The challenge in creating attractive, informative, and functional web sites calls for a cooperative spirit and a strong understanding of the difference between clients. I make it my business to learn as much as I can about the nature of any given company before I even begin. Questions I ask typically include:

• Who, exactly, is your audience?
• What do you specialize in that your competitors perhaps don’t?
• What’s the single most important message you want to convey?
• What kind of tone and “feel” do you want for your site?

Because my clients range from small to mid-sized businesses, some don’t know a lot about how web sites work or how best to make them reach their audience. But why should they? I‘m certainly no expert in their businesses, either. That’s where cooperation comes in, and sometimes education that I hope provides fundamental information without overwhelming. Occasionally, aspirin doesn’t hurt, either.

Please take a look at some of the sites I’ve created. Click on the tabs to the right for a quick view and links to the client sites themselves.

Whitehall Boca is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center whose clients require the best in care and a compassionate staff who understands the emotional needs of patients. The web site needed to reflect that too, and provide easy navigation for visitors trying to decide on a place for recovery.

Over the last seven years, the site has grown from about 10 pages to more than 45 and now includes video and some social media.

Parkland Chiropractic is about alleviating pain, but for this client even more importantly it’s about overall well-being.

To bring both concepts home, the web site includes detailed, but simple explanations on various techniques for relieving pain and staying out of pain for life. It also makes use of numerous interior images to drive both points home.

The site also aims in carefully presented text to express the warm personality of this family-owned business.

Julie Malear has been an author and much-traveled speaker whose work is well-known among mystery readers in particular.

The goal for this web site was to provide visitors a welcoming place to learn more about the author, her books, and her history.

The theme for the site drew on the tools of the trade any author would likely use. It also includes a calendar of events for those occasions when the author is on the road.

Empathy Care is an independently-owned, award-winning home heatlh care agency serving Boca Raton, Florida and surrounding communities.

In creating this web site, one goal was to keep it consistent with printed material the company had long used to promote itself. But the site has grown in a variety of ways since its beginning and now includes several forms to help it get feedback and more.

It also makes use of some social media tie-ins.

Horizon Transport Services is in the business of getting patients to and from hospitals, nursing facilities, and doctors’ appointments in non-emergency situations.

The nature of the business relies on excellent drivers and carefully controlled scheduling — elements that don’t necessarily come with exciting imagery. But with careful image placement, text wrapping and other devices, the site “pops” and delivers information in a concise manner easy to navigate.

Skinplicity RX is a new South Florida business that uses the latest methods and technology to enhance skin without pain or the cost of surgical procedures.

The site takes advantage of design techniques that provide potential clients an ability to easily see before-and-after photos of Skinplicity’s methods.

Plans call for the addition of video and social media integration.

The Boca Raton Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is a 35-year-old nonprofit organization of amazingly creative women in writing, art, and music. But it’s far more than a social club. Branch members routinely give to the community in many ways through volunteerism.

Capturing the essence and warmth of this organization called for some creativity in matching their artistic spirit. Monthly updates keep the site current and serve as an inducement to grow the Branch’s membership base.