FAQ (Please Read)

Below are answers to questions i seldom receive, or just stuff i want to make known from the gate as to diffuse any issues or confusion. All of the information below is equally important.

  • Part-time freelancer
    • Although I would love to spend the majority of my professional time on graphic and web design projects, I am unable to do so. I have a full-time job in computer technology, which also requires a significant portion of my time. Quality and top-notch customer service are a top priority, of course, but i don’t have hours to use unwisely on a project. Our world is increasingly about time management. With that said, I work efficiently and effectively, and I strive for direct and productive communication with people, but will not be available 24 hours a day to answer questions or make changes. I hope this FAQ helps.
  • Student
    • I am also full-time college student (yes, i do a lot lol). For the Spring ’11 semester, i am unreachable from 5-8pm Monday-Wednesday; so if you attempt to email me during this time, i will not get back to you until i’m out. Just want to give people a heads up :-)
  • Project Rates
    • All projects are on flat fee basis. I have an hourly rate ONLY if work is done on the weekends (read below).
  • No Spec Work
    • For more information on Spec work, read this.
  • Weekends
    • Unless there’s an emergency, say your website crashes or elements of your site start looking funky, i don’t do any work outside of Monday to Friday.
    • If there’s an absolute need to have tasks for a project or a whole project to be completed during the weekend, i will bill on an hourly basis for those hours worked. My hourly rate is $65/hour.
  • Emails
    • Between 8am to 11pm is when i will generally reply. If you don’t hear from me within 24 hours, please send another email, or if it’s imperative to speak to me right away, feel free to DM me on Twitter: @macariojames.
  • PayPal
    • PayPal allows for the most options: All Major Credit Cards, eCheck payments (bank account checks), and MoneyPaks (no checking account? Purchase and deposit MoneyPaks from Walmart or Duane Reade, etc. in your PayPal account).
  • Flash
    • For several reasons, I do not do custom Flash websites or banners. If that is what you’re looking to have done, i am not the person for it, unfortunately. I am more than happy to refer you to another designer, however.
    • Why not? It’s slow. It doesn’t work on most mobile browsers (smartphones, iPads, Android tables, etc.). It doesn’t serve a purpose for traditional information-based websites, especially not after the initial viewing. Look at Twitter, look at Facebook, Google searches, etc. The only bonafide good reason to use Flash is for videogames. That’s it.
  • Phone calls
    • Besides the initial planning sessions of the project (if it’s absolutely necessary), i prefer all communication to go through email. Please send me updates, tweaks, deletions, thoughts, comments, etc. via email.
    • I prefer email because it serves as an archive where i can look back at the history of a project and regardless of where i am, i can double check a tidbit of a project. Same goes for the client: you will have a record as well.
    • I used to think maybe i was being un-business like or un-professional, but Mark Cuban has rarely used the phone for business in over 15 years. Oh, and he’s a billionaire.
  • In-Person Meetings
    • I am open to meeting in-person for the initial project consultation, but my availability is not very flexible, unfortunately. Contact me to see if we can work something out.
  • BlackBerry
    • To maintain separation of business and person life, i only have friends and family as BBM contacts. You have unlimited access to email and Tweets, however :-)
  • Questions, Comments, or Anything
    • If there’s a problem, or you have a question, or would like to send me a testimonial to use on my website, please email me :-)