Who we are
Building and managing a website can be a painful experience. We get that. That’s why we created a simple system that streamlines the design process, provides ongoing support, and helps make your website a profit center, not a headache.
Why hire us?
10 good reasons to hire Ern Berck Digital.
01 We’re reliable
We pride ourselves on the level of personal contact we provide our customers. You’ll always be able to talk with a real person who can help.
02 We really listen
We start a relationship by listening and learning, not overwhelming you with information. We’ll determine your online goals and find out what you really need.
03 Plain talk, no jargon
You deserve clear, honest and direct communication from your web developer. We don’t hide behind acronyms, buzzwords, or industry babble. You’ll always get answers you can understand.
04 We know business
We understand the budgetary and time constraints that companies face. We’ll help you define goals in concrete terms and then work with you to deliver a powerful solution.
05 Bigger isn’t always better
We’re small, and we like it that way. It lets us dedicate extraordinary attention to your website. We get to work on projects we want to do, rather than projects we have to do.
06 No second string
When you hire us, you get us. We’ll never hand your project off to some college intern or flaky freelancer. If we ever use outside sources, you’ll be the first to know.
07 Execution, not talk
We’re fast, efficient, and we deliver under tight deadlines. We realize you don’t have time to dawdle. Neither do we. That’s why we’ll work with you to get your website live ASAP.
08 Guidance you can use
We won’t try to dazzle you with whiteboard presentations or slide shows. We won’t confuse you with convoluted processes or useless data. We only give you the information you really need.
09 An objective approach
We understand the realities of building a website. We’ll bring a fresh set of eyes and an unvarnished viewpoint. We’ll unify your unique perspective with our objective expertise.
10 We’re stubborn
Our passion for web design is the result of skills and insight acquired over 20 years. So, we’ve got some strong opinions. We’re honest and direct. And we push back.
How we work
Before you make a commitment, we believe you have the right to as much information as possible about how we think, work, and communicate. Against that background, we’d like to share our engagement process to help you make the right decision.
Build something that does something.
There are over 1.74 billion websites in the world. Most are pretty bad. So if you must have a website, please build one that does something positive. Make a website that’s relevant, useful and fun. Something that enhances, enlightens, encourages, or entertains. Something that helps people lead better lives.
Proprietor
Everyone has a story. This is mine.
New Jersey
When I was four I lived in Westwood, New Jersey. My best friend Robert lived next door. In the winter, Robert’s mother would put oven-baked sweet potatoes in our coat pockets to keep our hands warm. It was simple and it worked. That’s how I remember New Jersey.
California
My family moved to Northern California when I was five. We lived in a ranch-style house on a big corner lot. The neighborhood was surrounded by aging walnut orchards and fields of wild mustard. The streets were filled with kids, and we would play for hours in those fields. I never saw Robert again. I hope he’s happy and healthy somewhere, with warm hands. I enjoy the world a bit more believing he’s still in it.
High school
High school lasted four years, but seemed more like ten. In a good way. When you get older time seems to compress, and just whizzes by. Every morning I get up hoping the day will seem like 24 hours. It never does — it always feels more like 11. It’s really annoying.
College
I went to the University of California to study engineering, but later switched to psychology, philosophy, and then botany. I ended up with a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular genetics, because that’s what my roommate was studying. At 18 you’re expected to make the biggest decision of your life. Who made that rule? I should have gone to architecture school.
“Adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.”
— Paula Poundstone
Work
I’ve had a few careers: Restaurants, diamond sales, radio, banking, and web design. None had much to do with my college degree, but that’s okay. With any luck, what you learn early in life gets tucked away until you need it later.
After seven years in the radio business (which I loved), I had a short career as a mortgage consultant. Then a local bank went out on a limb and hired me as a marketing coordinator. It was there that I built my first big commercial website for an employer.
I was eventually promoted to senior positions in marketing and web administration at other regional and national banks. (You know, those positions where you get to “manage people” instead of doing what you enjoy.)
Starting over
As banks struggled to redefine themselves after the 2008 financial meltdown, I thought it might be a good idea to do the same. So, in 2010 I started my own web design studio on the side.
As usual, I’m always working on new stuff. I’ve failed a lot, but as long as I’m learning, that’s fine. To me, that’s what work is all about. And life too. I still miss Westwood sometimes, and warm sweet potatoes in the winter.
Thanks for visiting.
Phil Papeman
Proprietor
Ern Berck Digital
We never call in sick.
Most small businesses don’t have the resources or desire to maintain their websites. That’s normal. We can manage your site and help you create an Internet strategy that’s a profit center instead of a sinkhole. We’re like a long-term, part-time employee — Who doesn’t need benefits, never shows up late, and never calls in sick.
Technology partners
We work with some of the best companies in the industry.
We’re not artists.
We’re designers, not artists. Design isn’t self-expression, it’s thoughtful discipline. Designers make things that solve problems within a set of constraints. Sure, we get “creative” when we build stuff, but unlike artists, we work to solve real problems — Not present our own view of the world.