Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I choose Handmade Designs?

We are a well-established company with a large customer base, legally registered with the State of Idaho.
Our code is the highest quality available. We are the only Treasure Valley website company to validate all website code to XHTML 1.1 and CSS 2 standards.
We will provide a free written proposal including your project specifications, cost, and development timeline.
Our pricing is clear and easy to understand--no hidden fees!

Why are code standards important?

The coding language HTML was designed for a very different environment than today's internet. HTML became unwieldy through a decade of sloppy use and ad-hoc evolution. Streamlined modern browsers such as Firefox and Safari often cannot parse through this mess to display your website properly.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) officially deprecated HTML in favor of XHTML. Valid XHTML 1.1 webpages are able to function properly in new browsers and remain compatible with older browsers.

A website made with standards-compliant code:

Looks great on all browsers and computers.
Accessible on iPhones, PDAs, and talking browsers.
Meets the strictest code standards.
Uses stylesheets for fast and easy updating.
Appears higher in search results.
Downloads quickly, free of "junk code" clutter.

Will I show up in Google?

Remember that Google--not you or any website company--controls Google's search results. Google uses complex, confidential algorithms to help ensure their search results are not manipulated. Website rankings depend on many factors:

How many other websites are linking TO yours? Are they quality websites?
How long has your website been online? Is it updated frequently?
When does your domain name expire?
Have you included keywords in your title tags, content, and image alt tags?

These factors will make your website more search engine-friendly.

Why shouldn't I use Flash animation on my website?

Every feature on your website should specifically enhance your mission. With Flash animations, the audience may say "Wow, haven't seen that snazzy effect before," but they won't be paying attention to your intended message.

Don't put a barrier between your visitor and your content! Flash intros keep visitors and search engines out. Flash makes your website download slowly, and prevents common right-click functions like bookmarking and opening in a new tab or window. Flash interferes with handicap-accessible browsers, and doesn't work on iPhones and iPads, or many older browsers and computers. Search engines can't index Flash text and links, so Flash hurts your search rankings.

For these reasons, we do not do any Flash programming. We want your visitor to get to your content as soon as possible.

What if my friend/nephew/coworker says they'll make my website for free?

When selecting the professional who will handle this essential aspect of your marketing strategy, make sure to consider the following:

Do they have professional experience with organizing content, proofreading text, and formatting images?
Do they have a history of prompt, friendly customer support?
Can they optimize your code for search engines?
Will they test the website on multiple browsers, operating systems, and for printability?
Can they build secure databases with protection against hackers?
Do they offer reliable and secure hosting?

Let us take care of all these challenges for you, in one convenient package. We guarantee that your text will be typo-free and your code will be error-free. Plus, you'll receive our famously quick turnaround!

What does "Handmade Designs" mean?

We design all websites by hand. We don't just customize pre-existing templates like many of our competitors. Rather than use mass-market software like WordPress or Dreamweaver, we hand-type your website code from scratch, ensuring high-quality, custom, streamlined, error-free code.

How long will it take to finish my website?

Once we receive your contract, deposit, and information, we typically finish new websites in 3-4 weeks depending on the size of the project.

Do I have to provide finalized text for my website, or can I send rough drafts?

You can absolutely send rough drafts. Our staff has excellent proofreading and editing skills. We will spiff up your text to make it professional, easy-to-read, and search-engine friendly.