| Q. |
What is a domain name and why does my web site need one? |
A. |
A domain name functions as the internet address of your web site. Just like a street address
allows people to find your home, your domain name allows people to find your web site. It usually
begins with www. and often ends with .com. You can do a whois check at a registrar to find out if
the name you want is available or taken. If it is available, you can register it or contact us and we will register it for you. Your domain fees are payable
annually and will run approximately $20.00 per year.
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| Q. |
What is hosting and why do I need it? |
A. |
Just as your web site needed a domain name to act as an address, it
needs a host server to act as the physical location. A web hosting server is a computer in a
data center that is connected through major back-bone connections to the rest of the world wide
web. The data center will have a service level agreement guaranteeing the uptime of your web
site. Contact us for hosting questions or to begin a hosting account.
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| Q. |
Why should I use a professional web designer? |
A. |
People often go to the "kid next door" who will build them a web site for the cost of a
skateboard. A few months later the site needs to be updated but the kid next door has lost interest
or is on summer vacation. Colleagues or potential customers visit the site and find that the
navigation does not work or the graphics are not loading. The pages may lack consistent imagery.
Or, the site owner decides to add a shopping cart or other functionality and finds that a
professional designer is unable to integrate those features into the home-made site. Home-made sites
are fine for a family reunion or small personal need, but they are not recommended for a business that
takes its professional image seriously. Instead, give us a call, or email
us; we will build you a professional web site and keep it up-to-date.
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| Q. |
What does a web site cost? |
A. |
Web site costs vary according to the complexity of the project and the functionality (such as
e-commerce) desired. The fees for the web site are divided into project "milestones" beginning with
a deposit at contract signing, and then are payable as the site progresses. This means you never
have the scenario of "I paid upfront for work that was never done." This also means that the website
cost is affordably paced with the website work schedule.
Hosting is billed monthly starting at $25.00 per month for a basic site and discounts are
available to clients who pay semi-annually or annually. Domain registration is billed annually.
The quote / proposal for your web site design will be given to you in writing after conversation
to determine what services will best fit your company's needs. You will know up front what the
costs will be and when payment will be due. Contact Us if you have questions about
costs and billing.
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| Q. |
How do I get started? |
A. |
Contact us and we will set up an appointment for a free consultation.
We will want to know all about your vision for your web site - how you want it to look, what you need
it to do. We will then create a quote that lays out exactly how much your site will cost, how the work
will proceed and when payments will be due. Soon you'll have a professional and easy to use site.
It's that easy!
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| Q. |
What do I need to do on my end? |
A. |
If you have a logo or current "look and feel" you would like your web site to match, please get the
graphics from your printer or graphic designer. If you have seen web sites you loved (or hated), show
them to us so we can match your web needs to your tastes and preferences. Be prepared to write up a
description of your company, the products and/or services you offer, and any other information you want
your customers to know about you.
No one knows your business better than you do. We know the technical aspects of how to make your
content work on the web, but it ultimately it is up to you to design the marketing strategy that best
fits your business.
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| Q. |
How will people find my web site? |
A. |
People will find your site through one of two basic methods: offline promotion and online
promotion.
Offline promotion involves using any media other than the internet: print advertising (business cards,
flyers, yellow pages ad), radio, TV, your answering machine, etc. It only takes three seconds/ one line of
text to mention your web site address, thereby making your media exponentially more effective.
Online promotion involves using resources on the internet: search engines, portals, web rings and such.
We will submit your site to Google and Yahoo and, additionally, will link our web site to it to help build
link popularity and traffic. Your site will be built to the latest search engine specifications. Because
there are so many sites on the internet, your site may be perfect and still not rank well. For example:
Google lists over 11 million web sites that match the term "St. Augustine real estate." Every one of those
sites would like to be in the top ten positions on page one, but it is not realistic to think they all can
be. Many different factors affect your ranking. If aggressive search engine promotion is necessary for the
success of your site we can help and will quote those fees separately.
Contact us if you would like to discuss a promotion strategy for your site.
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| Q. |
Who owns my web site when it is finished? |
A. |
You do. Upon request, we will happily burn a CD containing all the live contents and resource materials
of your web site. You are the copyright holder and all contents of the site belong to you. Contact us if you have more questions.
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| Q. |
I already have a web site. Can you help me with it? |
A. |
In many cases, yes. We have helped several customers who came to us with web sites someone else (or
they themselves) had built. It depends to some degree on how large and complex your web site is, and what
technologies it uses. If we are unable to support your site ourselves, we can put you in touch with a
reputable firm who can help you. Please contact us if you have any questions;
consultation is free and we love to help people.
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| Q. |
Can you fix my computer? |
A. |
No, we personally don't handle computer repairs. However, we are partners with Singular Solutions, a local company that
offers excellent quality computer repair service at very reasonable prices.
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| Q. |
Do you offer computer networking? |
A. |
No, we personally don't handle computer networking. However, we are partners with GWANDA, a local company that offers a full range of
excellent quality computer networking and computer security services.
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