Custom WordPress Design & Development

WordPress Websites Built Around Your Brand

The goal is simple: a website that looks like your business, works for your customers, and doesn’t need a developer every time you want to change a sentence. I design and build every site myself from my studio in downtown Napa, so the design you approve is the site you get.

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Ways to Work Together
overhead angle of three sets of arms/hands taking notes at a table with a laptop opened

Technical SEO at launch

Schema, sitemap, redirects, and Search Console setup.

Accessibility-minded build

Built to WCAG 2.2 AA and checked before launch.

Training & support

A 90-minute editor training, plus 30 days of how-to help after launch.

What’s Included

  • Planning and strategy: goals, site architecture, and a timeline with milestones
  • Custom design of your homepage and key page templates
  • One round of major revisions and two rounds of minor revisions
  • Development of the approved design, tested across devices and major browsers
  • Technical SEO at launch: schema markup, XML sitemap, 301 redirects, Search Console setup, meta title and description review, and robots.txt
  • Accessible, SEO-friendly code
  • Content loading and quality checks before launch
  • A 90-minute editor training session, plus 30 days of how-to support after launch
  • Help setting up your domain, hosting, and SSL certificate

What You’ll Provide

  • All website copy, images, and graphics, delivered two weeks before the project starts
  • Your logo and brand assets. Branded or custom fonts may need their own license.
  • Your domain, hosting, and SSL certificate, purchased in your name, and I’ll help with setup
  • Written approval of the final design

Ways to Work Together

Semi-Custom

Launch sooner, spend less

About 2 weeks

depending on content

  • Built on one of my coded theme templates
  • Styled to match your brand
  • Investment quoted per project
  • You’ll need your copy, photos, and logo ready to go

Fully Custom

Every detail, made to fit

8 to 10 weeks

depending on content

  • Designed from scratch around your goals
  • Everything listed in What’s Included
  • Investment quoted per project
  • You’ll need your copy and photography, plus time for design reviews

Moving to WordPress

Keep the look, gain the flexibility

Timeline varies

depending on site size

  • Your current design, rebuilt in WordPress
  • 301 redirects to protect your search rankings
  • Investment quoted per project
  • You’ll need access to your current site

Not sure which fits? Let’s talk it through ⟶

How It Works

Every project follows the same five steps, with regular updates along the way.

  1. Plan. We’ll map out your goals, site structure, and a timeline with milestones.
  2. Design. I design your homepage and key templates, with up to three rounds of revisions.
  3. Build. Once you approve the design in writing, I develop it and test it across devices and browsers.
  4. Launch. I load and check your content, then walk you through the editor in a 90-minute training session.
  5. Support. You get 30 days of how-to support after launch, and a maintenance plan can keep things running from there.

Selected Work

See the full portfolio ⟶

Kind Words

A few words from the people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

When it comes to website design and development, there are few individuals out there who can execute both the creative and technical side. Colleen is one of those rare professionals that not only knows and understands both sides, but is able to execute completely and beautifully.

-Heather Piazza,
Branding + Marketing + Communications Professional

Our new website has greatly increased our event business. We can’t thank you enough!

-Kristie Fondario,
General Manager, Ackerman Family Vineyards

Read more kind words ⟶

Common Questions

Can I update the website myself?

Yes. Every site is built in the WordPress block editor, so you can update text, images, and pages without touching code. After launch, I’ll walk you through everything in a 90-minute training session, and you’ll have 30 days of how-to support afterward. If you’d rather not update it yourself at all, I also offer content updates.

Who owns the website?

You do. Once your project is paid in full, you own the final website files and materials. My own tools, code, and frameworks stay mine, but you receive a permanent license to use them as part of your website, for as long as your site runs on them. That license covers your site only, so it doesn’t extend to other websites or projects.

Is SEO included?

Technical SEO is included. Every site launches with schema markup, an XML sitemap, 301 redirects, Search Console setup, a review of meta titles and descriptions, and a robots.txt file. Keyword research and ongoing marketing aren’t included, but I’m happy to point you toward people who specialize in that.

What if my content isn’t ready?

All copy, images, and graphics are due two weeks before your project starts. If they’re not ready, the start date moves with them, and the rest of the timeline follows. A good copywriter or photographer can be worth their weight in gold if you need help getting there.

How does payment work?

Fully custom projects are typically billed in three parts: 50% to book your spot, 35% when you approve the final design, and the balance when development is complete. Semi-custom projects are billed in two equal payments. If a different schedule works better for you, I’m happy to set up milestones that fit. Work begins once the first payment is received.

How many revisions do I get?

Every project includes one round of major revisions, like a shift in design direction, and two rounds of minor revisions, like color or layout adjustments. Once you approve the final design in writing, any further changes are billed at $125/hour.

What happens after launch?

You’ll have 30 days of how-to support to get comfortable. After that, a Website Insurance plan keeps your site updated, backed up, and secure, and content updates or new features can be arranged at $125/hour.

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