Service Contract Agreement
By placing an order, you agree to the terms outlined below with no exceptions. Our correspondence and work together will further serve as evidence toward our mutual agreement to enter into a service contract with one another.
Project Selection
While I’m very grateful for every project request received, unfortunately, I cannot take on every project that is presented to me. Projects chosen are well-suited to my skills and availability only. I reserve the right to terminate any project that ceases to bbe enjoyable and/or profitable.
Hours of Operation
As a freelance operation, my hours vary. I do not work on holidays or weekends.
Process
Initial contact
Initial contact occurs in any case where you contact me directly, request a quote or place an order.
Payment, queue placement and contract
You must pay for your project in full before any work can begin. (Due to the nature of design work, your payment will be non-refundable, no exceptions.) Your payment will secure your place in my project queue so that I can serve my clients in the order that they pay. Clients must review the Terms page before signing their contractual service agreement with us.
Research and planning
We can begin to narrow down what your needs are, your budget, your vision, etc. In cases such as larger projects or projects on a special payment plan, we may draft a project plan and timeline document to help both parties visualize the entire project in stages as well as payment deadlines.
Design, development and creating
We will work toward your vision and goals for your project together. Based on your requests, I will outline a layout, an organization scheme, arrange a color palette, etc. which will all be sent to you for your review until we have a solid foundation. Along the way, communication via email is very important – it provides a reference throughout the project so both parties are clear about their expectations – and regular feedback is necessary so that we can bring your vision to life!
Clients are responsible for purchasing all premium (i.e., paid) graphics they would like used in their design.
Note: Once we have designed something according to your initial design preferences, any layout changes you request that require re-coding of your design are subject to the creation of a new and separate design entirely (e.g., going from one sidebar to two sidebars), and therefore will cost accordingly.
Proofing and revisions
I will present you with proofs and examples for you to review/approve and we will continue until we’ve completed the project, and you are satisfied with your product(s).
Finalize
After everything has been approved by you, you will receive your final bill for any remainder on your balance and charges for any additional elements that were added during the creating process.
Deliver products and install
Once your final balance has been paid off, all deliverables will be installed and/or turned over to you.
End or continue contract
In some cases, once we have completed our project, we may need to formally recognize the end of our contract so that I know to remove you from my project queue. However, if you would like to keep me on retainer, extend my services for a longer, but limited, time; we can add on to your original contract. Just let me know!
Sharing
This is the last, and the best, part – sharing it with the world! After getting your product(s) installed, delivered and/or launched, I may feature it in my portfolio as well as share it across all my social media outlets. (You can too, of course!)
Communication
All communication is done via email so that we have a central record of your project preferences.
Payment & Schedule
Payments are accepted through PayPal only. (You do not need a PayPal account to pay through PayPal.) You must pay your balance in full before any work can begin. Rush orders require an additional non-refundable 25% fee (of your total project cost) upfront due to the shorter process and turnaround time.
Wait Time
Any projected dates quoted during the design process are only estimates. Projects can take anywhere between a few weeks and a couple months. I work as quickly as possible to complete all designs but the design process is fluid and delays are not uncommon.
During the payment process you will be given an estimate on when work on your design will begin, and only when you’ve completed payment will you be placed in my project queue and given an estimate on when the project will be complete and final products delivered. Revisions slow the design process, which can often shift completion target dates.
Proofing & Revisions
Custom designs are created based your design preferences (colors, graphics, fonts, etc.) After you receive the initial design proof, I will provide up to three reasonable revisions during the design process. After three rounds of revisions, additional fees may apply.
Post-Install Revisions
Once your design is installed, any revisions you request that are not a result of an error on my part are subject to a $45+ fee. I’m available to be kept on retainer, too, as webmaster or technical consult for a flat monthly fee of $95.
Note: Once we have designed something according to your initial design preferences, any layout changes you request that require re-coding of your design are subject to the creation of a new and separate design entirely (e.g., going from one sidebar to two sidebars), and therefore will cost accordingly.
Design Credit
A small line of text that reads, ‘Built by With Great Heart’ will be placed at the bottom of the page to credit me as the designer of your template. Keep this on your blog as long as you have any With Great Heart designed elements applied.
Project Files
Once your design is installed, we delete your files. Since we reserve the right to decline working on additional updates to your blog at any time, we do not offer file retention services or the ability for clients to purchase design rights at this time.
Any design elements created for your blog, you’re welcome to using flattened versions (PDF, JPEG, PNG or GIF formats) as you like. However, I will not provide native creation files (.AI, .PSD formats) as elements used in those designs required commercial licenses or work from other creative professionals.
Domains & Web Hosting
You are responsible for purchasing your domain name and any web hosting. I highly recommend SiteGround (affiliate link) – their customer service is wonderful and sites with them are incredibly fast. The final design will be installed on your account.
I will install a backup plugin for you as an extra precaution and will set it to automatically send backup files to your email address, but I will not be retaining these files for you. (Make sure to keep those files stored in your email or somewhere remote in case your site goes down and you’re not able to log in to get them.) If you want extra security, speak with your web host about any backup and restore packages they offer.
E-commerce Websites & Other Options
All e-commerce shops built and/or designed by me will use a PayPal cart and checkout. Your customers do not need a PayPal account to checkout with PayPal, or their credit or debit card. They just have to select the ‘Don’t have a PayPal account?’ option and pay as a guest when they are directed to PayPal.com.
As an alternative, if you have an Etsy shop, I can integrate that into the website for you.
Cancellations + Refunds
Due to the nature of design work, refunds will not be issued under any circumstances on payments of any kind that are made to me.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Creation
While Web design and development, content and SEO go hand-in-hand, they are separate entities. My main specialty is the design and development phase. I do not create content, unless that is specifically negotiated into your project package at an additional fee.
I cannot guarantee any sort of search engine results such as improvement to a search engine ranking, nor can I promise to get a site higher up or to the ‘top of Google’. However, I do build each site in a way that is accessible to search engines in an effort to increase its chances. I can also install a tool for you that will guide you in what to include for each blog post to make it more successful in search engine rankings, and I can provide referrals for SEO specialists so that you receive the most knowledgeable support.
Unless specifically negotiated into your project package at an additional fee, I also do not maintain your site analytics. However, I can add your existing Google Analytics tracking code into your site for you.
Permissions
With Great Heart is not liable for any photos or design elements provided by clients. Please be sure to have permission before submitting any elements or photography to With Great Heart to use in your design.
Confidentiality
All correspondence between you and With Great Heart is confidential and may not be shared or forwarded to others without our expressed written consent.
Copyright
All designs are protected under copyright and are property of With Great Heart. This includes site coding.
Access
In order to install your design, I will need your login information or you can add me as an Admin on your account. I will be the only one working within your account, and your information will never be shared with anyone, it is kept completely confidential. I understand that clients are entrusting me with their virtual property, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
If you’re uncomfortable providing login information, I suggest that you instead add me as an Admin which you can remove once our work is done, or change the password to something else before/after providing it and then after we have finished our work together, change it back when you no longer require my services.
– How to add someone as an Admin in Blogger
– How to add someone as an Admin in WordPress