FAQ

Barkis & Co. is distinguished by our dynamic husband-and-wife team, Austin and Nicole Barkis, who bring a unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and strategic insight to every project. We prioritize building long-term partnerships based on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to excellence. Our collaborative approach ensures that each client receives personalized attention and solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.

Every project is unique and tailored to its specific scope. Our pricing structure is designed to provide exceptional value and results. Logo design projects generally start at $1250, while comprehensive brand identity packages begin at $2500 and can vary based on the scope of work. Website design projects start at $4000, with costs adjusting according to complexity and required functionality. Additionally, we offer flexible marketing service retainers that are customized to meet each client’s distinct objectives, featuring a reduced hourly rate for retained clients.

We've all seen it, the "one click websites" advertised lately by popular brands- but in practice, these tools do not fully deliver on their promises. While DIY tools may appear cost-effective and convenient, they often overlook critical elements such as secure hosting, optimized design, and effective SEO. Our dedicated hosting environment ensures that each client benefits from a secure and high-performance website, with a managed service, dedicated environment, and daily backups to safeguard your investment. Our approach focuses on creating bespoke solutions that align with each client’s unique goals and brand identity.

At Barkis & Co., we employ a data-driven approach to marketing that focuses on maximizing ROI for our clients. This involves comprehensive analysis, strategic planning, and continuous optimization of campaigns to achieve measurable results. Whether through organic search strategies, targeted paid campaigns, or a combination of both, our goal is to deliver meaningful outcomes that align with your business objectives.

Absolutely. We have a proven track record of success working with international brands such as Alaska Air, Volkswagen, and PepsiCo, as well as local favorites. Our team is equipped to manage projects of any size or complexity, leveraging our diverse skill set and creative expertise to deliver exceptional results.

We manage social media for a very select type of client with clearly defined goals for their social media strategy. We are quite selective because effective social media management requires extensive content creation and strategic planning. Not all brands find this to be their most valuable marketing strategy.

Generally, we recommend investing in organic and paid marketing efforts that funnel traffic directly to your website. We believe that social media is not essential for business success (just look at us—we aren’t very active on social media). Being excellent at what you do and showcasing that excellence is the key to success.

If you enjoy social media and see value in it for your brand, then you should definitely be on it. If you have a unique brand or product and are willing to invest in professionally designed social media campaigns, we would consider managing it for you. Otherwise, we suggest focusing on creating evergreen content for your website and optimizing it for search engines, which can provide significant long-term value.

Call/Text: (831) 920-2141 

Email: austin@barkis.com / nicole@barkis.com 

We are available Monday through Friday via Zoom, FaceTime, or at a local cafe/eatery in the Monterey area and beyond (have coach: will travel).

We love supporting local businesses and would be delighted to share one of our favorite spots for coffee, breakfast, lunch, or dinner with you to meet and discuss your brand's goals. Alternatively, if you have a favorite spot in mind, we’re all ears and ready to accommodate your preference in our scheduling. 

Over the years, our business has evolved through several iterations, each reflecting a different phase of our journey. Pixel Redefined LLC was our first venture, launched in Southern California, where we focused on creative design and marketing services. As we grew, we rebranded to Zeeqk, a full-scale agency with a downtown studio, employees, and a diverse portfolio of clients. Around the same time, we were also operating Barkis & Co. for our wedding photography business. Before COVID, we made the decision to consolidate all of our creative services under the Barkis & Co. name to streamline our brand and better reflect who we are.

When COVID hit, like many businesses, we took a hard look at our operations and realized we wanted to focus on what truly mattered: being hands-on with our clients. While we no longer have a physical office or large team, we’ve maintained a small network of trusted professionals we’ve worked with for years to help with larger projects when needed. Today, Barkis & Co. represents everything we’ve learned and built throughout our journey—from Pixel Redefined to Zeeqk to now—delivering high-quality design, marketing, and creative services.

If you see reviews referencing different names or services, rest assured they’re all part of the same story and a testament to the work we’ve done over the years. We’re proud of the journey that brought us here and grateful for the support of our incredible clients along the way!

We naturally slowed our photography bookings even before COVID, and once the pandemic hit, it made sense to put the cameras down—at least formally. The physical toll of holding a 10+ pound camera and being on our feet in odd positions for 12+ hours, often back-to-back, just wasn’t sustainable for us anymore.

That said, we have transitioned to shooting with Sony and still have a setup for basic requirements when a well-fitting inquiry comes in. While we aren’t actively booking photography sessions, we are open to select projects that align with our current focus and capabilities.