Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Web Design
- Does my business really need a Web site?
- The short answer is YES. In today’s competitive business environment, you need every possible edge to attract new customers, keep existing ones happy and find additional sources of sales. A professionally designed Web site can give you that edge. According to Forrester Research, Internet influenced sales represented three times as much revenue as online sales. In other words, people prefer to do their research online and then make their purchases offline.
- How will a Web site help my business grow?
- Read how a professionally designed website can help your business grow.
- Can I really afford to have my own Web site?
- Yes, it is a lot less than the cost of traditional print advertising and it can be updated frequently without too much time or money.
- How hard can Web site design be?
- That will depend on the time and money you want to spend on software tools and learning to use them effectively. Here’s one scenario – expect to pay about $1,000 for a software suite and a couple of “Visual Quick Start” books to get you started. Plan on spending about a week or two in learning the basics by trial and error. Then you can begin to build your Web site. After spending 2-3 months of your time with some frustrating moments, writing text and creating content, you could end up with a decent looking site based on a template that a few hundred other people may have also purchased. Keep in mind, your site is probably not search engine friendly at this point and after all that hard work, no one can find you online. Okay, we have exaggerated a bit here, but you get the picture. We recommend that you focus on more productive tasks of running your business – which is what you do better than anybody else and leave the time consuming task of building your Web site to design professionals like us. Once you put a dollar figure (be honest now!) to your time, you will see that you are really getting a good value.
- How can I get started on Web design with AMA Interactive?
- To get started, fill out our online RFQ/RFP form or call us at (713) 532-5834.
- Is it really necessary for me to get professionally written copy for my site?
- Let’s face it; no one knows your business better than you do. Therefore, the meat of the matter has to come from you. We or any other professional copywriter can provide the marketing punch that drives home your message. Moreover, we have the experience to write text specifically for the Internet audience and to optimize your copy for search engines. The right words or phrases will help to make that emotional connection with your visitor and persuade them to buy or do business with you. Keep in mind, not every page of your site needs to have search engine optimized text. Of course, you can try to write the text yourself. Many good books and e-books are available that will provide you a crash course in copywriting for the Web.
- Does AMA Interactive provide Website design, promotion and hosting?
- Yes, we truly are your one-stop Web site development company. Our range of affordable web design and promotion services include …
- How much will it cost?
- We charge by the project and not by the hour. The biggest problem with the hourly pricing structure is the fact that there is no way for you to determine how long it really takes to build your Website. Whereas, with our per project pricing system you know exactly how much the total cost will be before you get started. No surprise add-on charges or sticker shock when your Web site is finished. To get started, fill out our online RFQ/RFP form or call us at (713) 532-5834.
AMA Interactive will only bill you by the hour if there is any additional work required beyond the scope of the signed agreement. Even then, you will receive an estimate for the additions before we get started. Only after you have given us written approval, do we perform the work. - What is included on my Web pages?
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A custom design suitable for your target audience and industry and in your preferred color
scheme. Every website project includes the following:
- Phone/e-mail consultation to determine site objectives and business goals
- A custom design or redesign
- Provide you with a check-list to gather all existing content
- Create a functional mock-up hosted on our server for your review and feedback
- Build pages after your approval
- Integrate existing logo, images and content
- Create new graphics/Flash animations as specified
- Create online RFQ/RFP forms
- Provide backend scripting and programming
- Apply Meta tags, create search engine friendly site maps and basic submission
- Test across browsers and platforms
- Upload and take your site live
- Provide a CD with all files (you own the site, not us)
- What is a typical Web page?
- It varies from website to website. Every site has a Home (or Index) page followed by inside pages that could be:
- About us/ the company
- Products/services description pages
- Order or shopping cart
- Contact information
- Maps and directions to your store or office
- Portfolio or sample pages
- Customer testimonials
- Warranties, guarantees, return and privacy policies
- Rates or price schedules
- Frequently asked questions
- Links to other sites
- Resources and helpful articles
- Data gathering forms
- What if I change my mind after I have signed off on the mock-up?
- We will develop a functional mock-up based on the information that you have provided us. It is hosted on our server so that you can review it online. You should take the time to review it thoroughly. Modifications such us changing the color scheme, placement and size of images are easier to make at this stage. Gather comments from others within your company and discuss them with us. We will give you our honest opinion about your suggestions and finally do whatever you ask us to do. We will not proceed to build your web pages until we receive your written approval of the mock-up. Client revisions and changes after receiving written approval are additional work and billed on an hourly basis.
- Who owns the site after it is completed?
- You do. After we have uploaded your Web site to your or our hosting server, you will receive a CD or a Zipped file with all digital assets used to create your Web site. We will keep a back-up of your files for a period of 6 months.
Note: Stock images from our library that are used on your site will not be included on the CD. They belong to us and not you. - Can I use my own hosting company or transfer my site to yours?
- Yes. We are affiliated with a reputable web hosting company that offers domain registration and Web hosting independent of our design services.
- How will future updates or ongoing maintenance of my Web site be handled?
- AMA Interactive provides content updating services to Web site owners who do not want to deal with updating it themselves. You can send us copy changes, price updates, content for new pages, photos and other updates via email. We will make the necessary updates on your Web site and upload the revised pages to your server. We charge $120 per hour (billed in quarter hour increments with a 1-hour minimum) for this service which must be prepaid and is billed on an “as needed basis” and there are no long term contracts to sign. If you prefer to maintain your site yourself, we can provide a Content Management System (CMS) that is easy to use.
- How does it work if I want to use your Web design services but I am not in Houston?
- We have built sites for customers thousands of miles away, and for those who are right in our backyard. We are professionals who are used to working virtually; and we can build you a high quality site without a face-to-face meeting. E-mail, PDF, Instant Messaging and Online Meetings are some of the technologies that we use regularly to communicate with our clients.
- How do I pay for your Web design services?
- Payments are made using PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to make payments. If you are a Houston company, we will accept your business check. Please allow 3-5 working days for the check to clear before we can begin working on your site.
- Who do I contact in case I have a problem or questions?
- Call us at (713) 532-5834, M – F, 8:30 to 5:30. You can reach us by fax at (713) 532-9081 or email us at info@amainteractive.com.
To get started, fill out the short form in the sidebar or our online RFQ/RFP form or call us at (713) 532-5834.
