Lawrence Tilley

WWDC: What's your name and position in the company?
Lawrence Tilley: ”Lawrence Tilley - Freelance Web Designer”

WWDC: Describe your company in 5 words.
Lawrence Tilley: ”Experienced, Friendly, Professional, Honest, Reliable”

WWDC: What makes you different from other web design companies?
Lawrence Tilley: ”As an independent freelancer, I advise my clients on the best value products and solutions, tailored for their business. Other web design companies recommend certain products/platforms because they have already invested in specific technologies or partnered up with a hosting provider. With my experience of small and large web projects, I can cater for your needs, rather than giving you a blanket solution.”

WWDC: How do you get the majority of your business?
Lawrence Tilley: ”Word of mouth does help in business. With the internet producing so much competition, it's hard to find good advice. I make sure my website includes testimonials from my customers, which has proved to be a big success in gaining new clients. You'd be amazed to hear how many people I meet who say 'I need a Web Designer' and I'm always at the ready with my business card. The world really is a small place.”

WWDC: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
Lawrence Tilley: ”Honesty is the best policy. If your website brief appears to be heading over budget, I'll establish that from the beginning and provide the best alternatives to meet your budget if it won't stretch. If I'm truthful from the beginning, I usually find that my client is honest in return, creating a strong relationship.”

WWDC: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
Lawrence Tilley: ”The 'cloud' has everyone salivating at the moment. Depending on how technology advances and the economy, the web cloud really could be the way forward. Designing under the cloud network should be exciting for the web design industry, since essentially everyone will have access to the same computer specifications. Web Designers won't have to accommodate for new and old browser versions or prompt users to update to the latest Flash version. The cloud technology will enable Web Designers to streamline their work and concentrate more on revolutionary designs.”

WWDC: What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
Lawrence Tilley: ”Both PC and Mac”

WWDC: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
Lawrence Tilley: ”Think ahead. Give your website a five year plan. Look at the latest web technologies today and see how they could affect your website in the future. Many clients contact me saying 'Can I just add a RSS feed to my site?', or 'My CMS won't allow Flash content, can you add this function for me?'. It's still possible to add new functions to an existing site, but you would've saved yourself a lot of time and money if these technologies had been incorporated or considered when you first built your site.”