web design faq
(frequently asked questions)
- What are the benefits of utilizing your services?
- What are the pros and cons of developing our own Web site?
- Will we need to know html code to maintain our site?
- How will our site be maintained?
- What software will be needed if we design and maintain own web design?
- How are changes in structure of the Web site made?
- What kind of input can we be expected to give in the design and features of our Web Site?
- What time frame can we expect completion?
- What does “hosting” mean?
- Do you accept credit cards?
What are the benefits of utilizing your services?
Part of the Shiesl Corporation background is in systems analysis. This means that we start by understanding your business and how it can best be brought to the web. We then work closely with you during your design so that the site will best reflect you and your business. We also have a lot of experience in making a local web site into an international web site.
What are the pros and cons of developing our own Web site?
Many people feel that they can create a web site by doing it themselves or having a friend’s son/daughter do it, they can. The difference is that there is a learning curve for creating and maintaining web sites that look clean and professional. We have been doing web sites professionally since 1998. It’s your business and your web site is a form of advertising. You can do your own accounting, legal work, or automobile repair; but in many cases it’s better to hire a profession. The same is true with your web site.
Will we need to know HTML and CSS code to maintain our site?
If you design your own site a working knowledge of HTML and CSS coding is necessary to create and to maintain your site (and possibly JavaScript, VBScript, and/or SQL), even with state of the art tools you will still need to change the raw code on occasion. If you allow us to maintain your web site then you will not need to know any code. If your web site needs to be changed frequently then we can design your site with the option of you doing limited updates via a program like Contribute, e.g., one where you can update areas which will not affect the actually code.
How will our site be maintained?
You as a client you simply send an e-mail containing a request to change specific text or images to use to update your web site. You can request additional pages to be added to your site as well.
What software will be needed if we design and maintain own web design?
The minimum software required to design and maintain your own web site is a text editor such as “Notepad” on a Windows machine to “TextEdit” on a Macintosh to enter raw HTML; a browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer to view the pages as you work on them; and a ftp client to transfer the files from your development PC or Macintosh to your hosting web server. You may purchase tools that will combine any or all of these minimum programs. The Shiesl Corporation has spent thousands of dollars on the latest software so that we can provide you professional services in a timely matter. Additionally we have taken numerous courses over the years to keep our knowledge current.
How are changes in structure of the web site made?
That would be dependent on what you mean by “changes in structure”. If you have an idea on what changes you will want to make latter in the web sites life prior to the original design, we may be able to design the site to make these changes easier.
What kind of input can we be expected to give in the design and features of our web site?
The Shiesl Corporation will encourage you to provide all the input you can, which can include your current brochures and pamphlets or simply your understanding of your clients (and potential clients). It is our belief that your web site reflects you, so we will try to gather as much information on what your business is, what you are trying to accomplish with your site and where you envision your business going in the future. You will always have the final approval on the design.
What time frame can we expect completion?
The time frame depends on the complexity of your site and our current workload. Typically a site takes about 4-6 weeks. We have turned out an simple sites in as little as 24 hours, but the client had all of the content they wished for the site and gave us complete freedom in the design of the site. Even then we had to go back and make some minor corrections. A major factor on the time frame for your web site is, of course, you. If you know the structure you wish, the content you wish, the colors you wish, the logo (if any) you wish then the site will move faster. And if you do not then we are here to help you.
To have your web site available to your potential customers that are surfing the web you need to have it on a computer that is connected to the World Wide Web or Web. This computer needs to have a software program or programs known as a web server that can allow access to the files that make up your web site when ever a user requests access. Your “hosting” computer should be on and connected to the Web 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (sometimes servers will go down for normal maintenance in the middle of the night or have technical problems)
Shiesl Corporation accepts MasterCard, Visa, and Discover cards.