The site was recently re-launched with a fresh new design that includes photos from around the historic town, and in which every one of the charities supported by the fund has its own destination page.

The site allows Guilford Community Fund to accept donations via credit/debit card for the first time, using PayPal.

Charlie’s creativity and expertise produced a website that not only expands awareness of our organization but also enhanced our fundraising efforts by streamlining our donation process. He efficiently created a website beyond our expectations.

- Christine Fappiano, President, Guilford Community Fund

Thing is, that’s not actually true. And the truth is much, much worse.

Just because you don’t have a website of your own doesn’t mean your company isn’t on the web. Do a quick Google Search for your business name and you’ll probably find several “business directory” web sites like Manta.com or Google Places or any one of several online Yellow Pages sites. If your company has ever been mentioned in a newspaper article, or if someone has posted a review of your product or service, that might turn up too.

And all of those records might not be particularly flattering or helpful to potential customers.

A couple of examples:

• A small business owner recently came to me with a problem – Google their company name, and one of the first results was the text of a lawsuit filed against them. They wanted to know if there was any way to remove that item. (There isn’t.)
• Another client came to me because a blog posting about a billing dispute had become one of the top search results for her name.
• And the bus company that takes my son to school doesn’t have a site of its own. The last time I tried to find their phone number via Google, I got six different listings from various business directory sites – each with a different number listed.

Now, the phone company isn’t giving this (incorrect) information out of the goodness of it’s giant corporate heart. They’re looking to sell a “quick-and-easy” web site solution – one that allows you to design and publish your own site with a few clicks of your mouse.

Couple of problems with that approach.

First off: “quick and easy” doesn’t necessarily mean “good.” The websites generated by these tools are very limited, and they tend not to be optimized for search engines to read. That means your site might not out-rank all those other listings for your company.

“Quick and easy” also doesn’t necessarily mean “inexpensive.” Or even “cost effective.” The phone company’s website solution starts out cheap – just $4.99 per month to start. But adding features – like an e-mail with your own domain name or the ability to sell products online – cost extra. (The phone company? Nickel-and-diming customers? Shocking, I know.)

Here’s the reality: your company does need a website. But you’re going to be much better off in the long run with a site under your direct control, built in a system that is optimized to be read by the search engines, that can be configured to do exactly what you need without incurring a host of monthly add-on charges. That might cost you a little more at set-up, but you’ll make that money back – and more – over the life of your business.

Contact us for a free price quote and we’ll be happy to help.

Working with charlie has been a pleasure. His dedication toward our website development is greatly appreciated. Charlie’s knowledge of WordPress is evident and is clearly reflected on our site. We look forward to work with him in the future.

- Alisha Feinberg, Founder, JAM ON DUMBO

The new site enabled Literacy Suffolk to take donations online via PayPal, offer a calendar of events that syncs with Google Calendar, sell products and allow tutors to submit necessary reports… all via their web site.

Literacy Suffolk is one of several non-profit organizations ctzdesign has been proud to serve.

We recently re-launched Suzi’s site, using a new template that gives her even more control over every aspect of her blog — and her brand.

Charlie’s a whiz with WordPress and coding and a joy to work with. He is responsive, skilled and generous and he combines his technical expertise and savvy with a keen ability to educate those of us who are less literate in the ways of the internet world. I have come to rely on him as a critical component of my business growth strategy. He is easy to work with because he takes time to understand my needs and saves me time since he can translate fluently between English and Technologese. I’m a fan and I highly recommend his work.

- Suzi Pomerantz, CEO of Innovative Leadership International LLC