Changes to De*WriteSites Webmastering Policy and Rates for 2019
- Deah Curry PhD
- Jul 15, 2019
- 3 min read

First, what the heck is webmastering? Well, simply put, it's the ongoing care and feeding of your website. That includes adding and changing content, swapping out photos, doing the alt tags you might not have known about, ensuring the links and payment buttons keep working, and stuff like that. For the most part, my clients take care of these things themselves.
Sometimes a website owner is too busy, or too intimidated by the technology to make necessary changes. But that can become a problem if incorrect or outdated information is getting displayed, and Google rankings start to slip.
For several years I've had the informal policy of not charging for simple changes on websites I have built that take less than 15 minutes of my time. I don't mind doing this, and it keeps the design integrity of the site intact.
What I haven't done is offer this kind of webmastering to folks whose websites I did not create (with the exception of a few professional colleagues).
New Policy
Since I've received nearly 10 requests in the last week from novice Wix users for just a little tweaking help, I've reconsidered the possibility of doing webmastering for sites I have not designed.
If the work truly does not require a redesign of a site to bring it up to professional standards, and if the "tweaks" are fast, easy, not involving a store or coding, my new policy is to consider the project and charge a non-refundable pre-paid retainer for 3 hours of work and an assessment of what else should be done if a professional website is desired. Work additional to 3 hours will be charged in 2 hour segments, pro-rated and payable before the work is published.
Do note that webmastering is not the same as tech support, although the line between these is often subjective and intuitive. Bascially, webmastering enhances a website or its rapport with your niche audience while tech support fixes a problem you're having with using the editing tools.
This new policy is limited to work on the website itself. Tasks included are:
minor photo editing where needed for color, size, or sharp image
update on-page SEO & meta tags
adding a new page(s) for pre-written content
adding alt tags to photos for better SEO
adding new blogs, plus SEO for each post
adding social media links
correcting / improving mobile view
adding data privacy policy page
improving/ modernizing blog page layouts
adding PayPal buttons for up to 6 items
installing PayPal drop down widget code sent by client
reorganizing menu for space and functional clarity
This webmastering policy does not include:
setting up Shoutout / email marketing
writing new content for new pages
adding membership management apps
adding booking or event apps
managing your social media
setting up Google My Business
writing / installing locator directory profiles
If you are looking for any of the above, I recommend hiring a virtual assistant who is proficient with internet marketing for your type of business.
My webmastering policy also does not include doing anything requiring Wix code. While it is fantastic that Wix offers this capability, I have not yet found that most of my niche clients need special coding for their website. As a result, I have concentrated my professional learning in other areas.
New Rates
As of 1 January 2019, my webmastering hourly rate is $75. After 1 Aug 2019 the rate goes to $100 per hour. Established clients are invoiced on a pro-rated basis after the first free 15 minutes are used. Lengthy instructional emails if needed may be included in time spent, and reflected in the charge invoiced. By lengthy, I mean email that takes more than 15 minutes to compose or several emails answering many questions. Established clients are welcomed to schedule a 15 minute no charge phone chat if that is more helpful.
New clients will pay a non-refundable 3 hour retainer in advance, with additional non-refundable hours invoiced and pre-paid in 2 hour segments, based on the hourly rate, pro-rated according to the requirements of the task. All new clients will start with either an email outline of the details of tasks required, or a no cost phone chat of up to 30 minutes. Your Wix login and password will be required after payment of the retainer invoice to initiate the work.
Questions? Feel free to email me.
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