Wordpress Designer - Have you heard of Jay Hafling?

[DemiGR]

We are currently browsing around to have a new site built for us as we are not happy with the current one. I checked out webdevstudio and it looks like they build quality sites, but they told me they aren't taking on small projects like mine currently.  So browsing around I found this designer from the Ukraine with a nice site and nice portfolio.  I am wondering if anyone has worked with him, and maybe to get some opinions on his work?  I don't want to make the wrong choice here..

What do you guys think?

http://www.jayhafling.com

[BlueprintMarketing]

Hi,

Unfortunately, I've never heard of the person you talking about. However, I do know of webdevstudios they do fantastic work. I wish I could give you more regarding the exact designer you are talking about however if you want a reference to a designer that works with Genesis primarily however can build any type of site needed. I would strongly recommend  Greg Reindel http://www.gregreindel.com/articles/ one of the things that I am extremely impressed with that he is doing is building on the new HTML 5 Genesis platform the ability to take what I think is the best framework for WordPress and web dev studios uses the most as well which is Genesis and have the knowledge and capability he has for what I consider the best framework out there the HTML 5 Genesis 2 platform which is extremely new however if you look at this article you will be able to see he knows it so well that he is an extremely talented developer. He is also located in the United States Texas and in my past I can tell you that I've had negative experiences dealing with web designers outside of the United States simply because if something goes wrong there is no remedy legally however if you work with the designer inside the United States there's always a mutual respect for the law. I'm telling you because I was shorthanded by a Pakistani web development group and was left with absolutely no alternative, but to deal with what I was given. If it had been a web design firm in the United States I would've had legal options.

I would strongly recommend you have your site built from HTML 5 as it has so many benefits you can check that out by going to Yoast.com and read some of his articles about turning his Genesis site into a Genesis 2.0 HTML 5 site.

Here's the article http://www.gregreindel.com/genesis-html5-child-starter-theme/

Here's Yoast talking about using HTML 5 along with Genesis 2.0

http://yoast.com/schema-org-genesis-2-0/

The benefits of having a properly built HTML 5 website are huge and if you're looking at web dev studios I know you're looking at WordPress.

I hope I've been of help to you,

Thomas

[jeremycbray]

Demetrios,

there are no shortage of great wordpress designers and developers. Make sure your website is built on a responsive framework, this will ensure cross device compatibility

I know a great one based out of the UK http://www.ukwebcreations.co.uk/

I think their website says it all

Jeremy

[DemiGR]

Thanks for all the information.  Is there a reason to be using Genesis -vs- not using a theme at all?  This designer Jay Hafling doesn't use any themes and develops the site from scratch.  Is this good or bad?

I took a look at Greg Reindels site but there isnt much to make a decision on from his website.

[DemiGR]

Thanks I will take a look at them as well.  So you wouldn't recommend a page being developed without using a theme?

[BlueprintMarketing]

Think about how many people develop Genesis framework it's not a theme it's a framework that a theme would run on.

Regardless of what Jay tells you you're site will be called a theme that's what they're called when they are built.

I would choose a framework that web dev studios uses as their primary framework please feel free to check it out

along with other notables like Yoast someone who gets in the millions for traffic every month. Genesis is a better way to build a new WordPress site that is of course my opinion and the opinion of web dev studios along with Yoast

what is Web to say where the ones that literally wrote the book on WordPress development and that's because they have. Why would they build their expensive websites off of such a terrible framework who was not in their best interest? Why would somebody so well known in the WordPress community as Yoast use Genesis if it is a hindrance or in any way shape or form hurts the robustness of the site.

I can't look into the future but I can tell you this rather it's built from core or Genesis the site will be constantly updated through Genesis make it more secure than core that's the truth.

The simple fact is for many projects using a framework and the best framework in my opinion and in the people who wrote the book is Genesis

you don't lose anything at all have them explain to you what you lose by using the framework?

I would also agree with them there are many designers that can do fantastic things. That's not in dispute.

I will get you a portfolio link I apologize it was not in what I had given you however take a look over comments as far as the developer I believe there are other developers there that are quite impressed with Genesis 2.0 and his ability to master it before others.

Here is the 1st working website in the portfolio I found. When Jay said website speak for itself

here is one of his websites and the first one I could access.

I would keep everything in the United States that would be my preference however it's up to you.

Sincerely,

Thomas

PS

Jays work

hgcservices.co.uk

http://optimizer.builtwith.com/seo/hgcservices.co.uk

[MarketingOfAmerica]

This is probably the best advice you will get, because, everyone has a bias answer about who is the best at something.  SEOMOZ has a great list, sure there are many not on their, but take a look at that and you may find one you really like.

Do the following

1. Scroll to the bottom of your page.

2. Click Recommended Companies

3. Click web design and choose for yourself.