After graduation, I plan on starting my own freelance copyediting and proofreading business. In order to do so, a website where potential clients may easily access information about me and my services is almost necessary. My final project is a set of web pages for my future freelance copyediting business.
Conceptual Analysis
Clients
This website was designed with my potential clients in mind, which could be anyone who needs their writing edited before publication. Generally, authors of novels, articles, essays, dissertations, other forms of academic writing, and technical writing such as legal or medical documents seek freelance copyeditors. The visitors to this website will most likely be looking for a one-time copyediting job on a single piece of writing, ranging from a couple paragraphs to an entire book.
Since copyediting rates are relatively high, an individual who is willing to pay that much for an error-free document is most likely a professional writer of some kind. They could be any age, but are most likely over 20 and hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Obviously, many visitors to this site will be various kinds of writers, but anyone whose work is getting published needs a copyeditor.
Potential clients would access this website from their home or work computers. They may do an internet search in order to find me, but will most likely be referred by a previous satisfied customer, as most of a freelance editor’s jobs are obtained through word-of-mouth and reference.
Objective
My website contains all the information a possible customer needs to know when deciding on a freelance editor. I have provided them a detailed list of the different kinds of editing I provide, what they entail and how it will improve their writing. They need to know my education, experience and samples of previous work to determine whether or not my skills are adequate. Once they decide I’m qualified, the future clients need to know what my rates are to determine if it is within their budget. If they deem me capable and the price reasonable, they need my contact information. Each piece of information is provided on my website as its own page.
Content Analysis
Banner
The banner on all pages contains my business’ slogan and links to each different section of the website that include Home, Samples, Rates, About Me and Contact. The graphic of a stack of books is located in the upper-right hand corner of the page and serves as my site’s logo. Bordering the bottom of each page is that similar graphic copied many times to look like a stack of books. The headers, body text and links are consistent in color (greens and blues found in the graphic), size (headers are 20-36 pts, body text is 15) and font (Book Antiqua).
Pages
The homepage provides quick information that a client wants to know right away while visiting my site—who I am, what kind of writing I edit, the services I provide and the benefits of having writing professionally edited.
Before handing me a check, it is vital that the client view samples of my work in order to determine if my skills are sufficient. Therefore, I’ve created a page that provides two original passages from a dissertation followed by the edited version. The author of the dissertation gave me permission to use his writing as examples, but since I’ve provided samples which highlight significant revision, he asked not to be named.
The rates page is fairly straightforward. Because I edit so many different types of writing, offering different rates (by word, page, or hour) will help my clients find a price which is better-suited for their particular needs. For example, if I am editing a 300 page novel, payment by page would be most appropriate. If a client has a shorter piece and wants someone to double-check their grammar, payment by hour would make the most sense.
I have provided an “about me” link, which provides my experience and education as well as a page for my contact information.
This site was designed with professionalism in mind. It needed to be easily navigatable and only contain straightforward information that is relevant to the client’s inquiries.