Elevate Your Brand with Professional Website Design

I work with small and solo businesses throughout Canada and the United States. My client list includes therapists, spas, architects, carpenters, landscapers, authors, medical centres, yoga studios, community organizations and many others. Most of my clients are based in Eastern Ontario, in the Perth, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place and Ottawa area.

I specialize in creating websites tailored to your exact needs, no matter where you are in the design process. Some clients come to me with a fully developed brand and site concept, while others may only have a logo and a few color ideas. Some are still exploring their design preferences. But whatever stage you're at, I'll help guide you to a solution that works for you. You can see from my portfolio that I have experience designing a wide range of themes and styles. However, regardless of the design aesthetic, all my websites share common features: they are clean, modern, and optimized for seamless usability across all devices, from desktop computers to smartphones.

Wix isn't right for everyone, but it is great for most small businesses. As a professional designer, Wix allows me to start with a blank slate rather than a template, and create something truly unique. Of course, as the site is built on Wix, you get access to their easy DIY tools to maintain the site yourself once I'm finished, in addition to their software updates, security protection, customer services and solid hosting. You're not tied to me or any other designer, and not stuck paying for services you don't need.

I don't charge hourly. My packages are exactly that – packages. One price, up front, with everything included from start to finish. This takes the pressure off both of us. I have a well established routine and build process, with all-inclusive packages and an experience for the client that I know leaves them satisfied time after time. You don't have to sit worrying about how much your website might cost when the final bill arrives – in fact, you'll know before you even speak to me for the first time, because my packages and prices are listed here.

Think of your website like your online storefront. You want it to be inviting, easy to navigate, and reflective of your brand's vibe, right? That's where good design comes in! Your website is often the first thing people see, so you want to wow them from the get-go. A great design sets the stage for a great browsing experience. Ever visited a site that was a total maze to navigate? Yeah, not fun. Good design makes it easy for visitors to find what they're looking for without pulling their hair out. It also helps your business when it comes to search engine optimization. Search engines love websites that are user-friendly and packed with valuable content. So, a well-designed site not only looks good but also helps you climb those search engine rankings. Another reason why good website design matters? Mobile responsiveness. Everyone's glued to their phones these days, so having a website that looks great on any device, whether it's a phone, tablet, or laptop, ensures that you're reaching people wherever they are. Your website is like your brand's online persona. A cohesive design that matches your brand's style and values helps build trust and credibility with your audience. In a world where everyone's online, having a top-notch website gives you a leg up on the competition. It's like having the flashiest storefront on the block!

Determining the "best" website software depends on your specific needs, goals, and technical expertise. WordPress: WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems (CMS) globally. It's highly customizable, with thousands of themes and plugins available. It's great for users who want flexibility and scalability, but can be technically difficult and time consuming to manage. If you're a small business that wants a website without a ton of maintenance, WordPress is likely not for you. Wix: Wix is a user-friendly website builder that offers drag-and-drop functionality, high end visuals and effects, and a wide array of marketing and design tools that make it easy for beginners to create or manage professional-looking websites without coding knowledge. It's known for its visually appealing templates and intuitive interface. Here at Bonnie Joyce Creative Studio, I'm a Wix Partner and believe Wix is the best website software on the market. Wix is also one of the most affordable and high value options on the market. Squarespace: Squarespace is another popular website builder known for its design templates and user-friendly interface. It's an excellent choice for creatives and small businesses looking to create visually impressive websites quickly. Shopify: If you're planning to set up an online store, Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform. It offers a range of customizable templates, robust e-commerce features, and integrations with third-party apps to help you sell products online effectively. Shopify was the first big player in the eCommerce world, but today there are many other options, like Wix eCommerce, Square, Ecwid and many others. Shopify is great for scaling large businesses, but its advanced capabilities can be a bit overkill for smaller businesses, and their services are quite expensive. Ultimately, the best website software for you will depend on factors such as your technical skills, budget, specific requirements, and long-term goals. It's essential to research each option thoroughly and consider your needs before making a decision.

Ever wondered why your website design might not be hitting the mark? Let's break it down: Poor Visual Appeal: Your website might lack visual appeal due to outdated design elements, mismatched color schemes, or low-quality images. Aesthetics play a significant role in user perception, so if your design looks unprofessional or outdated, it can create a negative impression. Cluttered Layout: If your website is cluttered with too much information, advertisements, or irrelevant content, it can overwhelm visitors and make it challenging to navigate. A cluttered layout can also distract users from finding what they're looking for and decrease overall usability. Lack of Clear Navigation: Navigation is crucial for guiding users through your website and helping them find the information they need. If your website has confusing navigation menus, hidden links, or a disorganized structure, visitors may become frustrated and leave without exploring further. Slow Load Times: Slow load times can significantly impact user experience and contribute to high bounce rates. Factors like large image files, excessive use of plugins, and poor server performance can all contribute to slow loading speeds, driving users away from your site. Not Mobile-Friendly: With more users accessing the internet from mobile devices, having a responsive design is essential. If your website is not optimized for mobile devices, it can lead to a poor user experience, with text and images appearing too small or the layout breaking on smaller screens. Lack of Call-to-Action (CTA): A clear call-to-action prompts users to take the next step, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you. If your website lacks prominent and compelling CTAs, visitors may not know what action to take, resulting in missed opportunities for engagement or conversion. Inconsistent Branding: Consistency is key to building a strong brand identity. If your website design deviates from your brand's visual style or messaging, it can confuse visitors and dilute your brand's message. Want help with a better website design? You've come to the right place. Get in touch with me today!

The cost of a new website can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the design, features and functionality required (like bookings or eCommerce), the platform used, and whether you hire a professional web designer or opt for a DIY approach. Here's a breakdown: DIY Website Builders: Using DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com can be relatively inexpensive, with plans starting as low as $10 to $30 per month. However, you'll be limited in terms of customization and functionality compared to hiring a professional. And unless you have experience with search engine optimization, it's likely you'll unknowingly make some SEO blunders that could make it difficult for your new website to get found online. Is it better to have a DIY website than no website? Yes. But think of it more as a stepping stone! Professional Web Design: Hiring a professional web designer or agency typically offers more customization options and a higher level of quality. Costs can vary greatly depending on factors such as the designer's experience, the complexity of the project, and your specific requirements. See our website design prices at Bonnie Joyce Creative Studio here. Additional Costs: In addition to the initial design and development costs, you'll also need to consider ongoing expenses such as domain registration, web hosting, maintenance, and potential updates or upgrades to keep your website running smoothly. Some platforms like Wix package all of these costs together in one affordable bundle. Learn more here. It's essential to carefully consider your budget, goals, and requirements when determining the cost of a new website. While it may be tempting to opt for the cheapest option, investing in a professionally designed website tailored to your needs can yield better results in terms of user experience, functionality, and long-term success. Thinking of getting started with a new website? We'd love to chat.

The time it takes to create a website can vary significantly depending on various factors, such as the complexity of the project, the scope of work, the availability of resources, and the communication between you and your web designer. Here's a general overview of the stages involved in creating a website: Planning and Discovery: This phase involves discussing your goals, audience, branding, and requirements with your web designer. It includes research, brainstorming, and creating a project plan to outline the website's structure, features, and functionality. Design of Draft: Once the planning phase is complete, the design process begins. This involves creating a draft to visualize the layout, typography, color scheme, and overall look and feel of the website. You'll typically have the opportunity to provide feedback and request revisions before finalizing the design. Final Development: Once the design is approved, your web designer will polish the design, clean up links and finish customizing the website. This includes tailoring and optimizing the mobile site. Testing and SEO: After the development is complete, the website undergoes thorough testing to ensure it works correctly across different devices, browsers, and screen sizes. Your website designer will also work on the sites search engine optimization through page titles and descriptions, keywords, links etc. Launch: Once the website is tested and approved, it's time to launch! This involves configuring the web hosting, setting up domain names, and security. Communication, collaboration, and timely feedback from both parties are essential for keeping the project on track and ensuring a successful outcome.

Not too much! To get started on a new website I always ask my clients for a few things: -Written information you want on the site, including info about your business or organization, your team, services etc. This part can be much easier if you have an existing website that I can grab information from. -Photos you want to use on the website. As a photographer, I am a stickler for using only high quality images on websites. Poor visuals can really degrade the look and feel of a site, so if you don't have great photos to work with I always recommend using stock photography. -Your contact details and social media links -Examples of sites you like (or hate!) and why -Your desired domain or domain login details if you already own one. That's usually enough to get started on a website project!

You don't necessarily have to use your own pictures on your website, but it's generally a good idea to do so whenever possible. Here are some considerations: Authenticity: Using your own photos adds authenticity to your website and helps to personalize your brand. It allows visitors to get a glimpse into your business, team, products, or services, which can help build trust and connection. Unique Branding: Your own photos can reflect your brand's unique personality, style, and values better than stock images. They can help you stand out from competitors and create a more memorable impression on visitors. Customization: Using your own photos gives you full control over the content and allows you to tailor the visuals to suit your specific needs and preferences. You can capture images that showcase your products, services, team members, or work environment exactly how you want them to be portrayed. Professionalism: High-quality, professionally shot photos can elevate the overall look and feel of your website and convey a sense of professionalism and attention to detail. Investing in professional photography can be well worth it for businesses looking to make a strong visual impact. That being said, if you don't have access to high-quality photos or if your budget is limited, using stock photos can be a practical solution. Just make sure to choose images that are relevant to your brand and message, and always check the licensing terms to ensure compliance (your web designer will do this for you!) Additionally, you can consider hiring a photographer to capture custom images for your website that align with your brand and goals. I'm a brand photographer and love capturing photos for website projects. If you're looking to do some brand photography in the Ottawa region, get in touch!

Hiring a web designer can bring numerous benefits to your project, whether it's creating a new website from scratch or redesigning an existing one. Here are some reasons why you might consider hiring a web designer: Professionalism and Expertise: Web designers have the skills, knowledge, and experience to create visually appealing, user-friendly websites that align with your brand and goals. They stay up-to-date with the latest design trends, technologies, and best practices to ensure your website stands out and delivers results. Customization and Personalization: A web designer can tailor the design and functionality of your website to meet your specific needs and preferences. They work closely with you to understand your goals, target audience, and branding, creating a customized solution that reflects your unique identity and values. Save Time and Effort: Designing a website from scratch or revamping an existing one can be time-consuming and challenging, especially if you lack design skills or technical expertise. Hiring a web designer allows you to focus on running your business while they take care of the design and development process, saving you time and effort. High-Quality Design: Web designers have an eye for design and know how to create visually stunning websites that captivate and engage visitors. They pay attention to details like layout, typography, color scheme, and imagery to ensure a cohesive and professional-looking design that leaves a positive impression on users. Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design: With more users accessing the internet from mobile devices, having a responsive website is crucial. Web designers understand the importance of responsive design and ensure your website looks and functions flawlessly across all devices and screen sizes, providing a seamless user experience. SEO Optimization: Web designers are familiar with SEO principles and know how to optimize your website for search engines. They incorporate SEO-friendly elements into the design to improve your site's visibility and ranking in search engine results. Ongoing Support and Maintenance: A good web designer doesn't just create your website and disappear—they provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure your site remains secure, up-to-date, and performing optimally. Whether you need updates, troubleshooting, or technical assistance, they're there to help. Overall, hiring a web designer can save you time and effort, ensure a high-quality design that reflects your brand, and help you achieve your business goals online. It's an investment that can pay off in terms of increased visibility, credibility, and conversions for your website. Ready to get started? Contact Bonnie today to chat about your next website project.