What
do I need to provide to start the process?
Essentially,
you will need to provide the text, photos and logo that you would
like on your site. If you don't have any of the above, we can
work with you to help design a logo or to acquire any image files
that would help with the overall look of your site. For a full
list of items that you may want to include on your web site,
please click web site design checklist.
My
friend (or family member) knows HTML, couldn't he make my web
site?
Unless
this person is a web design professional it is probably not the
best choice for your commercial site. A poorly designed site
will reflect on your business and can actually drive potential
customers away.
Having
a knowledgeable web design professional is the key to making
your web site work for your benefit. As far as the Internet is
concerned, it is not just an "if you build it, they will
come" scenario. A well-designed and properly marketed web
site will increase your revenue and client base. A poorly designed
and marketed web site may only hurt your business.
How
much does a web site cost with you?
Great
question! Because there are many many variables to factor into
the cost we will first need to have a consultation with you in
order to quote a price.
The
quoted prices are based on the size and complexity of the site.
Keep in mind the more information you provide for us the easier
and less expensive it will be to create your site. Providing
photos, logos, text content, etc will all decrease the price
range of your site.
As
a general rule, most small business design projects will range
between $1500 and $3000. This is just a ballpark figure and some
sites can be higher or lower, depending on the needs and wants
of the customer.
What
are the deposit requirements?
Generally, we
require a 50% deposit on all design work with the other 50% payable
at the completion of the site. However, if the full price of
the design work is below $2000 we receive 100% at the start of
the project. (Hey, we have staff to pay and all the expenses that
go along with running
a
business
too!)
All
web hosting, e-commerce software packages, domain name registration,
third party software needs and related fees are payable in
advance.
And don't forget about our 100% refund policy! If
you are not completely satisfied we will refund your money.
How
long will it take to get a site developed?
The
length of time to create your site depends on the complexity
and size of the web design. Once you have approved the layout
of the design it will take approximately one to two weeks before
your site will be available for your clients.
What
will my web site be named?
Your web site will have a unique domain name. Most often we will try to get
www.yourbusinessname.com however, another company may have already registered
it. If this is the case we will discuss with you the available, related domain
names. If you have already registered a domain name we can use that name for
your site.
Can
I start with a small site and add to it later?
Sure.
Some of our projects have been planned out in phases. We will
design your site to fill your current needs. Then, as your needs
change your site can be changed to align with them.
How
is a site kept up to date? Can we do the updates in-house?
Every
time a prospect returns to your web site they are that much closer
to becoming a client. To keep them coming back to your site we
recommend updating your content periodically. We can update your
site for you for a fee based on how often you would like to update
it and the complexity of the updates. We can also provide a solution
whereby you can update specific areas of your web site.
What
is a Host?
A
Host is a computer that stores your web site data. When clients
type in your web address they are directed to your host's computers,
which will then display your site on the internet. The
cost for this service varies but is usually between
$20
and $50
a
month.
What
is a domain name?
A
domain name is the address of your web site. Because domain names
need to be unique you will need to register one for your company
so no one else can use your address. The cost for this service
is between $15 and $30 a year.
Who
owns my website once it is finished?
Some
web designers retain the rights to the sites they build and may
even charge you a fee to take "your" site and move
it to another host.
When
you purchase our services, we create the web site for you! At
the end of the transaction you are the owner of the site. You
can move it wherever you would like, copy it, make changes to
it - anything you would like. It is yours.
