| Frequently Asked
Questions
Deciding to build a web site can be a
daunting experience for some. With all of the
web lingo and applications out there, it can be
difficult to sort everything out. We realize
this and have provided this page of questions
and answers that should help point you in the
right direction. If you have a question that is
not listed here, please feel free to contact us
for answers!
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Answers:
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1. Why do I need a domain name?
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A domain name is like your web site's street address. By purchasing your own domain name
you get a unique address that is easy for your visitors to remember. You must have your own hosting
account to use your own domain name.
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2. What is web hosting?
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Web hosting is like the lot of land your web site sits on. You can use
free hosting services (like Geocities, Homestead and many others), but you will not have the ability to add many useful
applications to your site. Having your own hosting account ensures that you can build your site without any
one else's restrictions. You must have a domain name for your hosting account.
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3. Where do I start when planning a web site?
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This is a very common question. When planning a web site, there are many
different decisions that need to be made. What will it look like? What
do you want your site to do? Do you need e-commerce solutions or scripts
installed? We have created a "Project Worksheet" to help
you through the process. If you need assistance with any of part of the
process, simply call us and we will walk you through it.
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4. Does my web site need to be secure?
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If you are adding e-commerce, a database, or even a simple order form,
your web site might have to be secure to ensure your visitors
privacy. Contact us
and we will discuss all of the various details you need to know about
providing a secure environment for your customers.
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5. Does my web site need a shopping cart?
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Not every web site that sells products or services will need a shopping
cart. If you have many products or services with set prices, a shopping
cart should be the way to go. If only one or two products or services
are being sold or your price is different with each client, then you may
not need one. Contact us
to learn more about how we can help.
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6. Do I need a database for my web site?
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If you are planning on collecting information from your visitors, then chances are you will need some sort of database. Don't let
that worry you, though. It is not always as expensive as you might think.
There are all kinds of databases. Some have already
been created by software authors and just need to be purchased and installed. This is usually an affordable alternative to hiring a
programmer. The fall back is that sometimes you can't find the exact database you need. Then that is when we
call in a programmer to "tweak" it a little bit. Also an affordable choice.
Many times though, if your services are very unique, there is
just no alternative to a custom-scripted database created by a professional programmer. It is also extremely important that you know exactly how
you want your database to work and how many members you expect to use it. Knowing these things up front and telling your programmer
can save you tons of time and money later, especially if you can't afford all of the neat features you have in mind right away. Many times a programmer
can build you a less expensive, basic database and you can modify it as your business grows.
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7. How do I know if I need "custom" graphics?
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Many times it can be appropriate to use some of the widely available, free clip art on your web site. But, if your web site is selling anything, anything at all, it
can be very difficult to find royalty free clip art that you are allowed to use. We have several memberships with some of the leading royalty-free clip art providers on
the web and can sometimes find an image that can be used for your purposes in the millions of images we have permission to use when designing your site.
Sometimes that is just not enough though. If you need a logo, advertising banners, HTML Emails, unique web borders, headers and buttons you are
probably going to need to get custom work done. Using custom graphics on your web site will not only set you apart from the rest, but it will also ensure that
you get the exact look and feel that you desire.
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8. Can you redesign my existing web site?
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No problem! We have done this many times in the past and will always be
happy to do it again. Please fill
out a project worksheet for a free quote.
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9. What kinds of applications and scripts can I have on my site?
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The sky is the limit! If they make it to put on a web site...then we can put it on there! Message boards, chat rooms, banner rotators,
password scripts, upload scripts, download scripts...whatever! You may have a script you want installed or you may need us to find
one for you. Many of the simple ones can be found on the web for free! Of course, if you have something really unique in mind, we can
always go "custom" and create an application based on your exact
needs.
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10. How do I maintain my web site after it is finished?
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If you require maintenance on your web site, we can make your
updates for a standard
maintenance fee of $25 per hour. If your updates are extensive, we may treat it like a new project and offer you a quote.
And, we will always fix any errors on our part for free. The point
is...you are not left
out there in the dark to handle this on your own. We will always be there to support you and your web
endeavors.
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11. Will you submit my site to the search engines?
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Unfortunately we can no longer provide this service to our clients.
Sure, we could do a quickie automatic submission thing and charge a lot
of money like many other design companies do, but we just don't want to
operate that way.
If we can't provide the best service possible, we
won't provide it at all. We tried to offer custom hand submission and
site optimization and found that to get even mediocre listings on the
major search engines takes a LOT of work. It can sometimes be a full-time
job in itself. We now realize that this is a service best provided by a
company that specializes in this field.
So how do you get your site listed? You have two options:
- Do it yourself! - There is so much information on the Internet
about search engine submission that you could learn to do it yourself with
some research. Visit as many sites as you can to learn all the ins and outs. This is what we recommend if you have
the time.
- Hire a professional. - There are many professionals out there who specialize in search engine submission. Do a little research and hire the one that you
feel can offer you the best deal. Be wary of sites that promise "First Page" ranking on the major search engines, but they do it for $20!! This is not really possible.
If you want first page listings and you want to stay there, then you need a professional who will pay individual attention to your site. Many search engines
will change their criteria often in an attempt thwart spammers. The company who is responsible for
search engine optimization, should be familiar with
this obstacle and be able to keep up with the changes.
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