Web FAQs
- Where should I begin when thinking about having a website?
- How much do you charge for building a website?
- What kind of software and programming tools do you use?
- What about Flash? I understand you can create some pretty cool effects.
- I’ve noticed you don’t display your name on the websites you build. Why is that?
- How can I drive visitors to my website?
- What’s the difference between bulk email and spam?
Where should I begin when thinking about getting a Website?
Betagraph believes that a website should be a logical extension of your business, which means your website should enhance the fulfillment of a business purpose. Assuming you have business goals and objectives, a website can help accomplish them.
Whether or not you plan on engaging in e-commerce and generating online sales, your website is also a marketing tool — perhaps your farthest-reaching tool at that! By attracting your target market to your website, you create customer awareness and build credibility, which, in turn, can influence customers to visit or call your place of business.
Thus, start thinking about your website in terms of the “big picture.” Determine why you want a website, what you want your site to accomplish, who you want to visit your site, and how an Internet presence can enhance the fulfillment of business goals.
How much do you charge for building a Website?
The cost to build a website depends on many factors, all of which begin with an assessment of your wants and needs. Following a consultative process during which we listen to your business and website goals, needs, and ideas, we provide a detailed estimate of our services and the relevant fees.
Unlike some, we do NOT charge by the number of pages. Depending on page content, page length and complexity vary. Also, the home page is arguably the most important page of the site and more time should be spent on it than interior text pages. We build Websites to meet your needs. We do not artificially create additional and unnecessary pages just to charge a higher fee.
What kind of software and programming tools do you use?
We use a variety of creation tools and hosting software, including: Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, PhotoShop, CGI, PHP, CSS, Access, MySQL, Unix, plus a variety of utility programs and scripting tools that add functionality and varying degrees of customization.
We use both PC and Macintosh computer equipment, preview our work in Explorer, Netscape, and Opera browsers, and use a variety of standard production software such as Word, Excel, Illustrator, Freehand, etc.
What about Flash? I understand you can create some pretty cool effects.
Yes, websites that incorporate Flash programming can be pretty impressive. But despite the special effects, there are some well-known and distinct limitations associated with websites that rely heavily on Flash programming.
In particular, Flash sites take longer to download. Also, the presentation style of Flash tends to be more “observer” oriented than user interactive. An important concern is that search engines have limited indexing capability when it comes to Flash websites. Also, from a usability point of view, Flash sites do not operate in quite the same way as non-Flash sites.
Our approach to Flash is to use it sparingly and when appropriate; that is, when it adds to the value of the information presented and when it enhances the user experience. A small element of Flash animation in an HTML website can create impact without encountering the limitations associated with Flash websites.
I’ve noticed you don’t display your name on the websites you build. Why is that?
The website we create for you is about you, not us. When you look at a brochure, a magazine, or other printed piece, you don’t see the name of the art director, graphic designer, or the company who created it, do you?
We are not opposed to self-promotion. However, the practice of including the web designer’s name at the bottom of every page (with a link to the designer’s website) is something we regard as a throw back to the early days of building websites. We also feel it’s a distasteful distraction.
Actually, though, we do include our name in an inconspicuous portion of your site — on the copyright, privacy notice, and terms of use page, which few website visitors pay attention to.
How can I drive visitors to my website?
Given the vast number of websites that now reside on the Worldwide Web, it is increasingly difficult for users to find a particular business without knowing its domain name (e.g., www.yourname.com). Gone are the days when the visitor will easily find you by typing a few keywords into a search engine.
Visitors can only come to your website if 1) they know you have one, and 2) they know how to access it. Thus, part of the job of having a website is to promote it, which means you must tell your customers and prospects about it.
There are a number of different strategies and techniques for driving visitors to your website, each depending on what you specifically want to accomplish and why. At the very least, every piece of printed material you give or send to customers and prospects should include your website address. Other strategies require more planning and effort and different implementation.
We recommend that website promotion be part of your overall website planning process.
What’s the difference between bulk email and spam?
Bulk email is an accepted and legitimate marketing technique for reaching a predetermined customer list; that is, those people with whom the business already has a relationship or potential relationship. Bulk email is the electronic form of direct mail marketing, and recipients are given an opportunity to be removed, or “opt-out” from the mailing list.
Spam, in contrast, is nuisance email targeted indiscriminately to large numbers of unknown recipients with whom the business has no relationship. Spam is “junk email” that is unsolicited by the recipient. Spam is a huge Internet problem and legal remedies regarding its use are becoming common.
Betagraph does not and will not produce spam for its clients.
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