Gathering Waters'
Web Highlights
Firm Quotes versus Proposals
Gathering Waters Design works with clients on a Firm Quote basis rather than the typical agency estimate (i.e. actual time and materials). We will put together a proposal based on the guidelines provide by the client. The price agreed upon will not change unless the nature or scope of the project changes at the request of the client. This provides our clients with a firm indication of what a project will cost before they commit to it.
Testimonial
"Kathy and I really appreciate all that you have done for us. It is nice doing business with professional and honest people like yourselves and we will definitely be passing along your name to our friends. Thanks again"
Tim and Kathy DeCraene
DrippyLidz LLC
Scrolling or Animated Photos
Mubarek, Radcliffe and Berry S.C. (www.tomahlaw.com) wanted to include an animation to photographically represent their areas of expertise.
Integrate Linked Pages
Venture Fuels wanted to provide useful links to other sites their visitors might find useful but did not want the visitor to leave their site. We were able to program the page from another site into a page with their web site header and menu. (Energy and Market Links page)
Flash Animation
FRAN is a network of related businesses that wanted to represent each type of business in the header. The best way to accomplish this was with an animated header including photos from each business.
Web Design Services at Gathering Waters Design, Inc.
| Search Engine Optimization |
Informational Web Sites
Informational or static web sites are the simplest form of web site containing information that does not change frequently and is comprised of text, photos, graphics, links to other sites or information, and basic forms. These sites can be maintained by the client utilizing user friendly content management systems like Adobe Contribute or even designed using WordPress providing the advantages of an informational web site and a blog.
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Yahnke Dental's web site is created to describe the services provided and contact information for the business. The look and feel of the site complement the current marketing campaign. |
Bertrand Realty's web site provides information not only their listings and access to the MLS but also information on Green Building, flood plans and other helpful resources for homeowners and buyers. |
Kussmaul Seeds' web site is not only an online product guide of their crop seed varieties but also includes extensive information on crops, diseases, traits and agronomic information. |
Contact Gathering Waters for a quote on an informational web site
Client Maintained Web Sites
By using WordPress technology a cost effective and easily maintained web site can be created. WordPress works much like Micro Soft Word for inserting text and photos. The sites reside on the hosting server so it can be accessed from any computer through a web browser. This type of site does not require any additional software and multiple people can be defined to maintain the site.
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Mississippi River Wild is a not-for-profit organization that found that their ability to maintain their web site was hampered by outdated software. By moving the site to WordPress they now have several volunteers that can maintain the web site anytime, anywhere. |
Burelbach Psychotherapy provides counseling for families, couples, and adolescents. They swiched to a WordPress web site from a static informational site because they could keep information more up-to-date by maintain the site themselves. |
Friends of the Upper Mississippi Fishery Services (FUMFS) is a not-for-profit organization that needed a web site that could be created with a small budget in mind. They saved money by populating their site on their own. Several different volunteers are able to maintain the site. |
Contact Gathering Waters for a quote on a client maintained web site
E-Commerce Web Sites
An e-commerce web site is designed to promote and sell products online. E-commerce sites can use either an "off the shelf" shopping cart or custom shopping cart programming. The e-commerce sites designed by Gathering Waters utilize the Live Cart shopping cart provided by our hosting partner, QTH.com.
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Forest and Forge manufacturers custom engraved markers for woodworkers to brand/identify their creations. Visitors can choose the product by diameter, finish and provide either text or an image to engrave on the maker's mark. |
Drippy Lidz E-commerce site is set up to sell their lid and spoon holder to end users as well as wholesale/retail locations. |
Larsh Bristol Photography sells both stock photography and artistic photographic prints on their web site. Visitors can search by keyword or browse the photo selection by category. |
Contact Gathering Waters for a quote on an E-commerce web site
Blogs
Blogs are part web site and part individual log or journal. They consist of regular journal entries of a person or organization on a topic(s), event, and/or material such as graphics, photos or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order and can include static informational pages like a web site.
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Ironman Training Blog is a blog with 4 different people writing and submitting content. Each person has their own login and permissions with one overall administrator. |
Bicycle La Crosse is a blog for area cyclist containing posts on road conditions and routes. The site also promotes the La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival. |
Lula's blog is a journal about the life of an oversized Chesapeake Bay Retriever who is quite disabled and owned by a rescue organization. The blog is maintained by the foster mom and used as an informational resource for rescue volunteers, dog lovers, owners of elderly dogs and people who are just interested. It provides links to Facebook, auto publishes on Lula's Facebook page and links to the rescue donation page. |
Contact Gathering Waters for a quote on a blog or a blog-based web site
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization is a process of improving the visibility of a web site with search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. so when people search topics or keywords that are related to a web site, the site will appear in top rankings of free listings. These "free" listings are also referred to as "organic" or "natural".
There are other forms of Search Engine Marketing which include targeted paid listings, Google Adwords, etc. Gathering Waters is not currently active in this area with any clients.
The Search Engine Optimization process at Gathering Waters is customized to the client's needs and budget but can involve:
- Analysis of the current web site for searchability
- Review of the client's marketing plan
- Analysis of competitive web sites and searchability
- Keyword analysis
- Implementation
- Ongoing analysis and adjustments over a set interval for a set period of time.
Contact Gathering Waters for a quote for Search Engine Optimization
