Custom Websites
Build the website that grows with your business
Your website is not just a layout, it’s a platform.
When to choose custom design vs. templates ✒️
Think of your website as a space you would furnish, decorate, and open to the public. It’s where you express your vision and create connection.
Most of the time you can do this without hiring an architect to design a completely unique layout. You could just find the right space and make it your own. Templates are an excellent option for most people I speak to. If only it were that simple.
Imagine this: You spend hours moving into a new space, only to discover it has proprietary doorknobs, outlets, light fixtures… Turns out you can only buy supplies from your landlord. You can check-in, but you can’t check out.
This describes the corporate players – companies like Wix, Elementor, and Squarespace who dominate the search results with their massive advertising budgets.
Don’t fall for it!
Whether you use a template or hire custom design the most important decision is the platform you build with. Can it grow as you do? Are you empowered to make change and have real ownership? Do you have the kind of support you want?
🔦 Is your project clear?
We both need to be clear on the specific results that would tell us your project was successful, otherwise the project could lack focus or conclusion.
- Visitors: Understand your audience, and what prompted them to seek out your website in the first place
- Offers: Get clear on the solutions you offer so we can make sure visitors are clear as well.
- Brand: Clarify the emotions and meaning behind your work so we can choose fitting colors, fonts, and other stylistic elements.
- Features: Identify the specific features your website needs so you are clear on the best options and scope of work required for your project to succeed
- Engagement: Plan how you’ll communicate with people who express interest, sign up for your email list, or purchase a product on your website
- Care: Understand how you will maintain your website so we can recommend or create training for your team.
⚠️ A few tips to avoid costly mistakes
Tip #1 – Be discerning
Hiring mistakes are the most costly – both financially and in missed opportunities. We meet a lot of clients who need a complete redesign after spending tens of thousands to create a website that just didn’t work. There are many different types of web designers. Hire someone who asks the questions that uncover your vision, and how your website creates value for the people you serve. A creative project is an important commitment. Even if we aren’t a good fit we’ll point you in the right direction.
Tip # 2 – Consider maintenance costs
The structure and admin experience is just as much a part of the design as the layouts and styles. A web developer who doesn’t provide after-care has limited foresight. It’s nothing personal, they just don’t account for the maintenance cost. Your new website could be perfect right now – however it’s common to have an expensive problem that is hard to detect early on. Since Maple’s website to care plan model supports long term growth we consider the maintenance cost in everything we do.
Tip # 3 – Ask to see the process
It’s important to know what you’re getting into. Are you working with someone who mysteriously designs and builds your website, or do they have a process? At Maple we take our process seriously – always seeking to learn, improve our skills, and be ahead of the curve. We seek out and work with time-tested principles, not just tactics with short-term gains.
Custom Websites
Our Signature Process
1. Strategy
What is the unique value that your website solves? Do answer this question we need to understand who is visiting your website and the questions they’re looking to answer.
Website are more than a layout. In this stage we’ll plan your website to have specific value for your readers. We believe the best way to do that is by being generous. What unique perspective do you bring to the type of work you do?
Understanding the value you can share on your website sets your growth in motion. You’ll see more referrals, more traffic, and more visitors becoming subscribers and customers.
2. Design
Next, we’ll begin the visual design (look and feel) of the site, which includes up to three rounds of revisions to reach the final website design. This is an interactive process.
It is always ideal to have your content ready (or at least outlined) by this stage because it can inform the design and keep the schedule on track. If you won’t be able to provide your written content (or changes) by this stage I would be happy to expand the scope of the project to include writing content or simply use placeholder content for the time being.
Next, we’ll design high-quality mock-ups that show what the final designs will look like on desktop, tablet, and smartphone screen sizes.
3. Development
With design approval, development begins, turning the approved mock ups into a fully functional website in our private development account. You’ll have a few technical “to-dos” as well, but we’ll help you with that.
Your site will be built as a custom WordPress website with a curated suite of software to help you manage your website in the long run. When set up correctly, WordPress is the most user friendly content management system and is the most flexible for organizations with forms, updates, and events.
Your site will be built for usability, search engine optimization (SEO), performance, and security. The site will be responsive so it displays beautifully and is easy to use on devices of all types and sizes. It will also include retina support so core theme images (like your logo) will remain crisp and clear on high-resolution screens.
Your website will contain both static and dynamic content. For example, most pages don’t change often, but can include dynamic content such as news updates and events).
There will also be functional (non-menu) pages such as confirmation, subscriber notifications, and registration pages. You will be able to add new top-level and secondary pages to the site navigation yourself in WordPress. We’ll also set up a blog for you to publish posts that will be displayed in reverse chronological order with pagination, search, tagging, and category filters.
4. Growth
Once you’ve tested the website and are happy with its functionality, we’ll confirm approval and schedule your launch date. This involves updating your domain records so that your website address points to your new website. Launch time!
We recommend launching the site a few days before any big announcements, so we time to complete a final round of testing. The go-live process is very technical and includes some last-minute details that must be configured on the final URL. We are detail oriented when it comes to launching, making sure that all links are working (even links to pages that no longer exist from your previous website).
Once we’re done, we hand over the keys to your brand new website, an operating manual, and schedule our training sessions.
5. Support
Maple has always been a design team and a training team. We stay connected to our clients, providing care plans, hands-on workshops, and tailor made documentation. While we can’t turn you into a professional WordPress developer, we can make sure you feel comfortable and confident in working with your new site.
Custom Website
Packages & Pricing
Just starting
$3,000+
When you’re ready to answer your calling and give your idea the environment it needs to grow. These services handle the technical details and keep you focused on the creative work only you can do.
Business
$10,000+
For active projects ready to attract and grow an audience. This is perfect for service providers, educators, and community organizations who want to use their website to attract leads and grow to the next level.
Scale
$25,000+
For established leaders with existing products, audiences, and revenue who need a professional touch to ready for growth. When you’re ready to invest in matching your vision with experience and thoughtful design, this bespoke experience is for you.
* Openings in our production schedule are announced to our interest list every 3 months. If you have a more urgent need, a marketing consultation and referral is the most effective.
Custom Website
Case Studies
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Halt the Harm Network
The agency who set up the first version of halttheharm.net made it difficult to manage independently, and…
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Eve’s Cidery
Eve’s Cidery is a true farm-based business. The owners, Autumn and Ezra, are involved in all the…
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Workers United NY NJ
Workers United NY NJ is a union working tirelessly to help empower workers across many service industries…
What kind of website do you need?
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