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Frequently Asked Questions... and Answers

What’s it take to put a business on-line?

March 15, 2008

Since most business owners outsource their website work, few of them can explain the step by step process of launching a website. But, like most things you get involved in, it may help to know what’s involved in the process. The steps are as follows:

1. Select a website name
2. Determine the content to be displayed
3. Build a website
4. Install the website on a server
5. Attract visitors
6. Install periodic upgrades

Typically business owners who outsource their website design are involved in the website name selection and in selecting the content. Due to time constraints, this is often true even in cases where the owner has the necessary skills. But let’s assume that you wish to the job yourself. Each step is explained below:

Selecting a website name

Just like your address or phone number, every website name must be unique. The first choice is generally to use the company name. For example “Joe’s Landscaping” might become “www.joeslandscaping.com”. However, since there are so many websites out there, that name is probably taken. (It actually is.) No need to panic - this happens to just about everyone. In this case “www.joeslandscaping.biz” is available. But if you prefer a “.com” extension, the next step is to think in terms of subtitles. Maybe “www.joeslandscapingbyjoe.com” or “www.landscapesbyjoe.com” would work. Idealy the name is easy to remember, easy to spell, and not too long. We will guide you through this process and supply you with additional name choices until you are satisfied with your choice.

Building a Website

Just like many other services, you can do it yourself or you can get someone else to do it.Generally if your running a business doing it yourself isn’t a good choice but if you do want to do it, you require the necessary training. Let’s say your business is slow and you know how to design websites, you still may want to outsource the work. Your time would be better spent selling.If you get someone else to do it, there’s quite a few choices. At the low end of the spectrum you can have a two or three page “brochure site” put on-line for about $300 ($100 per page). At the high end you can pay well over $10,000 for an interactive website such as the type used by the real estate companies. Our product is positioned slightly above the low end. (It’s a pretty good deal!)

Installing the Website on a Server

The content of the website is transferred to a server at a web hosting company. That company provides and maintains the computers and keeps backup copies of the website. Hosting companies generally charge between $5 and $15 per month. This cost can be lowered by ordering a longer term contract.

Attracting Visitors

Ideally, your website will immediately be visited the masses, you will be flooded with requests for your service or product, and your business will suddenly grow. By some stretch all of that is possible, but typically the ramp up is much more gradual. Most business do not entirely rely on the web. They use it in conjunction with traditional advertising - at that is a powerful combination! The website address is on the business card and is included on any printed add. Then over time the website begins to take the leading role. But, it’s not unreasonable to expect some amount of new business just because you have a website.In order to attract visitors the website must be “search engine optimized”. This involves setting up the site’s content to contain words and phrases that are frequently searched for. Also, Google and Yahoo accept payment for better search positioning.Here’s the good news. Wordpress based websites are naturally search engine friendly and all VantageSites use the Wordpress engine.

Installing Periodic Upgrades

Sometime after your website is put on-line you will want to have updates installed. Generally, these are the reasons:

• You’re business has changed. Maybe you’ve added a new product or service. Maybe you’ve changed your prices.
• The website needs to have some changes just to keep a fresh look.
• You have decided that there’s content that you would prefer be stated or pictured another way.

Updates are normal and keep your website interesting. For this reason, VantageSites are designed for flexibility.

Are you willing to add special features?

March 15, 2008

Yes. Any request for extra features will be considered. For example you may wish to dedicate an entire page to highlight a certain part of your business. Or, perhaps you would like a separate page for each of your products.

The effort required to add in the feature will determine the add-on fee. Pricing for special features are considered on a case by case basis.

What will my website look like?

March 15, 2008

The base format will be the same as this site, however by the time we add your banner, your photos, and the colors you select, it will take on it’s own look. We believe that this format works well for most business. Because we’ve standardized on this format, our website production is efficient, flexible, and stable. As a result, your website will be a well crafted display of your companies assets.

The standardized format also allows us to engineer enhancements compatible with all our customers’ sites.

Explain the “Business Blog”

March 15, 2008

All VantageSites are equipped with this feature. At VantageSites.com, this section (the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section) is the Business Blog. It’s used to clarify information in order to ensure that a potential website customer has an accurate understanding of the product.

The Business Blog we provide comes standard as a Frequently Asked Questions section with VantageSites supplying the first five questions and answers. However, you can have the Blog set to a different name such as “According to Joe” or whatever. The choice is yours.
Used correctly, a Business Blog can be one of the most effective marketing tools. It neither time consuming to maintain or expensive. The blog comes with the website and there are no additional costs. The primary advantages to you are:

1. By writing about a subjects related to your business, you provide creditable evidence that you’re right for the job.
2. A Business Blog provides you with an area to place information about your company that doesn’t necessarily fit elsewhere.
3. By adding more content specific to your business, search engines such as Google and Yahoo will find your site faster resulting in more website visitors.

Our blog uses one of the most popular and robust blog engines - Wordpress. Instructions are included and yes, we provide ongoing support. Just give us a call.

How can a website help? I already have all the work I can handle!

March 15, 2008

The simple answer is “There’s always room for improvement.”, but there’s much more too it.

First of all, website presence alone will improve your professional image. It also shows you are keeping up with technology.

One of the best reasons to have a website in busy times is to increase repeat business, and as you know, it’s less expensive to deal with already existing customers. A website keeps your customers are kept up to date on any changes to you business - new services, products, etc. It also gives your customers have easy way to find your contact information. And, by offering information about your field of expertise, it will add to your already established credibility.

If there is ever a slow down, a website can help by generating new business through an already established media. It allows you to quickly adjust prices and service offerings.

The fact is, a website has no downside. Let’s face it - Having more interest in your business can only help you.

We’ll keep your site current.

March 15, 2008

At VantageSites we offer several plans to keep your website up to date.

• Free updates for the first 30 days. This allows you to continue tuning your site. Just send in your changes for us to install.
• Make you own changes - for free! Without programming skills, much of the site can be changed . This is a good option for those comfortable with computer applications.
• Low Cost Maintenance Contracts are available after the first 30 days. This allows you to continue to change your website indefinitely provided the contract is in effect. Often times your business determines the amount of activity that will be necessary. For example if have a situation where your price list varies or your service offering varies, you may need a service contract.
• Pay as you go is a good option for those who want to keep costs under control, and who do not require frequent changes. If you fall into this category, you may want to stack up the changes and submit them in one batch.

Excellent Content and Service at a Low Cost

March 15, 2008

VantageSites provies a web site that is:

• Professional in appearance. Each website is well organized and has a clean appearance. Your visitors will be viewing a site that is easy to navigate and interesting to read. Each picture will be carefully selected and well positioned.
• Easy for visitors to find. The VantageSites underlying Wordpress engine is inherently “Search Engine” friendly - meaning that by nature your content will be put in the forefront of those looking for your information. (Google and Yahoo will find you.)
• Easy to change and expand. Many changes to your content can be made by you - if you desire. We don’t mind stepping in and our rates are reasonable. Our websites are designed to be changed and expanded.
• On-line fast. Not only can our websites be changed quickly, they can also be put on line quickly. This is a result of our design, our methods, and the skillful web developers.

–>PS - Read about the Built in Business Blog!

Choose a name - We’ll make it official

March 15, 2008

• We will guide you through the name selection process for your web site and determine which names are available. Once a name is chosen, we will look at the name from a search engine perspective because certain names are more likely to be submitted to Google and Yahoo. Let’s say you find two web site names you like - the one more likely to be searched for would be the best choice. The name should also be easy to remember and to spell.

• Next, we’ll register your web site. You can choose to resister for a period of one to five years. Longer term registrations cost less per year. The web site is registered in your name and becomes your property. This allows you to transfer the web site name to another service at your discretion. And of course, registration prevents anyone else from using that name.

• The cost of registration is only about eight dollars a year. At VantageSites this cost, and the guidance provided during the web site name selection is part of the overall service offering.