About Howl'n Dog Designs

Howl’n Dog Designs has been designing websites in the Roanoke, VA area and beyond since 1996, and growing, learning and improving ever since. Beth Garst started the business, with an educational background in fine art, graphic design and art history. She and her husband Barry Briggs, the power behind all the database programming, live on a farm in Boones Mill, where they raise chickens and sit on the porch whenever possible.

John Quesenberry has been with Howl’n Dog since 1998 (dang!), coming from an ad agency in New York City. He is the ever-morphing creator of twitchy and impressive code, never balking at a challenge. Not only does he bring his creativity, curiosity and “never say never” attitude to our office, but his faithful dog Sid as well.
We’re older than Google
There are few web design companies that can boast of a business history that predates even Google. Howl’n Dog Designs opened their doors in 1995 with one simple business goal…
To help our clients get the most out of their Internet presence.
Howl’n Dog Designs saw the possibilities for using the web to grow business interaction early. In the more than 20 years since, we have maintained a single focus on helping our customers benefit from the capabilities provided by an Internet presence.
We know how to do it!
Unlike many web design companies Howl’n Dog Designs has always focused on using technology to provide the best possible web presence for our clients. Every site is designed from the ground up to match the needs of the client. Each site is individually designed and developed to fit the clients exacting needs. We never force a site design into the restricted structure of a “template website builder”.
Our skill set is not focused on one single aspect of the Internet. We have specialists in graphic design, presentation programming and complex web and database programming.
The result is a company that understands and uses a broad spectrum of web technologies. It also means constantly expanding our services to use the leading technologies and methodologies necessary to give you a web site that can help you meet your business goals.
We know what works.
The Internet gives you access to your customers in ways that were not possible just a few years ago. Online marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing, news feeds, blogs, social networking, multimedia, video and data gathering are all a part of making the most of your internet presence. That’s why when you work with Howl’n Dog Designs we try to insure you understand the importance of each piece of your web presence and how it may affect your business goals.
Regardless of your needs, we can provide the technical knowledge to make it happen. From simple information sites to complex, integrated e-commerce we can make it work for you.
We have our own tubes.
Today’s web sites require more than the simple file hosting servers. Today, with ever expanding Internet technologies, web sites use a variety of interactive technologies that require special server configurations. From simple database integration to complex and secure PCI compliance, each site can have it’s own unique set of requirements. That’s why we host and maintain our own data center with a broad range of unique web servers that we can configure to meet your specific requirements.
The data center is safe and secure with generator and batter backup power, and multiple independent connections to the Internet. Our up-time percentage has exceeded 99.9 % every year for the last 5 years.
All servers and connections are monitored 24/7 from multiple locations.
We know how to commit to a relationship.
Great customer service is more than responding to your questions and concerns.
- Proactive…watching for potential problems and opportunities and making sure you know what they mean to you and your business.
- Continuous Improvement and keeping you informed about new technology and marketing developments.
- Working to help you meet your business goals today and tomorrow.