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12/27/2006Web design company aims to pleaseVarious packages are offered to local businessesSpecial to the Record-Eagle 
Mark Potter, owner of Lonewolf Web Design, works in his office at 2748 Garfield Road North. The business specializes in Web design and search engine optimization. TRAVERSE CITY — With a father who earned his living as a computer technician, Mark Potter has been around computers since he was knee-high to a hard drive. "I've always been interested in computers,” said the enthusiastic young owner of Lonewolf Web Design. "I really grew up around them. We always had them around the house. I guess it was sort of pre-destined that I do something with computers.” What Potter, 22, does for his clients is build customized Web sites, provide search engine optimization and search engine submissions. Lonewolf also routinely updates clients' Web sites to keep the copy and images fresh. Potter was home-schooled in Traverse City and in 2003 went to college in Arizona where he fueled his interest in computers by taking classes in programming and Web design. In 2005 he moved back to northern Michigan to establish Lonewolf Web Design, a one-word moniker that he adopted after using it for years as a username. "We'll work closely with each client to personalize their Web site,” said Potter, who was born and raised in Detroit. "We can provide e-mail and photo security and also set them up for shop-online services. If someone already has a Web site, we can help maintain it or upgrade it for them. "We can even provide a service that allows a client to see how many Web site hits they get compared to their competitors. Most businesses need a Web site these days, even if it's just for e-mail or to show off their product line.” For a typical startup, the time from the initial client meeting to launching the Web site is only two or three days. Getting the site listed on the major search engines — Google, Yahoo or Dogpile, for example — takes a month or two. Lonewolf's prices start at $550 for a basic business starter package that includes a domain name and Web hosting for one year, five e-mail accounts, Web site creation and maintenance. More elaborate plans are also available. For new businesses, Potter can build a custom computer system to fit a client's particular needs. Some of Lonewolf's clients include Forton Graphics, Authentic Homes Inc., The Mortgage Planner, Rockin' K Stoneworks and D&D Signs. "We pride ourselves on being available whenever a client needs us,” said the Grawn resident. "If someone has a problem and calls us on a holiday or weekend, we'll be there that day. At Lonewolf, we like to say 'Help is just a howl away.'” [an error occurred while processing this directive] |