FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

I’m convinced! How do I get started?
How do I pay you?
How long is your queue?
On which platforms do you design?
Why don’t you design for Blogger / Blogspot any longer?
Where can I see examples of your work?
I’ve paid. How soon will you start?
I bought a dot com name. Can you design a blog on it?
Do you install music and third party widgets on my blog?
Do you have a glossary? I don’t understand all the items in each package.
I don’t even have a blog yet! Can you help me?
What is your work schedule?

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Q I’m hooked! How do I get started?
A

The steps to get into the queue are:
1. Read my terms of service and make sure you are comfortable with them.
2. Choose the services you need and browse some common layouts to get idea of how you want your space.
2. Fill out the new project questionnaire.
3. Pay a deposit of half your balance due. A la carte items are paid in full. Projects are taken in the order that both questionnaire and deposit are received.

Q How do I pay you?
A

I accept Paypal in US dollars only. Once you turn in your New Project Questionnaire I will invoice you. Upon receiving your deposit, I will place you on the design calendar and give you an approximate date to start. Please remember, this is a guesstimate based on the timing of those before you. If you need a quote for a blogsite, fill out the questionnaire with your needs and I will get you a quote. In some cases, we may need to schedule a time to chat before I can quote you, to make sure I understand the scope and needs of your project. You do not need a Paypal account to pay with credit card. I also accept cashier’s check or money order. I do not accept personal checks.

Q How long is your queue?
A

The length of my queue varies from week to week, sometimes even day by day. If you have a deadline for your project please email me prior to getting in the queue to make sure I can meet your deadline. Otherwise, I will give you an approximate wait time when I get all the parts and you are in my queue. Please remember this is only an estimate and my queue will move along faster with prompt email responses. I also offer a rush order for $360 + the cost of the project.

Q On which platforms do you design?
A

I only design complete blog and web packages for self-hosted Wordpress (.org) CMS. Why Wordpress? It allows for total freedom and control of your files, content, and graphics, as well as an unparalleled amount of support, plug-ins, apps and community. I do not design templates for Blogger / Blogspot, Wordpress.com or Typepad blog platforms.

I am happy to offer a la carte services and graphics for any platform! If you need help finding a host, I use and recommend a Graphically Designing affiliate, DreamHost. They have great customer service and one-click installs and upgrades of Wordpress and your plug-ins.

Q Why don’t you offer Blogger / Blogspot design packages any longer?
A

Blogger made some changes to how they handle their widgets (called “gadgets” on Blogger). As a result, many people can no longer move their widgets around in their blog’s dashboard. Thousands of blogs are affected, and hundreds of complaints are filed on the abyss of the “help” files.

To date, Blogger has offered no solution, and I simply won’t put out a broken product with my name on it. Many of the Graphically Designing custom templates are affected, and blogs that worked beautifully for years are no longer able to easily rearrange their gadgets. Also, many Bloggers have complained about getting marked as spam and losing their blog without warning. No one should have that kind of control over your content.

Blogger also experiences frequent data loss of comments. Some blogs have unexplicably lost hundreds of comments without any promise of retrieval. Comments are also hard to move over from Blogger to another platform. Sometimes, when exporting Blogger files or importing, the comments do not come over. This kind of data loss is unacceptable, in my opinion.

This has created a customer service nightmare for me. While I loved that Blogger’s platform is free, I once again stand by the belief that you get what you pay for. Until these issues can be resolved by Google, I will stick with Wordpress – which has been 100% reliable and easy to back up.

Q Where can I see examples of your work?
A

I have a few selected examples of my work highlighted in my Portfolio. I have done well over 300 blogs and my clients can be found on 5 continents: North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. I sure would love to make that 7 continents! I have yet to work with any clients from South America or Antarctica (bbrrrrr!). But I sure would love to!

Q I’ve paid. How soon will you start? How long does it take?
A

The wait time depends on the number of clients before you. I schedule 3-5 projects a month. If you’ve answered the questionnaire thoroughly, the process goes faster. Once we start your project will take anywhere from 2 -7 days, typically for a blog and 7-12 days for a coordinated blogsite. You will need to be at your computer frequently during those days. Please let me know if there is a period when you will not be at your computer, so I can work around your schedule.

Q I bought a dot com name. Can you design a blog on it?
A

Yes, absolutely! You will need to have both a host and a domain name. It is typically easier to buy your domain through your host. I use and recommend DreamHost.

Q Do you install music, library thing, Google Friend Connect, third-party widgets or plug-ins on my blog?
A

I don’t install anything that requires an off-site account or a password to set up. Those are considered third-party and will not be installed. (Most blog readers do not appreciate music that plays automatically; I strongly caution against having music installed on your blog.) Installation of plug-ins is NOT included in your design, unless noted.

If you need help creating or installing a third-party widget or Wordpress plug-in, I can do that for a small fee. Please email me and let me know what you have in mind.

Q I don’t even have a blog yet! Can you help me?
A

Absolutely! Please do the rest of the steps to get in the queue. I recommend that you add an hour of blog consult time to your cart in addition to your web services and design package. When it is your turn in the queue, I will work with you to set up hosting, introduce you to how the blog works and talk you through the steps needed to get started. I will teach you the basics to get you off on the right foot in the blogosphere. I also offer Blog Bootcamp which is a thorough and intense way to learn blogging tips quickly.

Q What is your work schedule?
A

Graphically Designing is a one-woman operation. I work full-time, 5 days a week. Graphically Designing is not in the office on Thursdays or Sundays. If you have an emergency during these days, I welcome you to email me, send me a DM on twitter or find me on Skype (darcym3b).