About

How I can help your business

I'm Ivan Lutrov and I'm the owner of Lutrov Interactive, a small independent web consultancy based in Melbourne, Australia.

I specialise in making simple, yet highly usable websites, and provide practical online marketing for small business professionals who recognise a need for an effective online presence.

Who I work with

If you're one of the following service professionals, I can almost certainly help you:

  • accountants
  • acupuncturists
  • artists
  • authors
  • business strategists
  • chiropractors
  • coaches
  • consultants
  • copywriters
  • counsellors
  • financial advisers
  • herbalists
  • homeopaths
  • interior designers
  • lawyers
  • massage practitioners
  • natural therapists
  • naturopaths
  • occupational therapists
  • osteopaths
  • personal trainers
  • physiotherapists
  • psychologists
  • shiatsu therapists
  • social workers
  • software developers
  • teachers
  • trainers
  • tutors
  • vets
  • virtual assistants
  • yoga instructors

By "almost certainly", this is what I mean:

If you provide high quality services that you're proud of, and you're serious about having a highly effective website, and you're prepared to learn, then we should talk.

If your goal is to "get rich overnight" at somebody else's expense, or if you're not prepared to listen, or if you're a tire kicker or time waster, or you just want a website done at a "bargain basement" price, I suggest you look elsewhere.

Why hire me?

  • I'm independent of large corporations and web design companies so I'll always use the most appropriate technologies, instead of flogging you something to maximise my own profits.
  • I listen to you and your unique business challenges and requirements.
  • I build websites which busy small business owners like you can easily and painlessly manage yourself.
  • I don't outsource to cheap overseas sweatshops, because I dislike inferior results which stem from communication difficulties and cultural differences as much as you do.
  • I offer a complete service package, including hosting, reporting and online marketing.
  • I use web standards to ensure your website is usable and accessible by all of your customers.
  • I understand the importance of simplicity in design and my goal is not to impress you, but to help your customers get things done quickly and effortlessly.
  • I'm a friendly, approachable and seasoned professional with over 10 years experience in building websites and internet business systems.
  • I won't rip you off with dodgy online marketing tactics just so you can briefly see your website ranked on the first page of Google for a couple of useless keywords.
  • I treat you as a human being and a business partner, not a project number or a cash cow.
  • I speak like normal people in a language you can understand, including the occasional swear word thrown in for good measure, when required.

Why did I choose "Lutrov Interactive" as my business name?

  1. You deal with me directly. There is no call centre here. Nor are there any junior designers, web developers or "rookies learning the ropes" while working on your website.
  2. I build interactive business websites. No fancy, gimmicky stuff. Just websites which provide the answers your customers expect every time they connect with you.

Clients and websites

Some of the companies I've helped out in the past include:

In addition, my flexible web content management libraries are used on a number of commercial websites, including:

Background and experience

Ivan's mugshotI have over 20 years of hands-on experience as a professional designer, software developer, systems analyst and business consultant. I have strong skills in a number of programming languages, including PHP, Javascript, HTML, Perl, Visual Basic, VBS, C, C++, AWK, SQL and Pick Basic.

I also have extensive and real world business experience with number of database management systems, including MySQL, Postgress, Oracle, SQL Server, Ingress, Universe, Pick and Access.

I've worked with a number of open source content management systems including Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla, Group-Office, Dokuwiki, Mambo, Mediawiki, Pluck and Nucleus. I've even written one or two myself.

I'm an outspoken advocate of simple computer interface usability and I strongly believe that the best computer systems are those which put the user in charge.

"Why is it that virtually all spam I get is trying to sell me baldness cures, weight-loss programs and breast enlarging techniques? How do they know that I'm some fat, balding bloke with a pair of tiny knockers?"

I hold a Graduate Diploma of Business Information Technology from Swinburne University of Technology. I'm an outspoken advocate of web standards-driven and accessible design, and I'm a member of the Association of Web Design Professionals and the Web Standards Group.

In my spare time, I'm into photography, fishing, cricket, tennis, music from the 70s, cooking, good wine, and I apparently know "way too much" about movies.

If you're interested to know more, see my portfolio, read some personal stuff about me, what others have said about me, download my resume, view my profile on Linkedin, and follow me on Twitter.