Steven Tu

Steven Tu – Web Developer

I focus on compelling messaging and visual clarity to deliver your story on the web. Good design and cool tech should work transparently.

Overview

Are you working on your first book and looking to build a new website, or your existing website needs design refinement and additional features?


We'll explore and find the right solution that addresses your unique needs. I believe that having a good messaging strategy is the core component for effectively communicating with your target audience and achieving your marketing objectives. An effective messaging strategy includes clarify, simplicity, authenticity, emotional appeal, story telling, relevancy and call to action. A well thought out visual design theme and high performing website will re-enforce your marketing message.


I adapt to your working style, esthetics, and finding a solution that is uniquely yours. Trained as a designer and advanced into web development, I take on the full process design creation and build a custom and fully functional website based on that design theme. Unlike some other designers using pre-made templates, the designs I create for you are from the ground up and uniquely for your band.


You will be able to manage site content yourself, have some else do it, or I will provide the support once your site is launched. The same website can be built in different ways. As a highly experienced developer, I create total custom design themes instead using an existing template to make modifications. A custom built site not only is authentically unique in looks, the backend admin area is also configured in ways to make content editing very easy for site owners.


I offer a range of services which can be contracted as separate tasks or all together in a full solution package:


- Domain name registration

- Branding and theme designs that reflect your brand as an author

- Content structure consultation

- Website creation with a CMS (Wordpress, Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix)

- Newsletter signup form, contact list, email blasts

- Blog posts for inbound marketing

- Web hosting

- SEO includes strategic content, keyword placement, well written site code, and site performance optimization

- Google Analytics integration and data report analysis

- Site maintenance and updating


Every website I build is responsive and mobile device friendly - it's a standard feature, not an option. Site security and performance are also part of the package.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Health & Wellbeing Political Science & Current Affairs Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Cozy Mysteries Cultural & Ethnic Psychological Thriller Science Fiction
Works with
Shopify Squarespace Webflow Weebly Wix WordPress
Certifications
  • BA in Fine Arts

Work experience

Self-employed

Feb, 2014 — Present

Design impactful digital experiences and create dynamic websites for corporate and creative partners across market sectors. As a freelancer I have the opportunity to work directly with clients as well as creative agencies developing a wide range of web projects with objectives in marketing, member directory, e-commerce, blogging, and education. Every website is built with custom solution that includes a CMS that allows clients to mange their own content, responsive design, search engine optimized, and analytics reports.

Projects

The Woke Bible

This is your home for exploring the intersections of woke ideology and biblical themes. Discover insightful essays, engage with thought-provoking ideas, and delve into a unique blend of modern and ancient wisdom.

The Life that We Built, A Love Story

This Wordpress site includes a shopping cart that allows direct purchasing of the book and is integrated with a print-on-demand service where copies of the book are printed and shipped out direct to customers.

Refuting Relativity

Einstein Was Wrong is the thesis for work of this author who published a book to uncover things we don't assume about the Universe. Beside promoting the book, the Wordpress website also serves as a platform to build a community discussing the controversies in cosmology.

Refuting Relativity reviews a century of scientific thought to show that the current crisis in cosmology can be traced back to Einstein’s theories of Relativity. Einstein’s ideas are clearly presented in their historical context, and the predictions and tests of both Special and General Relativity are carefully examined to show that they are not as conclusive as once thought.

The Independents

This website was created using Squarespace. Rich color palette and playful elements speak to an audience of young readers.

At its core, ‘The Independents’ is about friendship, loss, resilience, and transition. This captivating mystery is perfect for readers who love realistic fiction! It’s set in a suburban neighborhood, in the late 1980s. Join twelve-year-old Avery on her quest to find her missing journal, while she adjusts to her new neighborhood and starting junior high school. Included in the mystery are four diverse characters — Chris, Skylar, Damien, and Natalie — all facing life’s challenges together. They’re all different, but they stick together. Along the way, Avery and her friends search for clues and navigate middle school challenges. In less than 200 pages, ‘The Independents’ delivers a fun, nostalgic tween journey through the trials of 7th grade.

The Responsible Engineer

This website is for an author who has extensive knowledge and experience in astronautical engineering field. His first book titled The Responsible Engineer is a guide for engineers, managers, and organizations at all levels who want to reduce risk, increase product reliability and customer satisfaction, and empower individuals and teams to perform at their best.

The website takes on a high tech theme with a color palette that complements the qualities of safety and reliability which are promoted by the book for the engineering field.

All Saints Tequileria

This website represents a fictitious tequileria that sells different types of tequila. The tequileria is part of Sci-Fi novel about a dystopian future. The store is named after all of the Christian saints, and each day will have a special dedicated to that day’s patron saint. Site author has the ability to easily update the website daily to feature a different patron saint.

The design theme takes on a fusion of modern bar scene and a twist of Gothic feel. The vibrant color palette used in this website design theme is inspired by stained glass artworks commonly found in Gothic cathedrals.

Mediation Toolbox

Mediation Toolbox is a resource guide developed by experienced family mediators for family mediators who are looking to improve their professional skills. The site offers visitors to purchase the product in downloadable PDF file using a simple payment form. Design theme calls for a refined look with soft and friendly feel.

Cello Teacher

Thomas Shoebotham is concert conductor and cello soloist based in San Francisco Bay Area. This is a simple two page website to market his cello lesson offerings. The design theme is elegant yet in playful ways that reflect his music.

The Last Man - a novel by Thomas Goodman

This is an author site selling his debut novel titled The Last Man. The novel is partly based on a true story of the 1927 Santa Claus bank robbery that took place in Texas. This simple one-page site shares the essence of the design theme created for the book cover in a muted color palette to invoke the feel of modern history yesteryear.

Expanding The Bench

Expanding The Bench is a non-profit initiative supporting diverse evaluators and funders of evaluation. The initiative aims to provide value, practice, and promote a culturally responsive and equitable evaluation ecosystem. The website boasts a membership directory with a search interface allowing members to connect each others. The design theme carries a wide palette of colors and visual elements in various shapes that reflect the diverse communities they want to connect with.

Alonzo-Fibonacci Sound Production

Promotional website and shopping cart for sound artist partners based in Bay Area and Berlin. Merchandise items are managed using Shopify e-commerce system with a custom design theme.

Substance Hawaii

None-profit Substance Hawaii's aims to help young adults to stay off substance addiction and discover the unique potential in each person and inspires them to focus on building their personal achievement. The site offers interactive quizzes for personality discovery and inspiring stories from those in the same situation. Site design takes on a vibrant and fun visual elements to get the audience excited about the subject and spring into action.

Steven has 14 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Chrystal P.

Chrystal P.

Aug, 2024

Pinned
We were very impressed with Steven’s work. Our website is creative, innovative, and has a very “Storytelling” feel to it, which is exactly what we asked for. It exceeded our expectations. Steven was reliable, professional and very knowledgeable, and he took the time, on several occasions, to answer all of our ridiculous questions. He also offered us creative options; in case we weren’t sati...
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Steven T.
Thank you for your feedback, Chrystal. It was an exciting project to work on and great pleasure collaborating with you. Good outcome and happy clients are what make the work meaningful. Thanks, ag...
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Bill B.

Bill B.

Feb, 2024

Pinned
I wish to recommend Steven Tu to others very highly based on his design work on my website. He is a clearly a hugely experienced web designer and has produced a visually very elegant, stylish and professional look for the different web pages. He incorporated visuals I shared with him in a very creative way, and researched images himself to include in the design, too. He was very good at explain...
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Steven T.
Thank you for your in depth review, Bill. It was great team work, and I'm happy that you're happy with the final results.
Harold A.

Harold A.

Nov, 2023

Pinned
Steven built up my website from scratch based on a few images and clear vision of what I wanted it to look like. He asked many questions at the onset and was able to follow up with updates after I provided feedback on the work. The initial budget came in a little under his estimate but with one additional payment I was able to get my website up and running and looking fabulous!
Steven T.
Thanks for your great review, Harold. This is quite a unique website for its purpose, and the design is reflective of that. Visualizing the ideas you have in mind from description to imagery was ch...
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Colman O.

Colman O.

Oct, 2024

Steven has been very helpful, going beyond the strict terms of the contract in order to deliver an excellent product for a very reasonable price. I warmly recommend him
Steven T.
Thank you for your positive feedback, Colman. It was a great collaboration.
steven C.

steven C.

Sep, 2024

“Steve T did an incredible job with ‘The Woke Bible’ website, going above and beyond to bring my vision to life. His dedication, creativity, and attention to detail resulted in a superior product that exceeded all my expectations. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in this project, and I’m truly grateful for his hard work and professionalism. Thank you, Steve, for your outstanding effor...
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Steven T.
Thank you for your great review, Steve. It's always rewarding to see a client happy with the product in the end.

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