Name of your website?Deerpath Web Design
Your name?
Ross Fichter
Your Location (city, etc)
Hart, MI 49420
Please give us a short summary of your website?
The Deerpath Web Design website presents a quick overview of the services that we provide, including web design, ecommerce solutions, internet marketing plans, content management, copywriting and more. Along with each service is provided a short explanation of why these services are important in order to experience success with your site, and how we can customize each service offering to meet the individual needs adn budget of each of our clients.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Although there were several other web designers providing website development services, none seemed to be offering the full package necessary in order to produce truly successful websites. What was needed in this area was a locally-based web development firm that could help local small business owners compete in the global marketplace of the Internet. Deerpath Web Design is intended to serve that purpose.
Our gaol is to provide professional service on a personal basis to businesses and organizations that are struggling to succeed on the Internet. We focus our efforts locally so that we will be available to answer questions and address issues quickly to prevent long-term problems from decreasing the productivity of our clients' websites.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
The first Deerpath Design website was launched in 2001, although I had personally created and launched dozens of websites for clients before that starting in 1998. I established Deerpath Web Design after having worked with another technology company as Webmaster for a year and a half and realized that I could provide better service and prices through my own business.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
The name of Deerpath Web Design was based on the name of the property on which our home stood. All across the 15 acres we owned were deer trails whcih dozens of deer traversed on a regular basis, hence the name Deerpath. Because we loved our home and property, we adopted the name for my business as well.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Those visiting my website will not be dazzled by fancy graphics or entrancing video or Flash presentations. My philosophy for web design is based on a website being built around the principles of simplicty, functionality, and the elements of good design. The purpose of any website is to present quality information specific to the topic in a pleasing and easy-to-navigate manner which accurately portrays the image of the presenting organization. Although you will not find glitz, what you will find is professionalism on every front.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
My goal is to continue to develop my website to best market my business to the local community and surrounding areas. As the market changes and my service offerings expand, the website will be adapted to meet those changing parameters. The underlying purpose of my site is to market the services I offer and to provide quality assistance and direction to others who are struggling to establish a viable online presence.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
The Deerpath Web Design website itself has already provided a significant ROI. The money and effort expended to produce and maintain it has been well surpassed by the production of the site itself, as it has been a primary factor in the growth of my business.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Rather than spend an unlimited amount of money to enhance the presentation aspect, I would channel resources into providing better service to my clients through the site itself. Functionality and value to the customer supercedes fancier graphics and superfluous flourishes in the presentation. My clients are interested more in the success of their websites than in the flashiness of mine.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
In the past few years, I have planned my website for growth. The platform on which it is hosted is upgradable to allow for vast increase in badwidth and storage space, if necessary. And the structure of the site itself is template based to allow for ease of updating and expansion when the need arises.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
As in any business, there are unexpected costs involved, especially when it comes to dealing with problems or misunderstanding related to the development of clients' websites. On occasion, I have produced a website according to the contract specifications, only to have the customer express a differing opinion about the end result. Rather than lose a customer, I would rather supply a finished product that the customer is happy with rather than nitpick over nickel and dime changes that sometimes add up quite quickly. More often that not, what I sacrifice in teh development phase is more than made up through continued business with these customers who become loyal long-term clients, rather than a one-time contract gone bad.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been the management of my business as a whole. Although much of my time is consumed by actual website development and customer relations, I have to make enough time to manage the "internals" of my business in order for it to continue to succeed. Bookkeeping, marketing, organization, planning for growth, etc. are activities that, although in the background, are essential for the success of any company and must be planned into the schedule to avoid eventual failure.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I promote my website thorugh many different avenues online, and yet the most effective has been word-of-mouth and personal referral. Because our focus is to the local community, wherever I go I distribute business cards and postcards which have my website address printed on them. I try to establish a personal relationship with people from which to base a business relationship so that my clients know that I am concerned about them as people and their personal success, rather than just as an account number in my books.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Although I have set goals for my website, I have not really experienced many variations apart from my expectations. Coming into the shole business, I realized that it wouldf take effort and time to establish an effective website, so I continue to evaluate its productiveness and quality and regularly implement changes for improvement. Being in this business as long as I have, I understand that a great website doesn't just happen overnight.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
My website has been in existence and online in one form or another for close to 10 years. I will continue to maintain the website as long as it provides benefit for my business and those who are able to use it as a resource toward the success of their websites.
What is your website address?
Deerpath Web Design
