This page contains some of the commonly asked questiong regarding promoting businesses online. If you have any additional questions that are not listed here, please feel free to contact us by completing the form on the Contact page.
Business Questions
Why should I invest in an online presence?
Investing in an online presence is a great and relatively inexpensive way of expanding a business. Although there are some initial costs, the benefits can greatly outweigh that initial investment. Additionally, the maintenance and web hosting costs are very small, especially when traffic through a web site is limited.
How much will this cost me? Are there any on-going maintenance cost?
The initial cost of setting up a web site can vary, depending on the individual business's needs. A basic web site can be constructed from only a few web pages (e.g., home page, contact us, product/services, etc). In addition to the set up fee associated with the actual construction of the web site, there is a web hosting fee, which can be as little as $100-150 per year. The web hosting fee is generally charged up front for the entire 12-month period. Other discounts may also be available for longer duration web hosting contracts.
What if decide not to continue my presence online? Can I cancel?
Yes, although web hosting generally is renewed every 12 to 24 months, it makes sense to simply leave the web site alone and not renew when the contract expires. In the event that company's ownership or name changes, web pages can be easily removed leaving only a "landing page" informing customers of a business change.
Technology Questions
What do I need to know about 'javascript' 'flash' 'html' 'ASP'?
These are simply names or acronyms that represent various technologies that are available when building a web site. We will work with you and together make the appropriate choices and decisions based on the web site content and other requirements. If you do know about these technologies and have certain preferences, please let us know.
Can I upload data from files? How complex is this process?
This process will vary, depending on the sources of information. Generally speaking, accessing data from a database is typically straightforward and many web sites use them. There are also free databases available, such as mySQL that can easily be incorporated into a web site if it needs to provide dynamic content (e.g., content tailored for specific products or customers, etc). It is recommended, however, that sensitive data be properly secured (e.g., credit card numbers, customer contact information, etc).
Can I expand my website should I decide to offer more services to my customers?
Absolutely. In fact, this is quite common as web sites are rarely static. Many companies start out small to get their initial presence on the web, and once they get some visible traffic (or feedback from customers), additional information or services may be added. This may include ability for customers to register themselves as "members" for monthly newsletters, download "how to" documents, purchase products online, processing credit card payments, etc.