Website Weekend, a new initiative that allows participants to build a website in two days, will be launched in Saint John in March.

The initiative was founded by Kelly Lawson, the CEO of ELLA, and photographer Sean McGrath. It is designed to be an intensive gathering of web developers, designers, professional photographers, bloggers and business owners to create and launch new, professional websites in two days flat.

The first Website Weekend will take place in Saint John on March 18-19. The cost is $1900 plus HST per company and registration is now open.

“Anyone who has been through the web design process knows that it can take a long time from start to launch because of missing content, loose deadlines, busy schedules, late revision feedback, photography appointments, lots of back-and-forthing and life in general getting in the way,” said Lawson in a statement. “During our two-day workshop, participants will have a professional team at their disposal and their sites will be live in 48 hours or less. Working one-on-one, in person with web experts is much more efficient than the usual back and forth emails of traditional web design process.”

She added that the team will educate workshop attendees on how to modify and update their own websites so that they are in complete control of their web presence and not reliant on third parties to manage their content.

“Our vision is to extend this to service any Canadian business owner who believes this will suit their needs, timeline and budget,” said Lawson. “We would love to see people joining us from away, and we would love to take Website Weekend on the road.”