Free Web Design Consultation Sessions
A web designer conducts a private web design consultation with two attendees at WD08 in Miami.
Design Consultation Hours
Jan. 20, 2009: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.**
Jan. 21, 2009: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.**
** Run concurrently with conference
When big e-retailers redesign their retail web sites to enhance their performance and increase sales, they often have the benefit of using a top web design consultant—paying about $1,000 an hour to get ideas for making their sites more enticing and usable for shoppers. Paid conference attendees of Internet Retailer's Web Design '09 Conference will get the same benefit, but without paying for it. That's because their registration qualifies them for three free 30-minute private consultation sessions with leading web design experts, who will review their web site in advance and be ready to address the web design topics that each attendee wants to discuss. Registrants can choose from up to 30 design consulting firms and more than 860 appointment times between Jan. 19 (the opening day of design consultations) and Jan. 21 (the last day of main conference). In order to make the most of this opportunity, paid conference attendees are advised to read this page carefully and follow the easy steps required for scheduling design consultations. To take advantage of this opportunity—which many of last year's attendees said justified their registration fee many times over—you must schedule your consultations prior to the conference. Appointments are on a first come first served basis with a maximum of 3 appointments per company.
How the Design Consultations Work
All free web design consultations at Web Design '09 are private 30-minute sessions in which attendees meet in one-on-one sessions with experts from leading retail web design firms. All sessions are conducted in 12 suites adjacent to the grand ballroom, where all conference sessions are held, which allows conference attendees to coordinate their design consultations with conference session attendance. Every suite is divided into two private session areas, each containing tables and chairs and large flat-screen monitor with broadband Internet access. All sessions last 30 minutes and attendees must vacate their consultation room when their time expires in order to make the room available for the next attendee.
Consultants Provide Expert Advice—Not a Sales Pitch
The web design firms conducting the consultation sessions at Web Design '09 were selected by Internet Retailer's editors and have NOT paid Internet Retailer for the consultation assignment. While no doubt they are performing their consultation service to gain exposure to the e-retailers attending WD09, they have been instructed not to promote themselves during the consultation sessions with conference attendees but to provide objective advice on web design improvements that attendees can make. The web design companies providing the free consultations specialize in different aspects of web design. Click here to view the list of web design companies providing the free consultations, and their area of expertise.
Free Consultation Sessions Must Be Scheduled in Advance
Paid conference attendees must schedule their free consultations in advance in order to secure their preferred consultation times and design firms. Scheduling free consultations at WD09 is now an automated process that is part of the online registration function, and registrants are advised to request their consultation sessions immediately upon submitting their online conference registrations. When you register online to attend Web Design 09, you will be prompted to request a consultation. If you are approved to receive a free consultation (i.e., you are a paid conference registration and you have not reached your three appointments per company maximum), you will be sent an approval e-mail advising you to log back into your online registration account and book your consultation appointments online. You can select the consultants you want based on their areas of expertise and the times they have available. During this process, you will be asked to provide information that the consultants require in order to prepare for their consultation session with you, including the URL of your site, one specific design topic or challenge you wish to discuss, your company background and any additional paid registrants at WD09 who will be attending the consultation session with you. When you submit your booking information, you will be sent an e-mail confirming your consultation schedule.