Frequently Asked Questions – Web Design
General Web Design Questions
Q: Does my business need a website?
Ask yourself, "Does my business need 24-hour exposure 7 days a week, 365 days a year?" (Um, you might want to say "yes" now). What other medium allows you to expose all the benefits of your small business to your target market at their convenience and provide a source of direct correspondence from them to you? The benefits of a website are innumerable.
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Q: But I'm a small business that works locally in my area, and I don't want to sell anything online. What do you have to say to me now, buster?
We're sure you didn't mean anything by that "buster" comment.
It's just as important for you to be online. There may be people who are curious about your business, but have never walked through your door because they simply haven't made the time. By providing access to your business online, these potential customers can learn about your product line, business hours, customer service policies, etc., all in the privacy of their home or office - they might just take a few moments to call, email or visit your shop the next time they have a need for the products or service you provide.
Search engines themselves have added "local search" features to their systems, including Google and Yahoo, the biggest players in the market.
In the United States alone, there are 218 million people on the Web, at home during off hours, and they average 36 hours a month on the Internet. There are also 70 million active web users at the office, spending 19 hours a week online.
Nielsen NetRatings, April 2008
Even a small business has the potential to save in customer service costs by providing elementary information such as hours of operation, location and contact information. You can also display a list of frequently asked questions and answers, a calendar of upcoming events, job openings, and more.
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Q: Do I need to use a website design company that is local to me?
No you don't! Although we are based in Albany, NY, everything can be done over email, the Internet, or the telephone. We've designed web sites for companies all around the United States. Of course, we have a nice office, and would love to sit down with you if you want to come to see us, or we can travel to yours!
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Web Site Updates
Q: How often should I update my website?
(Don’t confuse updating content on a web site with redesigning a web site. Learn more answers about redesigning the look of your web site).
The rule of thumb: At a minimum for an informational web site, review content every 2-3 months, and first look to find old and outdated information, then look to add new content if needed. For ecommerce web sites, review content monthly at the most. For news web sites or blogs, you’ll probably be changing items up daily or weekly.
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Q: Is creating content for my site going to cost me money?
Maybe. You can either create the copy yourself, or you can have someone else ‘ghost write’ content for you.
If you write it yourself, you want to make sure that you stick to web writing standards. Check out our article about Writing Content for your Web Site.
If you have someone else write your copy, expect to have them take about an hour per page. You can also check out our copy writing services.
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Q: Once I have content, can IntelliSites update my web site for me?
Absolutely! We offer different options towards getting your web site updated. You could use IntelliSites on an "as-needed" basis, which we would invoice you on an hourly basis. Or, if your changes are more regular, we offer ten web site maintenance options. You could save thousands over our regular hourly rates.
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Q: Can I maintain my website myself?
Generally, yes. It depends upon your skill level, if you have purchased software, or if you have a content management system (CMS) within your site.
If you already know how to update a web site with desktop software like Adobe Dreamweaver or Contribute, and we host your web site, then we'll give you the passwords you need to "get in".
If you are new to web site updates, then we can train you to do your own basic web site updates.
With a SmartCommerce ecommerce application in your site, adding and deleting items, price changes, etc. are built into the design of the site, so you can do these yourself, too.
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Web Site Redesign
Q: How often do I need do redesign my web site?
That’s a very difficult question to answer. Riddle me this: is your existing web site working for you now? Do your clients love it, and is the site already useful and helping to grow your business?
If the answer is “yes, everything’s great – we get tons of compliments and tons of business from it”, then the answer is: don’t do any major changes.
If the answer is “um…kinda. Some people say it’s great, but others can’t find what they need. Our web site used to get us more business than it is right now”, then the answer is: you need to review your web site with us.
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Q: How will you ‘review’ my web site? Aren’t you just going to sell me a new site no matter what?
You’ve been burned before, haven’t you?
A web redesign may not be necessary, and we will not recommend that you change anything if it is working. We follow the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Here’s what we’ll want to look at your site historically – where it is on search engines, what your current web statistics tell you, and get answers about your current business model and process vs. what it was when you designed it.
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Q: Is there some sort of checklist so that I can review my own website first?
Yes, we’ve created a rate your own web site.
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Hosting and Domain Names
Q: Besides having a web site, what else do I need?
You will need a web hosting provider, and a domain name.
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Q: Does IntelliSites offer web hosting services for my new web site?
Yes! We can provide web hosting for virtually any need. Or, if you are already comfortable with your existing hosting provider, we can work with them, too.
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Q: Can I choose IntelliSites to design my site and use my existing web hosting?
Yes, you can use any web host you like, as long as the applications used within your site are supported by that host. We’ll just need password access to upload the site files.
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Q: Can you help me select a domain name?
Yes, we can recommend domain names for your site. Or to check on your own, Click Here and then choose domain names. Or, give us a call and we’ll give you a free consultation about your options. We will never buy the domain name unless you tell us to buy it IN your name.
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Q:What if I've already designed my web site? Can you host it for me?
Yes. We can easily host your web site for you, at a very competitive rate.
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Cost
Q: How much does it cost to setup a website with IntelliSites?
For a custom-developed web site, the total investment can range from about $2,000 to $50,000.
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Q: What's the difference between the $2,000 and $50,000 site?
Let's start out with what is the same. First of all, in both cases, we'll meet with you during a FREE consultation and run through what we call a "fact finder". Then, we make our recommendations based upon your needs and budget. Then, we'll create a well thought out, custom-built and professional web design, designed to attract business from your target market.
The difference between the $2,000 and the $50,000 site is the size of the site, and the components and complexity that go into a web site. Are you looking for a five page web site, like a brochure? Or a dynamic, database-driven ecommerce system, that ties into your warehouse inventory system or membership database? Like cars, web sites have a lot of options and functionality choices. Just know that there are solutions for your budget.
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Q: Can I spread my web site investment over a series of payments?
Sure! We can spread the payments over a series of months. For example, if you financed $1,000, you can pay that over 12 months at just under $90 per month. That’s pretty inexpensive. Then, once the site is paid, you own the site outright, and you don’t have to keep paying for it. Hey folks, it’s not a yellow pages ad where you pay...and pay. And pay again.
You can also use your own sources of credit (line of credit, credit cards, business loans, etc.).
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Q: I'm a little confused after I got some quotes. Why do some web design companies charge half of what you do for the same thing, and others charge three times as much?
It's like a car. In 1984, you could have bought a new Yugo for a few thousand dollars. You could have purchased a Mercedes for $45,000. Or, you could have purchased a Honda for $8,000. They all did the same thing.
We know now that the Yugo would have been the worst purchase you could ever make. The Mercedes and the Honda may still be running today, and the Mercedes will someday be a "classic". You should have chosen between the Honda and the Mercedes, depending on your budget, your need for creature comforts, and your desire for status.
With a web site, it's even MORE important that you choose the right designer. Sure, price is important. But we're talking about your business here – these days, everyone who sees your web site sees it as your business. Rather than choosing on price alone, consider other factors such as experience, expertise, timeline, and other important factors that put your client in mind.
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Q: That all sounds good. But how can I really tell the difference between you guys?
Thanks for asking! Take a look at this checklist, Find the Right Web Design Firm.
Plus, ask for references.
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Q: Are there any hidden charges for your website design services?
No! Once we have all the information about your requirements, you will be given a proposal with our recommendations with specifications and pricing, broken out into the individual components. The only time your investment would change is if you want additional pages or any other material added before completion of the website. In that case, we'd create a change order for your review and approval, before those changes are performed.
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Web Site Design
Q: Do you use "template" designs from other sources?
No. Our web designs are all fresh, clean, fast loading sites that are meant to tie into your existing marketing strategy. If your company is different from your competitors - shouldn't your web site be different, too?
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Q: So would you use one of your custom designs again?
No. Our web site designs are all unique, because our clients own the design once we create it for them.
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Q: How many pages will I need within my web site?
Every business has different needs. After we meet with you and determine your goals, we will make our recommendations which will include the total scope of the project. We have clients with sites consisting of a few pages and others whose sites include hundreds or thousands of pages.
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Q: What do you need from me in the design process?
This is your website, so we'll need your input to make it a success. We work with you to take your ideas, marketing plans, and branding to design a web site that is functional and attractive, and gets you business.
We will need logos, photos, brochures, flyers, newsletters or other artwork that identify your business, in digital format. If you don't have them, we can help create them!
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Q: Do I have a say in what my website looks like?
Definitely! As a matter of fact we insist on it. Your website should convey the image you want for your company. We create a look based on a discussion with you, and then create a look for you. You would then review that design online, and we’d like your feedback on it. Once you are satisfied, you will actually sign off on an approval, and we move on to the content phase of your site.
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Q: How long will it take to have my website created once the web site look is approved?
Here’s the thing that makes us different: we will put our timeline in writing, once we know the scope of your project.
What usually takes the longest is gathering the necessary information. Typically, once we have content and your design is approved, a smaller site will realistically take four to six weeks to complete.
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Q: I'm not a good writer, but I understand that the content of my web site is very important. Can you help me with this?
Yes. We have creative writing services available to help you through this process.
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Q: Who actually owns my website design?
How’s this for a simple answer: you are the owner of your website. All copyrights will become yours upon final completion of your web site.
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