- The Website Blueprint
- The Author
About The Author
My name is Wesley Newkirk and I'm a freelance web designer, developer and internet consultant. My interest in building websites started as a hobby that flourished into a full-time profession. Over the years I have designed a variety of websites for different organizations and businesses. I have also consulted with different business owners to overcome unique obstacles pertaining to their fields on the internet.
Notable Work
In 2009, I worked closely with the University of Chapel Hill's football strength and conditioning staff to create a unique website. The website for UNC's Varsity football team provided a list of workouts for players, along with links to videos to explain how to execute the various lifts. The website was a first for the Department of Athletics and set the precedent for future strength and conditioning sites. The site was mentioned in the September issue of Tar Heel Monthly.
I have also worked with different educational institutions to provide unique services for high school athletes. In 2008 I coordinated with a cross country coach to produce a website allowing athletes to chart their times and compare them with their teammates. The website remains the only one of its kind in the Mississippi Delta.
Along the way, I have also created websites for physicians, real estate investors and other entrepreneurs who needed a creative and custom website to suit their needs. While work has been good, I have noticed several clients lack the knowledge and understanding to effectively communicate what they want and require in a website.
A Definite Need For Easy To Understand Information
When I attend different business seminars, people generally have a barrage of questions at the ready when they discover I'm a web designer. In most cases people recognize they need a website, but don't know how to put one together. In other cases, they already have a website, but don't know what to do with it.
The latter is usually worse. They usually have purchased a cheap website package, that barely does anything at all. Although the package was inexpensive, it was still money wasted. In a shrinking economy, that money adds up rapidly.
Origins of The Website Blueprint
With this in mind, it only made sense to create a guide that addressed these problems. People need a complete source of information to answer the common questions associated with creating a website. At the same time, people need to know their options and choose the right solution for them based on their needs. Most importantly they need to recognize the difference between a legitimate web designer or marketer and an online scammer looking to take the money and run.
While I wouldn't initially call myself an author, I had a clear set of goals when writing The Website Blueprint. I wanted my readers to:
- understand the basic mechanics of the internet and the website
- learn the common website models and how they apply to different businesses
- utilize the models to identify their needs to build a solid concept
- select the right service, vendor or contractor to create their website
- know how to implement a variety of online marketing techniques
- have a list of tools and resources to complete their site regardless of budget
Covering these points would give a small business owner everything he or she would need to create a Successful website. They'd be able to tell reputable web company or freelancer from a fly-by-night. They'd also be able to match the right service to their needs, saving them money and time.
After reading my book, they have done just that. Check out the testimonials to see what people have to say about the book and how it helped them. I'm certain you'll find The Website Blueprint informative and helpful in your journey to create a website. Even if I may not be the web developer or designer for your site, I'm certain that The Website Blueprint will aid you in your online endeavors.
