Our Mission
To provide small businesses and non-profit organizations with technical assistance at little to no cost so that said companies may reduce resources allotted to their website and website related services, thus empowering them to direct their money and effort to their actual cause.
Helping the Hub is a group of accomplished web developers, graphic designers, photographers and writers who are committed to helping members of our larger internet community. Every month, we select up to two website projects – whether a makeover or a new site from scratch – and complete them entirely pro bono. We are aiming to help nonprofits, community sites, small businesses just getting off the ground, or anyone else in need of some help to get their website up and running. We hope to make a positive impact on organizations of many sizes, from across the country, representing all areas of business. We choose these businesses based on recommendations submitted to our site, which means anyone may nominate a business in need.
For each project, Helping the Hub assembles a team drawn from our pool of experienced professionals. These individuals are highly qualified in their respective fields and all share the desire to give back to their communities. The team will work with the selected business to create a site that meets their requirements and desires. Services that Helping the Hub can provide include:
- website design
- web development
- content management systems
- database integrated websites
- mobile integration
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- website statistics and analysis
- website hosting and email services
- website migration
- photography
- copywriting
- logo design
- strategic consulting
How We Got Started
Helping the Hub was born when founder Bob Cote began noticing a theme of need, beginning with Lynn Dion of www.Sweet Cierras.com. Dion's website for her cake decorating business was in desperate need of a makeover. Unfortunately, her previous web designer had left her high and dry, without the ability to update the site on her own. As a small business owner in a slow economy, Dion was faced with the dilemma of how to find a way to update her site to reflect her true professionalism and creativity, without breaking the bank.
When Dion came to Cote asking for help, he realized that he had the opportunity to make a difference for SweetCierras.com by helping her free of charge. And so, with the help of photographer James Ringrose, Cote was able to completely overhaul Dion's site. Now she can make updates herself using the CMS system Cote created, and potential customers can see Dion's skill and artistry conveyed through Ringrose's photographs of her cakes. After seeing what an impact their help made and realizing they could do projects such as this pro bono, Cote and Ringrose decided to establish a network of professionals committed to giving back through website services. It was a piece of cake – Helping the Hub was born.
