1. How long does it typically take to build a site?
There are many factors that determine the time required to complete a website, on average it takes approximately 14 to 30 days (for a basic site) or anywhere between 30 and 90 days (for a large complex site). From the date we begin the process to your website being posted on the Web.
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2. What does 'Website Maintenance' mean?
Website Maintenance refers to changes made to your website after the initial design. Keeping a website up-to-date is essential in having repeat visitors to your site. Updating the site with sales, newsletters, press releases, financial figures and links are all examples of Website Maintenance.
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3. What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address of a particular website. For example, our domain name is "www.dam-consulting.com.com". To register a domain name, you can contact a company such as Network Solutions or Register.com Domains. The most common domain names will end in .com, .net, or .org, but there are many more to choose from.
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4. What is web hosting and why do I need it?
Web hosting is a place where your website will be accessible on the internet. It is a place for your domain name, web page files and graphics to reside. Most hosting companies offer monthly, quarterly, and yearly packages. Hosting fees vary greatly depending on your needs. Your hosting package will need special features if you plan to have a storefront on your website, if you will be connected to a database, or if you have special programming requirements. We do offer web hosting packages, beginning at $15/month.
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Please choose and consult with your design company you will be using BEFORE you sign up with a web hosting company. There may be specific requirements needed by the design company.
5. Can I view my web site as it is in progress?
Certainly. We can put your website in a directory on our web server so you can view the progress and approve of the final product before it goes live and launch it to your own web server (ie: www.dam-consulting.com.com/yourcompany).
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6. How much does a web site cost?
There are quite a few factors that are going to affect the ultimate cost of your website. These factors include how many pages you are going to have, if you will sell products on your website, the graphic work involved, and how interactive your future website will be. In conclusion, we don't offer fixed pricing as certain projects involve more work.
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7. What does the web designer need from me?
Text copy and photographs or other images you can provide, in electronic format. Or send us photos and brochures through post mail - but this will take longer so an electronic format such as your content in MS Word is preferred or photos in .jpeg or .gif files.
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8. What's the difference between "static" and a "dynamic" website?
A static website is one that is written in HTML only. It is not dynamic, meaning it remains the same and there is no database that it draws on. A dynamic website is one where the content of specific pages are pulled from a database (ie: online catalog, event calendar, online forms, e-commerce stores, etc.).
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9. Why should I have a professional website designed for my business?
It's the best advertising medium available today. A professional website provides world-wide exposure of your business for a small initial investment, when compared to other forms of advertising.
Even if your business is local, you can be sure that more of your customers will use the Internet to search for products and services in their local area.
Your website can provide unlimited information about your company: your hours of operation, locations, and your products and services. Information can be tailored to your target audience and changed as regularly as your business grows. (Your target audience chooses to browse your website because it is interested in your products and services)
Your website is a permanent promotional tool and provides your customers with easy, 24-hour access to your company whenever they need it. It saves them time when they're gathering information: no waiting in lines or being put on hold. They can get quick answers to their questions, at their convenience.
Your website is a powerful market research tool. Through email and on-line fill-in forms, you can quickly identify new customers and the products and services they're looking for.
Your website can save you time and money by handling some of your administrative functions online such as membership, event or class registrations and taking and processing orders, to name a few.
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10. What is your payment policy?
Small Business/Individuals: We receive 50% of your estimated total as a deposit prior to beginning work. We accept Cash, Check, Credit Card (MC, Visa, Discover, AMEX, etc.) payments. The final payment is due immediately upon completion of the project and before the completed work is handed over to you.
Universities/Colleges/Corporations: We are currently setup as vendors with organizations that use the Purchase Order payment system. A blanket Purchase Order for the entire project is first created by your oranization, and we use that PO to create periodic progress invoices until the project is complete.
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11. Do I have to come to your office to get a website? What if I live in a different part of the country or a long distance from you?
We can design a website for you no matter what part of the world you live in. There are several ways you can send us your information. If you already have digitized photos and text files, i.e.. Word documents and gif and or jpg images, you can email them to us. If not, you can mail or FedEx us the information that you want on your website. If electronic items are too large to email, then we will send you our FTP location.
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12. Are the websites you design unique?
We provide each client with a unique, customized solution suitable to their business, requirements and budget. We do not use pre-made designs but sketch out new layouts for every client and project. We will provide you with custom made samples, up to three (3) revisions and custom graphics to go with your web site.
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13. Can you modify my existing site? Can I make future upgrades to my site?
Yes, a fresh look or new content can do wonders for a website. This is taken care of with a maintenance agreement or on a project-by-project basis.
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14. Can I sell things on the web? Can I accept credit cards?
People take a variety of approaches to selling on the web. Some prefer to use the web to make contacts and then complete the sale over the phone or in person. Others want to have a shopping cart and accept credit cards. We can consult with you to decide what is right for you. There are a number of different options out there depending on what type of services/products you will be selling, so give us a call to discuss, 1-888-4-IVC PRO (1-888-448-2776).
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15. What do you need for a website?
Computer: Although highly recommended, it is not necessary for you to have a computer but it is necessary for those wishing to view your site.
- ISP: an Internet Service Provider is how you connect to the Internet. This ISP will provide you with an email address to communicate by electronic mail (email).
- Domain Name: This is www.yourname.com; your address or home page on the Internet.
- Host: An Internet presence provider. This is where your website is stored for the world to view.
- Website Design: You'll need all the codes, computer language, scripts and graphics which, when put together, formulate your website into a viewable form for the world to see.
- FTP: File Transfer Protocol to transfer information to and from your website for updates, repair, edits and changes. This is how web designers communicate with your domain at the host.
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16. What is "E-commerce"?
E-commerce is the buzzword for the new millennium, and for very good reason. The Internet is changing the way business is done with literally billions of dollars being made over the Internet. E-commerce simply means Electronic Commerce. E-commerce gives you the ability to accept payment over the Internet, by either credit card or electronic checks. Through E-commerce, you can sell products or services instantly to anyone in the world without having to constantly monitor your website.
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17. Can I request more changes after I approve the draft?
You can make as many changes as you wish (remember this is your website). However, design changes performed after the approved draft will be charged at an hourly basis.
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18. My page looks good on one browser, but not on another. Why?
There are slight differences between browsers, such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla, and FireFox, in areas such as page margins. The only real answer is to use standard HTML tags whenever possible, and view your pages in multiple browsers to see how they look.
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19. Why can't I find my web site in the search engines?
Once your website has been submitted to the top search engines they may require several weeks, or even months to actually spider and list your web site in their directory. How fast your website is listed depends on each individual search engines database update schedule. There are third-party companies that specialize in helping you get placed 'high' on the search engine results. Do a search in Google for 'search engine'.
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20. How will people find my website?
People usually look for websites by asking a search engine such as Lycos, Yahoo, Excite, Google, and others...to look for a particular Keyword. IVC Productions assists you in selecting the correct keywords so that we can place them in the proper meta tags on your pages. Please be sure to now place your website address on all your printed materials as well (business cards, brochures, signs, newsletters, magazine advertisements, etc.).
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21. What kind of guarantee do you offer?
We completely guarantee our design work. After viewing the initial design draft(s), if you are not satisfied and wish to discontinue work on the site, we will refund 100% of your deposit.
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22. Your services seem geared towards business. Do you design websites for individuals, too?
Of course! Our competitive and flexible pricing makes professional website design affordable for individuals and organizations. We can build a website for your club; a family reunion, wedding, or other special event; a tribute to a special person-the possibilities are endless. Tell us what you have in mind.
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