FAQ

The following Frequently Asked Questions will help answer any preliminary questions that you might have.

If you don't find the answers you are looking for, simply E-mail me and I will be happy to answer your questions.

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Click on your question:

• What can a website do for me?

• Why does website design matter?

• I want to establish a strong online presence, but where do I start?

• What is the timeframe for building a website?

• If I already have a website, can you help me improve it?

• Can you use my company's existing logo, brochure design, and other materials for my website?

• What materials do you expect me to supply for the website design?

• What is e-commerce and do I need it?

• How much maintenance is required after my website is designed?

What can a website do for me?

The answer to this question is different for each business. In general, a website can reach millions of people who might not otherwise become familiar with your business. Customers can view your products, services, or message from the comfort of their own home. No matter what type of business you are in, there are ways to grow and make money on the web. Recent research has shown that the majority of consumers search for a business online before they open their local Yellow Pages. If so, small businesses like yours can gain exposure even within their own communities through a web presence.

Why does website design matter?

When a visitor comes to your site, they instantly perceive the quality of your services or products. The first impression a potential customer gets depends on the appearance of your website. You can keep a visitor interested enough to explore your site if it is appealing and easy to navigate. You are marketing yourself and your business to the world, so it is important to look your best.

I want to establish a strong online presence, but where do I start?

Start by contacting me to discuss your needs. Once we agree on your requirements, there are four main stages to the project:

1. Domain Name Registration -- This is the universal remote locator (url) or the address people use to access your website (www.yourcompanyname.com). Once we determine that the domain name that you want is available, the cost to register a name is about $15.00 per year.

2. Website Design  -- This is the look, feel, and content of your website. A consistent presentation of each and every page of your site instantly gives a potential customer the impression of quality, and the feeling that you care enough about them to present your business in a way that is easy for them to use. There are many individual elements that go together to create a quality design, which reflects your business in the best possible way.

3. Web Server Hosting -- This is where your site lives on a host system that is always connected to the internet. Prices for hosting vary, depending on the amount of disk space you need. Our hosting services start at just $9.95 per month on a server that is large enough for most small business sites. Websites with e-commerce and a large base of images will require more disk space at a slightly higher monthly fee.

4. website Marketing  -- I consider the marketing of your website while it is being designed. The content of each web page needs to reflect the appropriate search terms so your site will appear in search engines once they are submitted. Code is also added to your pages to indicate to the search engines to re-crawl your pages on a regular basis to pick up new pages, products, or changes you make to your website.

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What is the time frame for building my website?

It normally takes about 2 weeks to build an average 8-10 page website. For websites where lot of interactivity is needed (such as e-commerce), it can take about 4 weeks. If you gather all the required information and images for your site ahead of time, it can keep a project on track and eliminate additional time and delays.

If I already have a website, can you help me improve it?

I can assess your site to determine if a redesign would help you and then make suggestions for improvements. Re-styling or redesigning a site can oftentimes cost less than building a new website, depending upon the number of hours required to redesign it. When we consult with one another, this is something that we'll sort out so that you can make the best decision for your business.

Can you use my company's existing logo, brochure design, and other materials for my website?

Yes, I can, and if you feel your company already has a branding that your customers recognize, those materials should be included early in the design process so that the rest of the site design reflects similar elements and colors for cohesiveness. Or, if you are unsatisfied with your existing logo and supporting materials, we can design a new set for you that also flows with the rest of the new website design.

What materials do you expect me to supply for the website design?

Brochures, logos, photographs, product descriptions, and business cards are all helpful resources. If you are a new businesses, I can also help you obtain these types of marketing and advertising materials. If you are selling products online, you will need to send me high-quality digital photos of your products. In certain cases, I can obtain stock images.

What is e-commerce, and do I need it?

E-commerce (also known as electronic commerce) is the purchasing or selling of products or services from a website. Usually, the money transfer takes place online using an electronic gateway over the internet. So if you need to sell products or services from your website, then you need an e-commerce enabled site, which includes a payment gateway, such as PayPal, and a shopping cart system that interfaces with your payment gateway to collect payment for the items or services your customers choose to purchase from you.

How much maintenance is required after my website is designed?

Depending on your business, some maintenance is required. As your business grows and evolves, you might require products or services to be added, deleted, or modified. Keeping your site up to date is essential if you want your customers to return. If there are not many changes in your business over time, then maintenance will be minimal. This part is very dependent on your type of business and website. I offer levels of maintenance packages so we can effectively schedule your routine changes on a schedule that suits your business.

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Website Design *  Sally Van Nuys *  High Time Design * Amherst, OH  *  440.984-3486

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