How long have you been in business?
I have been in the design business for 18 years. Wow I just shocked myself writing that! I studied art in college and after graduating I needed to get a job. Graphic design seemed like the logical choice. And although on the surface that does seem logical, the rules are completely different. But I made the right choice. I love what I do. I love how I get to help people and I love solving problems with design.
How many people work in your office?
Just me – physically – in the (home) office, but I have a network of illustrators, designers, writers, marketers and back-end developers I partner with. This means that I’ve got your project needs covered.
When can we get started?
It depends on the project. For a full website branding/development project, my booking time runs about 4 to 5-weeks. If it’s a smaller project – such as website updates, print design, landing page design, etc – I am typically able fit these into my schedule sooner. To find out, contact me with your project details and I can let you know!
Who will I work with on this project? Who does the actual design work?
Me. The only exception is if the project either requires additional help or I am booked and can’t meet your deadlines. I have a network of writers, marketers, designers and back-end developers (who have all been vetted by me) that have agreed to be a part of the Kathy Osborne Design team. I have a transparency policy so we will discuss who, when and how if this need arises. I will stay involved the entire way, providing any creative direction as needed.
Who owns the design?
Once the final invoice is paid for, you own the design – All of it. Every last pixel.
What’s included with my project?
Most projects include consultation (I usally will ask you to fill out a form or two), design choices, print-ready and web-ready files or a final website. This will be communicated with you once the process has started.
Do you require a deposit?
In most cases, I require a deposit of $300. After we get work with each other on more and more projects, I typically waive the required deposit.
How do you charge?
It’s project dependent. I can charge a flat rate or in most cases, I charge an hourly fee with an estimated range of hours. Once you reach out to me, I will supply you with a quote of charges, what is included with my services from beginning to end and payment requirements.
What is your design process?
It varies on the project. But generally, after we have discussed your needs from your project, I will supply 2-3 design options to choose form (whether it’s a logo, website, printed postcard, poster, etc). These design options are not completely developed. Since I charge by the hour, I don’t want to waste your budget on ideas that aren’t going to be used.
Once you receive these options, it’s your turn to provide feedback. Do you like this one, but not that one. Do you hate them all? (I hope not!) Would you like to see something from Proof A and Proof B put together? Did one of the proofs spark another idea?! These are all things you communicate to me. I then take all that feedback, bundle it up and create another round of proofs for you. We do this until you LOVE what we have done. It’s a collaborative process combining what you want and what I think will be the most effective for your message. Once you scream “YES!” and tell me it’s good to go, I either provide to you all print and web-ready files or begin the web development process.
Web Development Process: I build your website based on the final, approved designs – using a premium theme on wordpress (popularly known for blogging, but also a great content management system) and you supply the content. I design and place the content in – make any suggestions on content strategy – and we go back and forth with edits until you are happy! Then we make it live to the world wide web!
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source web software that makes it easy for you (yes, YOU!) to update the content on your website and/or have a blog. But don’t worry if maintaining your website isn’t your thing. I’m happy to update your site on an as-needed basis for my hourly rate. Most updates don’t take very long if you need me to do them.
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization. This is what search engine use to rank your site when someone searches for something like “voice over.” However, voice over is a pretty general term and it would be very tough to rank high with that search. You would want to use words that would make you stand out from a crowd. You can also delve into the world of paying for terms on search engines to get your website ranked higher. If this is something that interests you, I can point you to an SEO expert. My role in SEO is that I will set up all your pages with search terms, design and label everything to be search-engine friendly.
A few recommendations that assist with organic (unpaid) SEO is to
- Have a blog – but only if you can maintain it. This is a great way to consistently add key words to your website. It can also assist in establishing your expertise in the industry.
- Have other websites link to yours. The more websites linking to yours, the higher your site will rank.
- Using social media connect back to your website and plugging your website URL whenever you can.
- Using Web Directories
Do I need SEO?
Depends on your business. The SEO that I provide is perfect for anyone that is using their website as a business card. Meaning it’s there for people to learn more about what you provide. If your business depends on people finding you on the internet (think E-commerce, marketing, etc), then putting some extra leg work in for SEO would be beneficial.
What is the different between hosting and a domain name?
A domain name is the name that a person types into the URL bar to get to your website. Hosting is where the actual file of your website reside. A domain will point to your hosting to show the website files. They are two different things. So if you ever create a new website and get new hosting, you can point the same domain to the other hosting account. If you are interested in having a website, you will need to purchase a domain name AND a hosting account.
What company do you recommend for hosting?
I typically recommend Bluehost or Siteground for my clients. They seem to fit the pricing and needs of most of my clients. I can work with any host of your choosing though!
Why should I hire you for the job?
You should hire me only if you think I’m a good fit for your job (duh!). Take a look at my print design, web design and my instagram account and see if you like the style that I provide for my clients – The design I provide can range from conservative financial to completely creative branding for a voice over artist. I listen to your needs and wants, provide my professional opinion, and do my best to create something that you are not only going to love, but will be an effective solution for your project.
