

Good web design is based on common sense. I'm not trying to over-dramatize things here but the lack of common sense in some websites is just horrifying. Common sense is crucial and stems from clearly identifying the goals for the website.

I recommend writing a detailed description of what you want to achieve. Examples of questions you should be answering include:

• Do you want to create a brand?
• Is the website personal or for business?

Who is Your Target Demographic?

Once you have identified your demographic you can investigate their consumer behavior. Plan the functionality of your website around that behavior.

Make Your Website Functional

Clear and concise design will make your website more useful. Resist the temptation to have too many graphics, or very fancy navigation that confuses people. Ultimately you want your visitors to take certain action such as purchase an item, get in touch with you, or even click on an ad. The clearer your web design, the easier it will be for the visitors to find their way.

Test the Usability of Your Website

A professional web designer will test the usability of your website as part of the design and development process. However, if this is a DIY gig, be sure to engage friends and peers. Ask people to look at your design and provide feedback.

Whether you are new to web design or are thinking a re-design, simple and functional is the best approach. As long as visitors can identify the goal of your web site and can figure out how to use the site, you have a winning design.

Robyn Safarian is the Creative Director at mindtripz.com and an experienced web designer based in Toronto. If you're in doubt about your website's design, send her a question. Simply fill out and submit this contact form.