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Unless you had an existing website, when your new site launched we submitted your "Domain Name/URL" to both Google and Yahoo for indexing (inclusion in their searches). Since search engines offer no guarantee and their service is free, we cannot anticipate when we will start seeing your company's listing in the search results. In many cases businesses appear within 24-48 hours but, depending on your competition, it may take longer. Please be patient and keep in mind that, since you know your website address you don't need to search to access it. Simply open your web browser, type the address (Example: www.ABCRentals.com) into the input field at the top of your screen and hit your "Enter" key.
In the meantime, we absolutely recommend promoting your website by giving out the address and including it in PRINTED materials such as business cards, stationery, and especially advertisements! Whenever possible let people know they can view your site by typing www.(YOURNAME).com, .net, or .org into their web BROWSER.
SPECIAL NOTE: Once your site is indexed by the search engines using search and click will help raise your "ranking" closer to the top but only if they're unique visitors. Google does track IP addresses so repeating the process multiple times a day tends to work against you. Instead, we recommend testing the search engines once or twice a day (and asking staff/friends to do the same) and then periodically when your site becomes available in the results. Your customers will take it from there!
For additional information see also "Search Engines/SEO" and "Google Analytics".
Advertising
Most business owners realize the importance of an effective website. However, in this ever-changing world of information technology ("IT"), having a website isn't always enough. As we mentioned in our initial website proposal we strongly recommend an advertising campaign. If your business is local or regional we've found that a combination of methods such as internet marketing (articles, press releases, Google AdWords, etc. -- more on these below), newspaper (print is good but online is better), radio, or direct mail, work well to help LAUNCH your new website. HOWEVER, there are other less expensive and in some cases FREE alternatives! Click here for affiliate ACCENT-PROMOTIONS' pdf flyer entitled 5 Ways to Promote Your Business at NO COST! You'll find this information to be extremely helpful. Please feel free to visit their website or contact them in Chesapeake City, Maryland at: 410-275-2464 for additional information and be sure to tell them we sent you.
(SEE
Search Engines/SEO below for additional info!)
Billing/Payments
In most cases a 50% deposit was required to initiate the development of your new website. If you have not yet received an invoice, you will be receiving an emailed invoice from our bookkeeper, Janice Hartman (jhhartman@thesmalldetails.com). This invoice will reflect your deposit along with the outstanding balance, which is due within thirty (30) days of completion unless additional payment terms have been arranged.
MAINTENANCE: Updates of website text is considered maintenance and billed at $50/hour*. Typically minor updates take a matter of minutes and because a current website is important to your ultimate success, Small Details is committed to working efficiently. Maintenance billing is calculated at the end of each month. Totals are rounded up or down to the nearest half hour and invoices are sent on or about the 8th of each month with net-30 terms available.
Credit card payments are accepted through our website and PayPal, a secure online payment processor. PayPal is recognized world-wide and best of all, they offer a completely secure payment system with no additional credit card fees. No need to be a PayPal member... to make an online payment, click
PAYMENT.
Contacting Us
Nothing is more frustrating than being at the mercy of email for an answer to a quick question. If you have a question or concern, you can reach us by phone Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, and after hours for emergencies at: 410-996-9713. In addition, you can reach our affiliate Hi5s, Inc. at: 877-483-1040, (Deb Smith @ Option #4) or Option #1 for Jim Hansen.
Of course, email is always an option through our website address: info@thesmalldetails.com, deb.smith@hi5s.com or as an alternative, our broadband address: dsmith1971@comcast.net.
Domain Registration and Renewal
Unless your company registered your domain name/website address prior to the onset of our website project, it's likely we would have registered an appropriate domain name for you. Domain registration is basically the "leasing" of a name and must be renewed in order to continue using it. (See also "Domain Name").
Domains may be registered for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 years. Approximately 45-60 days prior to expiration of a current registration we're notified by the "Registrar" that the domain is about to expire. If there is any question as to whether you want to continue operating under your current domain name we will notify you and give you the option of renewing or letting it go. Otherwise we will automatically renew it and send you notification with an invoice. Renewed registrations are invoiced in the next billing cycle and fees are based on the current Registrar rate.
A one-year registration is currently $10 per domain, per year (as of November, 2009).
EDITING/Website Updates
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EDITING/MAINTENANCE: As we mentioned, updates of website text is considered maintenance. Communicating these updates is best handled through email although a follow-up phone call is always an option. Please provide:
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Page name (ie "About Us page") or website address (ie "www.ABCRentals.com/about_us.htm" which can be copied and pasted from your web browser).
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General info about the location on the page along with the text to be changed - For one or two word changes please supply the "from" and "to" wording (ie "Third paragraph – please change from 'graduated in 1983' to 'Upon graduation in 1983'"). For more extensive changes please give us the full paragraph so nothing is lost in the translation.
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Any deadlines that apply... Typically website updates are completed within 2 business days but at especially busy times please allow 3 business days. Again, please let us know if the updates are time-sensitive.
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ADDING TO YOUR WEBSITE: When adding a topic to your website you need to consider the effect on the navigation of the site (links and menus). Adding a topic to an existing page is quite simple and can be handled through editing/maintenance (above). Adding a page will almost always require rearranging, restructuring or adding to link "menus". Please get in touch so we can discuss the best approach for this type of a project.
E-Commerce/Database Options
Small Details is proud to work with affiliate, Hi5s, Inc. who provides full E-Commerce solutions (for online shopping) and Content Management Systems (CMS) for those who wish to self-edit. These options may be added to your site at a future time or phased into your current site.
E-Commerce packages include a complete custom-designed database with a user-friendly product management system (administrative area) which controls display of product information, special values/sales and more. They also offer customer service modules for storage and display of customer login records, customer (shopping) favorites, etc.
Content Management Systems or CMS are designed for those who need the ability to change designated areas of their website on a regular or constant basis. This option eliminates the need for on-going website maintenance and makes it possible for your staff to add or update detailed information and upload photos (under 2MB in size) through a password protected, user-friendly administrative area or by way of an uploaded Excel file.
Google Analytics/Traffic/Tracking
Google says it best: "Google Analytics is the enterprise-class web analytics solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features now let you see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way. With Google Analytics, you're more prepared to write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites."
If we've installed Analytics on your website we will provide you with the login information. You might consider reviewing the Google "Product Tour" (audio/visual) beforehand. In addition they offer several tutorials and support sections once you are logged in. To access your Analytics account: Click LOGIN.
If you're interested in having Analytics installed, get in touch with us today. It's a terrific tool for monitoring website "traffic" reports, keyword management and ESSENTIAL for any Search Engine Optimization/Marketing campaign!
Hosting
As we would have discussed with you during the proposal process, Small Details recommends Hi5s, Inc. for website hosting. Hi5s' hosting solutions feature LINUX servers – powerful hardware, innovative software, and aggressive security. Included with Hi5s hosting are pop email accounts as well as unlimited email forwarding and aliases. In addition you will have access to the server via the file transfer protocol (FTP), which is supported by many popular authoring tools, including Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe Dreamweaver. Their E-Commerce hosting packages also include the necessary security and reliability for demanding ecommerce applications.
Billing for website hosting is handled separately from website development and domain registration, although we do provide contact information to them to initiate the process. Hi5s invoices are sent on or about the 11th of each month by bookkeeper (Janice Hartman) through her Hi5s address: jhhartman@hi5s.com.
Monthly auto-debit (credit card) hosting payments are accepted and recommended. With your initial hosting invoice Hi5s will provide auto-debit information along with a form that may be faxed directly to Hi5s, Inc. for security purposes. (Please do not email credit card information). You should receive a confirmation and begin seeing monthly charges on your statements. Please contact them at 877-483-1040 if you have any questions.
Search Engines/SEO
Almost every day we're asked "How can I move my site to a top position on Google?". Promoting your website has become increasingly more important as the level of competition intensifies.
THE OPTIONS:
We have found that researching SEO & the social media process is a full time job in itself, so our goal shifted to that of locating reputable experts in the field of search engine optimization (SEO) and social media. We currently work with a team of Internet Advertising Professionals who promote small, medium-sized and large businesses through an impressive combination of resources including Google AdWords, AOL, About, NY Times and the latest "social media" tools, Facebook and TWITTER.
Our affiliates will create and implement a campaign specifically designed for your business, closely monitoring daily activity, and making any necessary adjustments. The result is that business owners are recognizing increased website traffic and greater returns on their website and advertising investment.
Contact us today to get the ball rolling!
( » More about Twitter as a Marketing Tool ).
Termination of Maintenance
Because a website maintenance agreement is not required, ongoing maintenance may be may terminated at any time. Should you decide to cancel on-going maintenance, please do so by postal mail or email to:
Small Details, 107 Daniel Bathon Dr., Elkton, MD 21921. Email: info@thesmalldetails.com
Terminology
(Web) Browser – A Web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. Although browsers are primarily intended to access the World Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by Web servers in private networks or files in file systems. The major web browsers are Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera for Windows and Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Opera for Macintosh. – Wikipedia.org.
Domain Name – A domain name is an identification label that defines a realm of administrative control in the internet, based on the Domain Name System (DNS). Domain names are often referred to simply as domains and domain name registrants are frequently referred to as domain owners, although domain name registration with a registrar does not allow for any legal ownership of the domain name, only an exclusive right of use. Example: AbcRentals.com. See also "URL".
Keywords & Meta Tags – Meta tags are HTML codes inserted into the "header" on a web page, after the title tag. In the context of search engine optimization, when people refer to meta tags, they are usually referring to the meta description tag and the meta keywords tag.
The meta description tag and the meta keywords tag are not seen by users. Instead, these tags main purpose is providing meta document data to user agents, such as search engines. In addition to the well-known meta description and meta keywords tags, there are other useful meta tags, including the meta http-equiv tag, meta refresh tag, the meta robots tag, the meta copyright tag, and the meta author tag, etc. These tags are used to give web browsers and search engine spiders directions or data on various information. – About.com See also our Newsletter of July 2009.
URL/Website Address – If you've been surfing the Web, you have undoubtedly heard the term URL and have used URLs to access HTML pages from the Web. It's often easiest, although not entirely accurate, to think of a URL as the name of a file on the World Wide Web because most URLs refer to a file on some machine on the network. However, remember that URLs also can point to other resources on the network, such as database queries and command output. – The Java Tutorials
(Web) Server – The primary function of a web server is to deliver web pages (HTML documents) and associated content (e.g. images, style sheets, JavaScripts). A client, commonly a web browser, makes a request for a specific resource using "HTTP" and, if all goes well, the server responds with the content of that resource. The resource is typically a real file on the server's secondary memory... – Wikipedia.org. See also "Hosting".
*Effective February 8, 2010 $50/hr.
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