WebTrax collaborators live and work in may areas around Chicagoland.  One of the benefits to working in a collaboration the ability to work from our seperate offices, and still collaborate on projects together.  And the same goes for our clients, not everyone who hires us is local.  We often times have phone or web conferences with clients to make sure we're all on the same page. 

Alex So- Business Technology Solutions  Palatine, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >    773-980-6294   

Amy Kinney- Grant Writing  Oak Park, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >    773-980-9893

Avery Cohen- Internet Marketing  Chicago and Highland Park
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >   708-602-3945
Metrist Partners, www.metristpartners.com

Bob Simpson- Web & Tech Geek  Oak Park, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >    708-386-7197

Cathy and Rich Wolfson- Video Production  Lincolnshire, IL
2BUprofessional.com  2BUstudios.com  < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Carol Carcione - Customer Development  Wheaton, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >    847-254-3673

Daniel Quinn- Writer  Burr Ridge, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >   773-991-1368  

Estelle Carol- Senior Designer  Oak Park, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >  708-386-7197    www.webtraxstudio.com

Etta Worthington- Video Production and Script Writing
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >  708-848-2184

Jane Beckett- Nonprofit Services
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >  708-524-8004

Karen Heart- Client Relationship Coach  Oak Park, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >   708-253-7374   www.karenlifecoach.com

Kristen Bergeron- Junior Designer  Roscoe Village, Chicago, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >   

Michelle Elizabeth Kaffko- Photographer  Bucktown, Chicago, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Nalani McClendon- Nonprofit Consultant  Glencoe, IL  
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >  847-363-2140   

Roger Kerson- Media Relations  Ann Arbor, MI
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >   734-645-0535   

Samantha Kearney- Junior Designer  Pilsen, Chicago, IL
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >   708-203-9819

These are the steps we use for our Flexible Website Package:

Learning about Internet marketing, organizing and fundraising: The internet marketing plan is more important than the website and should be the guide to the website’s structure and content. At any time during the website-building process we strongly urge our clients to become familiar with the tools and techniques that draw visitors to a website. Some options:

• Read more about our approach to internet marketing.
• Read a great book called “Online Marketing Inside Out” by Brandon Eley and Shayne Tilley. Ask us about other excellent books like “Raising Thousands (if Not Tens of Thousands) of Dollars With Email” by Madeline Stanionis.
• Take our mini-course on internet marketing taught by Avery Cohen of Metrist Partners. Learn how to plan and implement a professional web marketing strategy at a fraction of its normal cost. Get personal instruction on advanced SEO, Google Analytics, email campaigns, AdWords, online fundraising, pay per click, key phrases, web writing, social networking and more.

Choosing a website package: WebTrax Studio will send clients a PDF about our packages for Flexible Websites, Social Media Websites, and E-Commerce Websites. We can discuss these packages at our first meeting.

Getting acquainted meeting: Either in-person or via teleconference. WebTrax Studio and the client will determine which package is appropriate. WebTrax Studio will provide an overview of methods and services and answer questions.

Proposal and Work Order: Based on information from the first meeting WebTrax Studio will send the client a PDF of the Proposal and Work Order. The signed Work Order and Terms will be the 2-part contract. The client must initial each page, sign the last page, and return both printed documents to WebTrax Studio. Once the contract and the 50% deposit is received, WebTrax Studio will begin work.

Website planning meeting preparation: In anticipation of our initial planning meeting, WebTrax Studio suggests clients gather the following information if available:

• Your domain name registration information (company and logins)
• Website menu structure (first draft of top level links and sublinks)
• Rough draft or an outline of the text you want on the home page
• First draft of key words and phrases
• Favorite photos for the home page
• Your logo (WebTrax Studio’s graphic designers can enhance a logo or create one)
• Brochure or any materials that show an existing branding (color scheme, style, type fonts, etc.)
• Calls to action (What do you want your site visitors to do? Call? E-mail? Join enewsletter? Attend an open house?)
• Essential content (What do you want your audience to find? What is the most essential part of the site your audience must see? Divide your audience into categories based on interests and needs.)
• Any other brainstorming ideas (content, layout, must-have functions, any other ideas are open for discussion)

Website planning meeting: Either in-person or via teleconference, the WebTrax Studio designer, the client, and any other professionals involved with the project will discuss website design, plan and implementation. We will summarize the principles of internet marketing at the meeting for clients who have not had a chance to study this beforehand.

Site diagram: WebTrax Studio designer will create a diagram of the proposed website’s home page layout. The diagram will be based on the results of the website planning meeting and other discussion between the client and our designer.

Select a template: The WebTrax Studio designer will select a couple of templates for the site, based on its functionality and style. WebTrax Studio will create a first draft of the home page design by combining the template and the home page diagram. Although this will be closer to the final website design, the actual website won’t look exactly like the PDF we send via email.

Programming and content entry: Once the Client approves a specific template, WebTrax Studio programmers will commence technical work (HTML/CSS coding, color adjustment, customized layout).

Entering site content: While technical work is in process, the client may begin entering content into Joomla’s administrative area. WebTrax Studio staff can do all or some of the content entry.

Joomla training: First, the client’s designated web administrator(s) will view the video “Joomla! 1.5 Essential Training with: Joseph LeBlanc” produced by Lynda.com which is $50 at amazon.com. Or, a copy can be viewed in the WebTrax Studio office. The important lectures are Introduction, Chapters 2 – 5 and Chapters 12 –13. Second, WebTrax Studio will do a hands-on training in our office or by phone. WebTrax Studio professionals are available for additional tech support.

E-newslettter: An e-newsletter is the most power tool for getting visitors to a website. We highly recommend an email list signup form on the website.  Learn more about the professional email services – iContact.com and ConstantContact.com. Vertical Response offers roughly the same service for free to 501c3 nonprofits.

Completion: Once content entry and technical work is complete, the client will review the website and identify changes needed. WebTrax Studio will make the technical changes. We encourage our client to make the text and simple changes.

Launching the site: Pending final approval WebTrax Studio will launch the site and turn control over to the client. After payment of the final invoice WebTrax Studio will turn over ownership of the web host account to the client.

Marketing the site: Turn your attention to attracting visitors to your new site. We’ll help you plan your next steps.

Making Media Connections Conference.
June 9 and 10, 2010 at Columbia College.

Expand your knowledge of social media at this conference! Community Media Workshop instructors will teach you how to deploy social media for better fundraising, communications and program work for your organization.  Visit Community Media Workshop for more information and to register for specific workshops.

SEMINAR SERIES on powerful Internet tools and strategies to grow your business or nonprofit repeats 4 times a year. Leave this 4-class course with a customized, detailed, step-by-step marketing plan that you can implement immediately.  WebTrax team member Avery Cohen of Metrist Partners, will teach you:

  • how to evaluate what your Web site is doing—or not doing—for you
  • how to get more visitors through “Search Engine Optimization”
  • how to make your site compelling and keep visitors coming back
  • how to plan and run effective email campaigns
  • how to connect via online social networks

For more information or to register for the seminar series starting in June, 2010 in downtown Chicago contact Susan Shulman at 847-926-8280 and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .