About

There are so many things to consider when you decide to hire a new web designer and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for considering me. I’m based in New York City, I’ve lived & worked here for 27 years, but I work with clients all over the country and I’m willing to work with clients abroad as well.

Most likely, I’m not the only designer you are considering and if I’m the only one, I’m deeply flattered. But, I understand that your time is valuable & you’re looking for some answers, so you can make an informed decision.

Below you’ll find a series questions that I’ve had past clients ask, about me & my work experience. If you find that you still have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

How are you different from other web designers and consultants?

This is where my previous work experience kicks in. What makes me different from my competitors is that I help you choose the BEST solutions for your business – no cookie cutter stuff here. I will give you viable solutions, the exact tools and step-by-step training that you need in order to establish and/or maintain your online presence – nothing more, nothing less. We’ll do this by creating a custom website, that will actually work for you and your customers.

You’ll save time and money because it will be a site that you can truly update on your own. I will provide you with step-by-step video instruction of all of your products and website. You won’t get a generic admin guide or video tutorial that you’ll have to “piece together” to figure out how to make even the simplest of changes. This training will be for your business and your business alone. You’ll practically be getting agency level service and quality at a fraction of the price.

Most of my clients usually have very specific goals that require a custom solution because their businesses are all in different places. To get a better understanding of where I’m coming from take some time to review these 3 quick snapshots of a “typical” client profile for me.

Who are your clients and what types of businesses have you worked with before?

I work primarily with small businesses that for the most part are doing quite well and make their money offline. My clients struggle with getting online because they’re quite frankly – too busy working & making money.

Some come to me because they need to establish their web presence because they know no business can really be without one these days. Others come to me because they need to update their existing site or integrate their website fully into their business. I also have corporate clients who primarily hire me for my web production services or to work on a time-sensitive project, promotion or campaign.

I’ve worked with high-end residential contractors, recycling companies, art handlers, private tutors, hairstylists, caterers, public relation strategists and donated my services from time to time to a few non-profits. I even had the privilege of working on the 2012 election campaign for a Democratic State Senator running for Lieutenant Governor in North Carolina.

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How long have you been doing this & how did you become a web designer?

I started out as a freelance front-end web developer working mostly in web production, for other businesses, but I needed to find more challenging work. I have been working on my own, for the past 6 years. My previous work experience includes 10+ years working for a handful of multi-million dollar corporations and independent design firms, on a diverse range of projects – here in New York. But, I really get the most gratification when I work on either really creative projects or with smaller more independent businesses.

My work history is quite diverse. It has demanded that I be able to wear many different hats, all while keeping an eye on the bottom line. I have been a Production Manager for a product design firm working with museums, an Operations Manager for a small boutique agency in SoHo and I’ve worked with everyone from entry-level Project Managers to C-Suite executives.

I’m quite resilient and resourceful. I have a keen eye for detail and my “problem-solution oriented” nature, along with my education have proven to be strong assets in working with both large are small businesses.

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Being a small business owner myself, I understand the growing pains and sleepless nights you can have worrying about the business that you’ve have put everything you’ve got into it.

This is even harder for those of us who came out of the corporate sector. While we may have left the “rat race” behind, some of us have forgotten how to do a lot of “this stuff” and need to get an update on all that stuff you used to let the IT department or “the Team” deal with while you were being paid for the big ideas, but now there is no team – there’s only you. It can be really challenging at times. But for me personally, the benefits far outweigh the alternatives.

I already know which package I want. What are the next steps?

The best way to reach me is via email. Please email me with your name, number, the name of the package you would like and your website address, if you have one. I will email or call you back and we can set up a time to schedule a call to discuss what your needs are further.

What is your approach and how will we work together?

In short, I have devised a process that takes you through three phases to help us: conduct only the necessary research to devise a solid strategy that would evolve into a concept to be refined during the design development phase and put into practice in order to fulfill your business needs.

This may sound complex but what this does is provide you with a solid foundation to build on for future growth. I am definitely going to need your help in developing the content for the site. Most likely, you will have far superior knowledge of what’s going on in your industry than I ever will and no one knows your business better than you do.

In the beginning, you will need to commit some time to this project in order to get it off on the best foot. After that, I will need less and less of your time until we get closer to the actual launch of your site or campaign.

What type of client would not be a good match for you?

If you are looking for a quick fix – I may not be the best match for you. It’s been my experience in the past, that if you rush through this process or if you really don’t buy all of “the hype” behind the internet and social media anyway – you are just going to be throwing good money away. I would not advise doing this just to “get something up” or to scratch this off of your “to do list”.

If this is starting to sound like you – it’s OK. I’m not here to judge, but my suggestion would be for you to not rush into anything, with me or any other designer. Take the time to check out some of the free resources available to you online to better educate yourself about the internet and how to use it in your business.

You can start by taking a look at some of the content that I provide in my blog or in the FAQs section of this site. I also have a FREE guide I created just for small business owners on a budget. You can read more about it here: www.sylvia-adams.com/freeguide

How do I know if I’m going to get any results?

I want to really honest here. I am not a “guru” on any kind but one I do know is that this type of work, just isn’t something that we can just throw together and to expect get any lasting results.

Unfortunately, I see far too many web designers and agencies promising clients to get websites up and running, with all the bells and whistles, in as little as two weeks. Let’s be really honest for a moment here, unless they have an army of “top drawer” talent behind them {which means you are going to pay top dollar} – there is no way you are going to get the best results.

Just to be clear, I just want to say that these designers and agencies are being fair. They will give you exactly what you asked and paid for and then they have to move on to the next client. Poof! They’re gone.

So where does that leave you? Do you really have the time and budget to make sure that you are able to maintain those results once they are gone? Think about it. Is that what you really hired them for in the first place?

How long will it take to get us up and running?

Well that depends on your needs, your budget and your availability. On average I find that a project realistically can take anywhere from 2 – 3 months. Yes, that long, because once my clients see how I map out this process and we take into account your schedule, my schedule, the holidays, family obligations and the time needed to get all of this done as well as all of your other work, they see that this is serious business.

I’m serious about making your online web presence and website a success. A successful website for you is a successful project for me. This is what I do for a living. I’m not here just to make some quick cash. If you want to get lasting results, plan for growth and keep your sanity – it’s going to require a little bit of time, but it’s worth it.

What results can I expect & how will I recoup my investment?

When we are done with your website, it will no longer be a glorified electronic billboard that doesn’t really do anything for you or your customers.

1. You’ll know exactly where your website and online presence fit in your business.

2. You’ll save hundreds of dollars each month in site maintenance because you or someone on your team will be able to update your site on your own.

3. You’ll be able to quickly and effectively implement your online marketing strategies now and whenever you’re ready to take your
business to the next level in the future.

4. You’ll have a complete set of tools, at your fingertips that you can use right away for all of your online needs. No more waiting to see if someone from customer support is going to return your phone calls or wasting time aimlessly looking on the web looking for answers to a simple “technical” question.

5. Your business will gain greater visibility and reach.

6. You’ll be able to stay connected to existing customers and position yourself to reach a large number of potential prospects quickly and inexpensively.

I think you will be a good match for me, but I still have a couple of questions.
Can I call you?

Of course, this is a big step and some of your questions may also be answered on the services page. If you still have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me an email to schedule a call.

I would be more than happy to personally address your concerns and discuss what your specific needs are.
Let’s take some time to get to know each other a little better.