I am starting my own horse business and seem to be hitting a brick wall in finding a logo and website designer. Most people that I’ve contacted, just by doing a Google search of those who specialize in equine-related work, are completely booked or not returning my calls.
Does anyone on COTH have recommendations? I am looking to get my logo designed first, but would love suggestions for both.
Thanks in advance!
COTH member FlashGordon is a graphic designer. She’s created several horsey logos for horse farms, a yoga practitioner who works with horses, etc. http://howedesignstudio.com/
Glad someone else already mentioned FG. LOL! 
I was coming here to recommend her too!
Thank you!
Oh oh oh! I’ll send you a PM
Flashy did a logo for me - she’s great!!!
How about someone who will commit MY web ideas to a new farm web site??? I have a current web site, but am changing sites/business name due to relocation and need a web designer to do/redo my site. Webmaster of 10 years skipped town with my site password and the ability for me to edit it. I’m keeping the old site up for now and have my new domain, but checking out do-it-yourself sites gives me palpitations!!!
Websites are ridiculously easy to do these days using Wordpress. Buy yourself a domain name and hosting on godaddy or any of the others, and you can go to town!
I just redid our regional pony club website which was sorely in need of an update. I scrapped it and started over. It is a very functional site now… we use it for entry forms, use the blog function to post news (you can even post by email) which can be sent to subscribers, collecting electronic signatures, and we even set up an e-commerce widget to pay for entry fees, dues, etc. via paypal.
It has been successful enough over the last year that the region has decided to go paperless, using the website for everything, instead of the mounds of paperwork that organizers used to have to do.
Wordpress is so nice because it is like a word processing interface, drag and drop, and everything magically works. Even mere mortals like us horsey folk can do it
I build simple, clean, tailored to your needs websites that are horsey.
I design them based on what you have and what you want to develop into if that is part of your goal.
I start with designing a logo that is a vector graphic. Then that can be transferred to everything you might want.
I’m rebuilding my own we site, so it doesn’t have a lot of my work on it. It isn’t finished because I’ve been busy with designing some other things. I can dig up some other examples of my work if you like.
I tend to specialize in illustration.
But, it can at least give you an idea.
[QUOTE=rhymeswithfizz;7805063]
Websites are ridiculously easy to do these days using Wordpress. Buy yourself a domain name and hosting on godaddy or any of the others, and you can go to town!
I just redid our regional pony club website which was sorely in need of an update. I scrapped it and started over. It is a very functional site now… we use it for entry forms, use the blog function to post news (you can even post by email) which can be sent to subscribers, collecting electronic signatures, and we even set up an e-commerce widget to pay for entry fees, dues, etc. via paypal.
It has been successful enough over the last year that the region has decided to go paperless, using the website for everything, instead of the mounds of paperwork that organizers used to have to do.
Wordpress is so nice because it is like a word processing interface, drag and drop, and everything magically works. Even mere mortals like us horsey folk can do it :)[/QUOTE]
Even aging horsemen who are becoming obsolete faster than ancient??? That kind too??
I have a good friend who can design, build, and maintain Websites who is looking for a few clients. She’s just finishing school, so her rates are very reasonable as she builds her portfolio. Her work is very good, and she has a horsey background. If you are interested, PM me and I will get you her contact info and some sample sites.
I agree with RWF. It’s pretty easy to design a website these days. I have done my own for years and it just gets easier and easier. Whatever the case, be sure as the site owner, that you have the password and can update the site. DO NOT leave it under the control of the webmaster.
You can set up any website with joint administrators if you like. That means that you always have the password as well as the webmaster.
One of the problems with all of the do-it-yourself websites is that they aren’t really very flexible in how you can position things like logos, photographs and text.
They also aren’t that easy to use … especially so if you want the entire site to actually look nice and flow easily.
If you want something with a good design and colors that you like and that work well on a website it is a good idea to at least work with someone that has a design background.
I have a great friend who does great work, equine specific.
PM me if you still need someone!
Messaged you.
Thank you all for the recommendations! I’ve been reaching out to most of you for examples and rates! So thankful for the COTH family to steer me right
[QUOTE=rhymeswithfizz;7805063]
Websites are ridiculously easy to do these days using Wordpress. Buy yourself a domain name and hosting on godaddy or any of the others, and you can go to town!
I just redid our regional pony club website which was sorely in need of an update. I scrapped it and started over. It is a very functional site now… we use it for entry forms, use the blog function to post news (you can even post by email) which can be sent to subscribers, collecting electronic signatures, and we even set up an e-commerce widget to pay for entry fees, dues, etc. via paypal.
It has been successful enough over the last year that the region has decided to go paperless, using the website for everything, instead of the mounds of paperwork that organizers used to have to do.
Wordpress is so nice because it is like a word processing interface, drag and drop, and everything magically works. Even mere mortals like us horsey folk can do it :)[/QUOTE]
Yes, websites CAN be easy to do with Wordpress (so why PAY someone who is only a wordpress designer) but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, it’s not always easy. For instance, do you want to be able to found on the internet? Your web designer better be able to understand Search Engine Optimization. For instance, some of the menu options available with Word Press make it impossible for Google to navigate your website. Does you website designer understand site maps and whey they are important?
What does google do to index your website? Does your web designer understand that?
MANY of the fly by night Wordpress designers have absolutely NO clue about any of these things. If you are going to have a website, perhaps consider getting yourself someone who understands the whole practice of web design.
Thanks for the tips and references. I think I PM’d everyone.
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