Web Design FAQ

What is the price range of your services?

Because our rates are competitively priced, project ranges vary. For a general range of project prices, visit our Pricing page. We will work with you to determine a custom project quote. Request a quote online and we will start working on an estimate right away.

How long will my website project take?

This depends on your project, content, and revisions, but our average web design project will take between 6 to 10 weeks to complete.

Where is your team located?

We are headquartered in downtown San Francisco, California. The majority of our team lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, but we also have staff in New York City and São Carlos (until we can convince them to move back). Feel free to say hello!

Why do you use WordPress?

Hands down, WordPress is an effective, attractive, and incredibly versatile platform to develop an affordable and usable site on. It has a long, robust history and has an incredible community supporting it.

Why do you host with WPEngine and Kinsta?

We’ve chosen to work with WPEngine and Kinsta for the majority of our projects for multiple reasons: server-level WordPress optimizations such as page speed and caching, rock-solid nightly backups, staging environments for testing and development, and great support. For information, please read this blog post.

What sets you apart from other San Francisco website firms?

Our passion and complete focus is on achieving results for you, and we won’t stop until you are satisfied with the work that we have produced. We’ve had the good fortune to work with hundreds of amazing individuals, businesses, and non-profits throughout the SF Bay Area and beyond. We love our work, we love WordPress, and we love helping businesses reach their online goals.

What additional services do you provide to San Francisco small businesses?

In addition to responsive web design, we assist with brand and logo identity, e-commerce stores, copywriting, website planning, graphic design, and photography.

Why do you include an attribution link in the footer of client sites?

This is a standard practice across the industry for projects that are not designed in-house. Our clients are happy to acknowledge our role in designing their site by including a link to Razorfrog in their site footer, much like a signature on a painting. Our clients are also showing their support for San Francisco small business and helping to keep things local by doing so.

Because most of our clients are happy to give us credit for their site, we feature a discounted price in our proposal price that reflects the benefit we receive from the attribution link. We also include an option in our proposals to pay full price for those few clients who would prefer not to include an attribution link for their particular project.

How can I be sure that the website you build for me is secure?

Razorfrog keeps your core WordPress installation and plugins updated so you’ll avoid the common security concerns associated with running outdated code. If you’re looking for an extra layer of protection for transaction details or personal information, we can also add an SSL certificate to your site.

What kind of photograph should I provide for myself or my staff?

We recommend large high-quality, professionally taken photographs. Your photo is how most people will initially “get to know” you and your team, so a good photograph is essential for a good impression and will enhance your credibility and authority. (A candid shot of you and a friend – or even a coworker – in front of a busy background with poor lighting will not.)

Most websites we build have an About page showcasing the owners and/or staff of the company. To best do so, we generally recommend a professional headshot-style photo, of at least 1000×1000 pixels, with a single person in the frame and a clean, simple background, for each of your staff members. In some cases a professional group photo may be more appropriate. Many photographers in San Francisco and beyond specialize in headshots at a reasonable price.

If you are unable to hire a professional photographer, most modern cameras (even an iPhone) are capable of producing a quality, professional-looking image, but some care is needed in choosing your appearance, the framing, the background, and the lighting. Check out Tips for a Great Headshot by Tara Butler for more details.

Remember, your website represents your brand. You chose Razorfrog for a beautiful, professional website — so choose a beautiful, professional photograph as well.

What’s the story behind the Razorfrog name?

Here’s the truth behind the name Razorfrog: it’s mostly just a random pairing of an animal and a type of metal object. The founder of Razorfrog, Max Elman, really wanted a frog at the time he started his business, so those leaping lily pad dwellers were at the front of his mind. While Max didn’t have a name for the business, he did have a company slogan. He had chosen “the cutting edge of web design” after “we make good websites, you pay” didn’t prove very popular.

So he liked frogs. And he wanted to somehow merge the idea of “cutting edge” into the moniker. Who’s to say why he chose “razor” over “axe” or “knife” or “chain”? Was there a razor scooter in his room? Was his mom on him to shave his goatee? Did someone offer him the chance at pizza, “either at Ray’s or…”?

The world may never know. Instead, what they know is, Razorfrog makes good websites. And you pay for them.