Installing iThemes Security is a part of every WordPress website installation I set up. Below are some of the things I do.  (I set up the plugin for free and put into practice many security practices, but it costs extra for me to do your updates, keep backups, and recover your website if hacked).  See my packages page.

There’s Always a Risk. Your website can never be 100% secure. Hackers are always trying new things and discovering new vulnerabilities to exploit. The online world changes quickly and the same is true of security. Good security is about minimizing risk. You’ll never be completely safe, but there’s a lot you can do to minimize your risk.

Three Important Things

• Protect Your Website
• Detection.  This enables you to see if a hacker found a weak spot and broke into your website.
• Backup and Recovery

The security plugin I use does all of these things.

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There are some basic questions you need to consider in planning your new website.  These will help you think about what you need and communicate it to me.

Why?

Why do you want a website?  This should be a short and concise answer.  What do you want to happen when people come to your site?  What results are you looking for?  it can be a website for informational purposes or an interactive website that will capture information and/or sales.

Who?

Who will be coming to your website?  Who is your target audience?   What are they like?  What do they do?  How can you help them?  Your target audience isn’t everyone.  What is the approximate age group of those you are hoping to reach?

What?

This isn’t just what content or what subjects you website will cover but what formats will be best to communicate them.  What methods are we  going to use to communicate the information we  want to convey.  What topics will be covered in the website?  You will need to come up with the content that will go on the pages.  I can give ideas as to what pages you might want, but I don’t know enough about your business to write the content.

Where?

Where are people going to find your business?  If you can get a matching domain name to your business name, that is best.  If you already have a business name, we’ll need to find something close.  Give some thought to where people can find your domain name.   It should be as short as possible, easy to remember and easy to spell.

When?

When are you going to update your content and how often are you going to update your content?  You need to update at least once a month even on a small business website.  Website content needs to be fresh.  And who will be updating the website, you or a web designer.

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These are the steps I go through in designing a new website:

1. We meet together to discuss your needs, either through phone, email or in person. There is no cost for this. We’ll talk about the function of your website as well as the look you want for your website.  We’ll look at some of your competition’s websites to get ideas of what could be on your website and what it could look like.
2. If you don’t have a domain name or hosting company, I can help you find one.  If you do have a domain name and/or hosting company, I will need the passwords to access it.
3. It is helpful to have copies of your logo, your colors, business card, your stationery, etc., if you have them.  I can help you design a logo for an extra charge.
4. It is also helpful if you have looked at the sites you like and don’t like and provide me links.
5. I’ll need to know the various pages (menu items) that you will want . I can help you determine this if you need me to.
6. After we have discussed the above items, I will give you a quote.
7. I will send you a contract expressing what we have discussed in person. After receiving your signed contract, I will mock up 2-3 designs based on what we have discussed.
8. If you want a WordPress website (which you can maintain yourself), you have a choice of using a pre-done theme to reduce the cost, or I can design a custom theme.  There are free themes as well as premium themes which you can purchase.
9. One third of the cost will be paid up front at the time of signing the contract, one third will be paid when the design is finalized and the template is made and the last third when the site is complete.
10. After you approve a design, I will make it up into a web site template.
11. Then I will begin adding content to each page (which is provided by you).
12. The process normally takes less than a month, but if you are slow at getting me content, it will be longer.