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4 reasons why I'm not the best choice for your environmental brand

Article excerpt or TLDR:
  1. You're searching for the cheapest option or have no planned budget. While everything has its place, choosing to go with the bare minimum when discussing your future website will only backfire in the long run.
  2. Looking for a quick fix. Others might be more suitable as I'm always looking to build long-term.
  3. Having unrealistic goals. Without a proper sales & marketing strategy in place, a website won't be the be-all and end-all solution to your worries.
  4. You want a big agency. Nothing wrong with that, I prefer to focus on a few clients with a more personal investment.
A person walking in the desert with a sign next to it that reads: "4 reasons why I'm not the best choice for your environmental brand".

In this environmental niche, we’re urged to think about our target audience a lot, aren’t we?

What are their personalities like? What are their interests? What type of life do they lead?

But there’s one thing that most environmental brand owners don’t do.

Consider who they do not want to work with.

I’m not talking about the folks that no one wants to work with.

You know who I’m talking about: individuals that never pay on time (if ever) and send change requests at 2 a.m. demanding to have them the next morning (the last one might be a bit more personal).

No, I’m talking about folks who aren’t a good fit for your company. These aren’t awful people; they’re simply not the proper fit for you or your business. Like you might not be a right fit for them.

By understanding this, you may adapt your environmental branding guidelines and content to individuals who are a good fit for you, while also discouraging those who aren’t.

This promotes higher trust and loyalty with people you genuinely care about while saving your time with those you don’t want to deal with.

And, apart from this mini corporate environmental branding lesson, here are my four reasons I might not be the best brand & web design choice for you and your environmental brand.

Street sign that reads: "Cheap street".
Photo by kerry rawlinson on Unsplash

1. You need affordable custom web design but have no budget (or are searching for the cheapest option)

Don’t get me wrong, there’s use for everything and everyone.

But the problem is that you want a web designer who can fully provide what you need: someone who can take your ideas and bring them into reality.

Someone who can take your brand from simple sketches on a drawing board and transform it into a fully-fledged design spanning across multiple screens.

Someone who will collaborate with you from start to finish in this design process to guarantee that your site meets and (hopefully) exceeds your expectations.

You require someone who is as invested in your company or organization as you are.

You need someone who will take the time to grasp what you’re trying to say, how you want to communicate it and convert it into a visual language that your target audience will comprehend.

You’ll need someone who knows the complexity of responsive design and building sites that work on all devices and platforms.

You need someone who understands how critical it is to ensure that your site functions with search engines like Google so that people can discover you when they search for your specific environmentally friendly niche.

If you are on a tight budget, looking for affordable custom web design, it may be tempting to hire a cheap web designer. But if you are seeking to invest in your business, investing in your online presence, home for your environmental brand if you will, should be high on your list.

You might wish to consider: How much does your website reflect your environmental firm? Potential clients will leave soon if it does not appear at least decent.

And more importantly, the website’s primary aim is not only to attract customers but also to keep them.

My pricing starts from $3000 for small websites. And depending on the complexity and your needs, the price goes up.

I’m not a cheap web designer, but for the sake of your business, you shouldn’t look for one, either.

A dog with glasses looking at a mobile phone.
Photo by Cookie the Pom on Unsplash

2. You need a website done fast and are looking for a quick fix

Quick fixes are ineffective. You need a website that will help your business grow and survive for years. Patching it up with hasty solutions will hurt you in the long run.

Also, brands are always developing (as they should) and your corporate environmental branding reflects the most recent direction. Your website might become out of date if it is not updated regularly.

There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” in the online universe. I will not make educated guesses about your business. If you’re searching for a person who has thousands of templates, you’ve come to the wrong place.

It’s easy to get ahead of yourself in the realm of web design. It’s simple to feel irritated. “I urgently want a website! Let’s just get started! Anything!”

The issue with this strategy is that you may not be considering what you need in the long run. A website is an essential component of any internet business, and if you don’t build one that performs properly for you, you’ll fall behind.

It makes no difference if your website is an e-commerce site or a simple blog - it must function for you. It must be mobile-friendly, responsive, and user-friendly for your visitors. It must also be visually appealing to your target audience.

All this requires time and preparation. Just because you want a website today doesn’t imply you should settle for anything less than what you require and deserve.

That’s why every excellent designer has their system in place like I have mine. Depending on the project, our collaboration can last from 3 months up to 6-9 months. It’s a commitment, I know.

I’m a designer and brand strategist with over 8 years of expertise in front-end programming and user experience design. My objective is to build experiences that are attractive, simple to use, and meaningful to users.

I consider myself a “business designer,” with an emphasis on both strategy and aesthetics.

If you want to create a long-term relationship with someone who takes the time to understand your business, goals, and needs, I would walk you through the process of designing an excellent website that will resonate with your target audience and accomplish the outcomes you need.

A drawn chart with two axis - sucking/not sucking and past/future.
Photo by Isaac Smith on Unsplash

3. You have unrealistic goals for your website, expecting it to do all the work for you

Most of the time, the main issue stems from the ingrained idea that your website will conduct all your marketing and selling for you. This is illogical. Your website is one of many components that comprise your online presence.

Your website’s purpose is to provide a platform for your environmental firm rather than to perform miracles. For example, if someone wants to learn more about your company, your website will provide the necessary information.

Its purpose is not to sell itself, but to “sell” your environmental brand message to an audience who wants to hear it and guide them towards a designated action.

This call-to-action may very well be a sale, a sign-up, a contact, anything concrete and consumer-oriented.

But if your website is not receiving enough traffic, it’s time to consider other methods of producing leads or sales, such as email marketing, social networking, blogging, and so on.

Each serves a purpose in your sales funnel, guiding the user toward that desired action. Your website is just a part of that. A key part, sure, but a part nonetheless.

That’s why I always strive to help my clients first develop an understanding of who their target audience is.

How are they going to get from their starting point to your website (called user personas and a buyer’s journey)?

It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that your audience comprises real people.

And finally, we’ll step away from unrealistic goals and talk about implementing smart goals for their new website. Meaning: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, and Time-bound.

For example: After launching the site, we’ll have 20 monthly contact form submissions (assuming the same traffic)

Then we’ll tweak and test and improve. That’s how we know if something is working or not.

Not measuring, while expecting tremendous performance, will only result in dissatisfaction. And I’m sorry, but that’s lunacy.

People sitting at a design meeting listening to their colleague presentation.
Photo by Smartworks Coworking on Unsplash

4. You Want a Big Design Agency

I run a tiny design agency. I don’t have 500 workers, and I don’t provide the same level of service that you may expect from a major corporation. That will always be true.

The advantage of going to a big agency is simple. They have a streamlined process, with several teams covering different aspects.

Your project will be segmented and each department will place their focus only on their particular specialty (be it web design, development, creating environmental branding guidelines, logos, social media posts, you name it).

In turn, you will get a professional design across all boards. I worked for one; I know.

The thing is, when you run a small agency, you get to know everyone on your team. You care about them, and they care about you. And that is what I try to deliver to our clients: a personal touch, not only beautiful design.

I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible clients over the last several years, and I’ve chosen to use my expertise and knowledge to give an alternative to the “big box” agency model, which lacks accountability and personal service.

Working with me means:

  • Only 2 projects in progress at once, so I can give you my full attention.
  • You will work directly with me on your project from start to finish.
  • You will receive fast, responsive communication about all aspects of your project.
  • You will get the benefit of my professional insight throughout the process.

And I truly look forward to working with you!

If we’re the right fit based on everything mentioned above, of course. 😊

To be completely honest, it may take me longer than someone with a larger team to accomplish a project. But it will always be done correctly the first time.

Let’s discuss if this seems like something you’re searching for. I’d be interested in learning more about your environmental brand.

A few more important tidbits:

  1. Be aware - having an eco friendly strategy isn’t enough. You need to be seen by your target audience as an ‘environmental brand’ - and this takes time.
  2. We aren’t business specialists, so we may not be able to give you the best advice for your business sector.
  3. And lastly: I don’t want your business—I only want to work with you if we can help you make it even more successful your way.

Conclusion

I hope you found this list of reasons why I’m not the ideal fit for your environmental brand useful. After all, choosing a designer is like brainstorming ideas — you want someone that “clicks”. Someone who will support your vision and who you can rely on.

Environmental firms are facing a significant challenge. They have a huge, diversified consumer base with high expectations and many eco friendly queries.

From tracking your carbon emissions and calculating your carbon footprint, to managing recycled materials and answering broad questions, like “how are you combating climate change?” or “is this packaging plant-based?”

They must also cope with unjustified criticism from well-intentioned eco conscious customers who observe only minor improvements and changes.

I know it’s tough out there, but your heart is in the right place, believe me. And anyone who cares about making an environmental impact for the better, deserves recognition.

If, after all this, you still think we are a good fit for your project, you can always contact me here to set up a free consultation.

Wish you all the best in your future environmentally conscious endeavors.

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