Freckled Nest Design consists of a team of seasoned designers and formatters. We offer three unique packages the Blog Makeover and the Blog as a Website, each focused on expressing the clients style with creative, innovative and professional designs. Our goal is to create the blog of your dreams, nothing less!
Considering a custom blog design can feel overwhelming at first, but it’s so much fun! Our designers love dreaming up the perfect look for you, and these steps will help you understand how you can get started...
- Visit the FN Designers Page to meet our designers, and get an idea of who is the best match for your style! All of our designers have been trained to work in the Freckled Nest signature style, technique and format while still implementing their personal design aesthetic and unique ideas.
- Explore this page to see the different packages we offer. Each package has different features, and you also have the option to add on a la carte items too.
- Send in an order form to start the process (found at the bottom of this page). Include any questions or concerns you have, and we’ll contact you soon with answers, ideas, and the next steps.
Finding the perfect fit of the right package and the right designer for each client is something we love to help with, so if you need help just contact us at Hello@FreckledNest.com, or submit an order form and let us know you need help deciding.
All blogs have common elements (a place for your posts, a header that’s eye catching) but that technical knowledge is just the beginning of what our packages offer clients. All of our designers are also successful bloggers and creative business owners with niche experience and knowledge that you can’t find anywhere else!
Our one-on-one process pairs you with a designer who, as a blogger, has first hand knowledge of your market, and who can access the FN management team’s resources at any time. Our team delivers a final product that you’ll fall in love with, and makes the process of getting there unique, inspiring, and exciting to be a part of!
As a way to discover what you'd like in your blog or website, we start the discussion process with fun “Style Homework” questions that guide you through sharing visual examples of your style. This will give your designer a great jumping off point for understanding and building on the things you love, and gives you a fun project to start your blogs new look with lots of inspiration.
Once we receive your homework by email, we use your answers to create a unique and cohesive design concept that represents your style and inspiration... then we'll work with you via email and/or chat until you feel confident that your dream blog is on the horizon!
All packages also include a second set of homework that gathers the finer details that your designer and formatter will need before they can launch your new site.
Please Note: Homework is only sent once payment has been completed :)
This design package is for bloggers looking to enhance the layout and appearance of their blog. Your Blog Makeover will reflect your style, represent your passion & commitment for what you do, plus host original designs by Freckled Nest.
- Oversight by Creative Principals: Freckled Nest’s Owners & leading creative forces, Leigh-Ann and Kyla, will oversee your project and ensure that all the elements of your website are designed to come together professionally and work perfectly.
- Assistance Developing a Style Concept: Through our homework process and designer coaching, you’ll receive a concept “pitch” as well as a demo from your designer before your blog is launched.
- 2-3 Column Blog Reformat (other layouts available on request)
- Custom Banner: As the heart of your design, your banner will be the jumping off point for your new custom look. Your banner can include anything from an exclusive photo shoot by your designer to detailed layers of graphics and typography.
- Horizontal Navigation Bar: The nav bar is a useful tool, especially for new clients and readers coming to your website. It displays buttons that link to pages and other websites below the banner for easy reference and navigation, keeping your sidebars simple and clean.
- Colored Background or Pattern/Image
- Static Widget: A non-animated button or badge promoting your blog that readers and customers can copy and display on their website.
- Edited Profile Photo with word or name added to the image
- Custom & Cohesive Font Colors
- 3-5 Text Headings for Sidebars: Designed to suit the font style and color of your blog design and help with sidebar navigation.
- 2-3 Custom Sidebar Buttons/Images: Designed to complement and enhance the new look of your site.
- Sidebar Organization: Includes organizing everything your readers and customers need when they’re navigating your blog, and everything you need to track and promote your blog! (Example: Implementing codes for Site Meter, Flickr Widget, Etsy Widget, “Like This on Facebook” button, Google Followers widget, Picture of Blog Author or Company Logo)
- Custom Formatting: Your designer works with a member of our formatting team to launch your design! All the technical behind the scenes work is taken care of by your formatter & while you’ll never meet them, their work is crucial to your design.
- Communication & Development Time
+ Digital Guide: Make Your Mark - Making a first strong impression is extremely important for bloggers, and this digital guide will give you unique hints and ideas from Freckled Nest to help you to stand out.
+ Email: Soft Copy of Custom Files + Digital Guides - Within one month of your completed design, the Freckled Nest HQ will email you a message containing the Guide (above) along with the jpg or png files of your custom design elements and any a la carte items you’ve ordered.
$650 USD
This design package is for bloggers & business owners who are looking for a stylish, branded online presence that takes it to the next level! Your Blog as a Website will reflect your style and passion, and communicate that across every uniquely branded page on your site. Your package can look and function exactly like a blog or exactly like a website- or anything in between. As with all of our packages, no matter how elaborate your design looks from the outside your designer handles all the details, and it’s easy to keep your final product stylish and up to date.
Why use a Blog as a Website? by Leigh-Ann, Founder of Freckled Nest
"Since starting my business, my blog has been my canvas to communicate, inform and inspire. Traditional websites are very expensive to develop and can quickly become stale, since the owner is rarely left in charge of maintaining & altering the content. By using a blog as the “engine” behind my main website, it allows me to regularly update and inform my audience, draw in new readers and potential clients, and showcase my creative life in a way that’s easy and fun to maintain. The Blog as a Website package offers a completely branded and seamless online presence, that allows your designer to help you showcase your products or life as professionally as you would with a traditional website. We work creatively with the “skeleton” of your blog platform to offer the same look at a much lower price point.
By choosing to make your online home a Blog as a Website, you’re in control of your content. You can keep your blog fresh with posts sharing your creativity, wares and things that interest and inspire you! This process of sharing isn’t just for fun- it’s an ongoing representation of your brands style and personality that builds trust and a bond with your future clients. My blog is the only marketing tool I used during my first two years in business, and because of its success and effectiveness, I became a full time small business owner- and my blog is still the nucleus of Freckled Nest.”
- Oversight by Creative Director: Freckled Nest’s Creative Directors Leigh-Ann and Kyla will oversee and ensure that all the elements of your website are designed to come together professionally and work perfectly.
- Development of a Dynamic Design Concept: Through our homework process and designer coaching, you’ll receive a concept “pitch” as well as a demo from your designer before your blog is launched.
- 2-3 Column Blog Reformat (other layouts available on request)
- Custom Banner: As the heart of your design, your banner will be the jumping off point for your new custom look. Your banner can include anything from an exclusive photo shoot by your designer to detailed layers of graphics and typography.
- Navigation Bar with Dropdown Menus: The “nav bar” is a useful tool, especially for new clients and readers coming to your website. It displays buttons that link to pages and other websites below the banner for easy reference and navigation, keeping your sidebars simple and clean. You have the option of having your Nav Bar be horizontal or vertical, and we have added dropdown menus to increase the functionality.
- 3 Custom Designed Coordinating Pages: Extending your custom design into the content of your pages is a beautiful way to communicate who you area, what you do, and why you’re different. Your designer will set-up and polish the content of your coordinating pages, styling all of your pages to make a strong impression and give your blog an unexpected second impression! These pages are the perfect way to showcase your information, photos and video without it looking like a blog post; they are focused, undated, posted one post per page and do not have the sidebar content that your main page has. They’re also fully editable after launch.
- Start Here Page Set-Up & Install with Page Content Support: This is a page that gives new readers a tour of what you have to offer throughout the site. We will provide you with some tools/suggested steps to help make a good 'Start Here' page.
- Start Here Sidebar Button: To guide readers to your new page.
- Colored Background or Pattern/Image
- Edited Profile Photo with short Welcome/About Paragraph Below
- 3 Static Widgets: A non-animated button or badge promoting your blog that readers and customers can copy and display on their website.
- Custom & Cohesive Font Coloring
- Custom Search Button in Sidebar
- Custom Tiny Icon on Address Bar: Also known as a “favicon”, this adds a great custom detail! It’s a cute finishing touch and will also extend your branding into some RSS readers.
- Social Media Set (up to 5 icons) - This is a group of buttons in your sidebar where your readers can click through to your other social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.
- Social Media Sharing Buttons Below Each Post
- Sidebar Setup: Includes organizing everything your readers and customers need when they’re navigating your blog, and everything you need to track & promote your blog! (Example: Implementing codes for Site Meter, Flickr Widget, Etsy Widget, “Like This on Facebook” button, Google Followers widget, Picture of Blog Author or Company Logo)
- 3-5 Featured Category Sidebar Buttons: Your sidebar buttons will direct your readers to all of your important information and will compliment your blog design. These buttons can include image and text for Featured Posts, Featured Listings, etc.
- Unlimited Custom Sidebar Headings: Part of a strong design is having navigation that makes your reader’s experience positive and streamlined. Your sidebar headings or buttons will direct your readers to all of your important information and will compliment your blog design.
- Custom Formatting: Your designer works with a member of our formatting team to launch your design! All the technical behind the scenes work is taken care of by your formatter & while you’ll never meet them, their work is crucial to your design.
- Communication & Development Time
- Blog Post by Designer: Your designer will create a post on their personal blog showcasing your design and linking to your new site.
A) 1/2 Hour Ad Program Live Consultation with Leigh-Ann or Kyla: We will meet with you to explain how advertising works in the blogging and small business community, and work through what would work best for your site.
+ Ad Section Set-Up: After your consultation, Leigh-Ann or Kyla will contact your designer about what works for you so that they can implement it as part of your design. They will create an Ad Section plus example ad sizes that compliment your design's color story and fonts.
OR
B) 50 Minute Live Meeting with Leigh-Ann or Kyla: Defining your Online Presence + Goal Setting: Meet one on one with your choice of Freckled Nest's owners to define the focus of your online presence in an authentic way and make a plan to spread the word about it!
+ Email Soft Copy of Custom Files + Digital Guides - Within one month of your completed design, the Freckled Nest HQ will email you a message containing the jpg or png files of your custom design elements and any a la carte items you’ve ordered.
+ Digital Guide: Make Your Mark - Making a first strong impression is extremely important for bloggers, and this digital guide will give you unique hints and ideas from Freckled Nest to help you to stand out.
+ Digital Guide: Exclusive Tips for Effective Blogging - Blogging can be such an amazing part of your life, and we want to help our clients feel that! These tips will help you get inspired and make your blog stand out while keeping the focus on fun, building community, and sharing.
$1150 USD
Once you've discussed your new look with your designer, you might decide to add in something outside of your package. The A La Carte Menu is a great place to gather ideas on how you can extend your design.
Individual Items: You can also request our A La Carte menu if you would like to purchase an element or service on its own.
- Individual Blog Elements (banners, nav bars, widgets, category labels etc.)
- Blog Name Change and Archive Transfer
- Etsy Banners & Avatar Sets
- Twitter Backgrounds
- Tumblr Design coming soon
- Big Cartel Shop Design coming soon
- Branded Paypal Checkouts
- One on One Training Session
- Personalized support & brand development workshops with Leigh-Ann or Kyla
You can request this by e-mail at Hello@FreckledNest.com
Illustration can add so much to a blog design! If having an illustrated aspect to your design appeals to you, your designer will partner with Moorea, Zoe, or Elizabeth (our illustrators extraordinaire!) and add a small illustration package of hand drawn elements to your blog design! This package includes a custom identity element that you can use across your branding, hand lettered elements (ex. nav bar, banner, or social media links), and custom details in the space between your posts.
Completely illustrated blog designs by Moorea are available as an add-on in medium and large packages that cover different combinations of elements according to your needs and dreams. Moorea will help you select the right package before your order is invoiced, and will guide you through our new Illustration Style Homework once payment is completed.
1. Please copy and paste this form into an email and send to Hello@FreckledNest.com
ORDER FORM
1. Your Name:
2. E-Mail Address:
3. Mailing Address:
Full Name / Address / City / State or Province / Zip or Postal Code / Country
This is where we will mail your Files CD (included with package 2 & 3).
4. Blog Address:
Please list your current address- if you want to move to another blog platform your designer will guide you :)
5. Blog hosted on:
Will your new blog design be on Blogger, Typepad, Squarespace or Self Hosted Wordpress?
6. Design Package:
Choose from a Blog Makeover or Blog as a Website
7. I'd like my blog designed by:
Choose from a designer, or write “Match me with a designer!” for us to choose your fit!
Owner/Designers: Leigh-Ann, Kyla
Designers: Mandi, Moorea, Kelly Ann, Elizabeth or Mervi
8. Three of the most beautiful blogs/websites I visit are:
Please list 3 URLs with designs you love so we can get a quick impression of your desired design style.
9. E-Mail address to invoice:
We invoice through Paypal. If you already have a Paypal account, make sure you list it’s e-mail account here.
10. Do you have any questions, or are there any extras you want to discuss?
Extras could include illustration, a la carte items or print & commission work :)
Please Note: Self hosted wordpress blogs can require additional work from our specialists which can increase the package price please request the Wordpress A La Carte or speal wuth menu to see SEO and Plugin addons, and potential.
2. Once we've received your order we will review your designers availability and connect you with your designer. Your designer will give you an estimated start date and if you'd like to go forward we'll send a paypal invoice and homework questions once payment is complete.
We accept paypal and major credit cards.
Payment for Blog Makeover and Blog as a Website is due in two portions: 70% before design begins, remaining 30% right before formatting of your custom site
All prices are in US dollars & payment is non-refundable.
Thank you again, we look forward to hearing from you :)
Have an idea of which package fits your needs? Super!
Visit the FN Designers Page to meet our fab designers :)
contact us at Hello@FreckledNest.com or www.FreckledNestDesign.com