Courtney Rose Creative Services

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Designer Courtney Rose Galschiodt

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Affordable, customizable, quality creative services

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: My goal is to be a one-stop-shop for a wide array of customizable professional creative services at a great price.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: Like my work, I keep the budget low but the outcome professional. I sometimes work from a studio, but I usually work from a home office. That doesn't stop me from having a professional and efficient workspace.

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: It is all about feedback. Anything I create goes through a small network of critics including professionals and consumers. We like to create our own unique solutions to the same challenge at hand to present clients with a wider array of ideas.

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: For one, we offer such a broad variety of services. Secondly, Mike and I work on all projects together in some way or another. Clients pay low prices, but they still get at least two pair of designer eyes and two sets of creative hands. Third of all, we cater to our client's every need. From green printing to a custom flash music player, we will find a way to meet needs and tailor service solutions specifically to our client.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Most of our business comes from referrals and, of course, the Internet. More specifically, we get a lot of business from responding to ads for creative needs online.

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: First, I like to find out as much as possible about the client and the project. This can mean anything from informal questions to a phone call to a formal project brief. A round of mock ups and ideas is then completed usually containing 3-5 ideas. This sometimes happens multiple times before an idea is approved. We then go to work constructing the idea, uploading and emailing versions to clients for input along the way. For websites, SEO is also completed before the project is finished.

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: The most crucial element of a good client relationship is trust. A client is much more likely to become nervous and begin interrogating you if there is a lack of trust there. If you miss a day of communication or make a small mistake, it isn't as big a deal if you're trustworthy. That is why I aim to offer the most bang for my client's buck, I do my best to be constantly reachable, and I customize payment and communication as well as the design process to best utilize and build trust within our relationship.

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: Often times, the most unmanageably demanding clients simply don't understand the work being done. I always do my best to meet the demands of all clients, but if a client goes overboard, I explain to them the work involved and what I am doing. I convey that I'm doing what I can as quickly as I can, because not everybody is a designer who understands the process.

Q: If a client was trying to decide between a shortlist of web design companies, how would you recommend they go about selecting the right one for them?
A: Which company's website do you like best? Web design companies let their site reflect their work. It is their most important marketing tool and testament to their work. If their portfolio looks great but they themselves have a site that is just too hard to navigate with tiny white text on a black background, maybe they just aren't the company for you. It is important to find a design company that can look at function before aesthetics.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: I hope to build up to become a top full service creative agency with an even wider array of services.

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: I see the industry going strongly toward content management and programs like Dreamweaver opening up to more easily design CMS compatible sites.

Q: What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
A: Both PC and Mac

Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: It's my name! We were originally EveryRose Creative Services, but the name was changed after the logo and site underwent major transformations.

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Advertise it everywhere! Don't send an email without first listing your name and website at the bottom. Don't comment on articles without posting a link. Put your site on all of your business cards and print media. Advertise your site online either through paid services or even free means. Plaster your site everywhere (WITHOUT SPAMMING)!