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De-mystify the entire web hosting process
We know that for many the internet is somewhat of a mystery and the creation and workings of websites is almost like voodoo. Unfortunately, some web designers have assisted in propagating this impression.
We believe in explaining the workings of the Internet, search engines, web design, e-commerce, hosting, etc. so our clients can make informed decisions. We also realize that your job is running your business - not running your website, so we insure that you get the information you need to make business decisions without miring you down in heavy technical jargon.
- Procure web hosting services (or work with your existing one)
If you do not have a website we start by explaining the differences between various vendors - what they offer, how much they charge, the pros & cons of each so that you can make an informed decision based on the functionality you want for your website and your budget considerations.
Once a decision is made we can handle the direct communications with the chosen vendor so that you don't have to act like a go-between and funnel information both ways.
If you already have an existing web hosting vendor we can work with them, again relieving you of the burden of setup and technical issues.
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Register your domain name for you (or transfer one)
If you are just creating your company's first web site we'll be happy to help you procure your own domain name (www.whatever.com) or if you already have a web presence we can insure that you do not lose your rights to it and all of the advertising and name recognition already in place - even if you decide to switch web hosting vendors.
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Educate you on options, costs & benefits
Web sites are like most things in life - they come in various different appearances with a multitude of different functions.
Many web designers start with a listing of "Here's what we do...". We start with one question:
What do you want from your website?
From there we explain different ways to achieve your goals and how to plan now for possible future needs without paying for services you aren't using.
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Submit your new site to search engines
This is an art in itself! All the major search engines now require $$$ to get your website placed with them in any realistic time frame. However, there are ways to get into the search engines without breaking the bank. We can help you.
In addition to a standard search engine listing there are ways that you can get placed on the first page of specific searches using a pay-per-click form of advertising. For pennies per click you can drive business to your site. This form of advertising may or may not fit your business depending on several factors.
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Register your new site with webrings to drive more traffic to it
Webrings are another way that traffic can be driven to your site. With webrings your site is listed in a community of like-minded sites. For instance, if your site features antiques for sale you can join webrings that feature antique-related sites. Potential customers surf through these various sites by utilizing navigational links that take them through the various member sites. This traffic has two advantages:
- Webring viewers are specifically looking for what you have to offer. Only someone interested in antiques will use an antique-specific webring.
- Webring membership is free.
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Create a logo for your company
A large percentage of our customers had no company logo prior to contacting us. A recognizable logo can assist you in sales, especially if you attend trade shows are perform mailings.
We have graphic design experience and can create a custom logo for you if needed.
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Create a favicon (show a unique image when someone bookmarks your site)
What is a favicon?
If you have ever visited a website and saved it as a favorite you know that you can revisit the site by simply clicking on the listing in your 'Favorites' menu. IN AOL these generally show up with a heart beside them. In Internet Explorer, however these generally show up as the Microsoft IE symbol unless you have created and defined a favicon. When people save a bookmark for a page with a favicon associated with it, the bookmark shows the custom image.
Here is an example:
You may notice that most of the bookmarks use the default Microsoft icon. However, you will also notice that the Yahoo link uses a custom favicon.
Do you see how the Yahoo link stands out? This is an example of what a favicon can do for you.
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Implement a commercial e-commerce package
If you plan on taking orders directly on your website you will need some form of e-commerce capability. One way is through a commercial e-commerce package. These packages provide you with an e-store and may or may not be hosted by the same vendor who hosts your main website. Either way we can make the connection between the two appear seamless to the user.
An advantage of this type of e-commerce package is that they generally have a nice user interface so that you, the website owner can easily add/modify/delete catalog items at will.
A disadvantage of this type is their expense (usually on a per month charge)as well as the inability to control the look and feel of the e-store to closely match
your main site.
Commercial e-commerce packages can also lack the flexibility that some businesses require regarding shipping prices, volume discount, temporary special offers, etc.
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Implement a cgi-based e-commerce package
Another option is a cgi-based e-store. Simply put, this is an e-store that sits within your main website - not as a separate package.
This type of e-store can be customized to fairly closely match your chosen look and feel. Since it runs within your website you do not need the extra expense of an e-commerce hosting vendor (however when choosing your main web hosting vendor you will need to consider the requirements of this type of program and you may not be able to implement it if a cut-rate vendor is chosen since they often don't support the protocols necessary to implement a cgi-based package).
Cgi-based e-stores also often do not have the simple user interface and can require more training or utilizing the web designer to make any complex changes.
Which style is right for you? It really depends on your business and your expectations.
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Provide training and ongoing maintenance
Remember Ferrise Design started out as a consulting form (we still do consulting under Ferrise Consulting) so we know that often our customers expect us to train them how to manage as much as possible on their own. Just as often, customers also request us to 'do it all' for them. Either way we have you covered. We'll happily guide you through the screens you need to access to update prices, pictures, products, etc. and we are just as happy to do it for you if that is your wish.
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Photograph your products and edit images
We also provide digital photography so that your products can look their best on the web. Make no mistake, web imagery can be complicated. An image needs to be clear and crisp and yet may need to be compressed so that it will load quickly,
We can also scan images from existing product catalogs and transform them for the web.
As you can see there are a vast number of pieces to creating a successful web entity and we can help you get started. If you would like to ask some questions about our services or about anything web-related in general - please contact us:
925-866-2712
dferrise@ferriseconsulting.com
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