| Web Site Design
=> The Process:
·
Information Gathering
· Strategy
· Prototyping
· Implementation
· Launch
· Maintenance & Growth
On contracting Treehouse Consulting website design services, you will
be required to sign a standard website design agreement on behalf of your
company/yourself.
Not sure about where to begin? Read more
here
Your domain - Example: www.widget.com
The first step is to obtain a domain name. This should be closely associated with your business name or the nature of your business. You can't, for instance,
simply expect to register www.travel.com because it's a generic name and is
probably already reserved. If your business name is Widget Manufacturers it is likely that you could register
something like www.widget.com or www.widgetmanufacturers.com.au or
www.widget.co.za.
We recommend that you keep the domain name as short as possible and in keeping with the nature of your business. If we are unable to register a
.co.za or .com.au domain name for you, we might have to register a .com in the international domain
space.
There are no guarantees on the internet; if you register www.widget.com.au it is
very possible that someone else may register www.widget.com or
www.widget.net, etc. Live with it, if you are planning to buy all of
these...Don't you'll probably be broke before you know it.
Your domain name and your web presence is only a small part of your marketing strategy. Launching your website isn't going to bring you instant fame and riches. You also have to tell your market that you're
available, so don't think it's a quick way to the top ratings, its takes
time and effort.
Website Marketing
Picture your website as a small meteor in your galaxy. There are simply
millions of websites on the internet and more are added every day. Search engine submission is an area which many people don't understand.
In our experience there is no ultimate authority on the topic as the rules
are ever changing. Search engines also aren't a guaranteed way to get noticed - not initially anyway. When your site is complete we'll submit your web
address (a URL), to Search Engines manually. Take our advice... Unlike
those who advertise that they will submit you to 50 000 irrelevant search
engines for $100, we prefer a planned and strategic approach and will
design the website with the desired outcome in mind. Go with a fast fix
approach and you could end up with a blacklisted website. We can prove that
our approach works.
Some search engines acknowledge immediately that they've received your
submission, others can take weeks and even months. There's no guarantee of inclusion. Basically, the earlier you
submit the better, and if you make frequent, even small, changes to your site, there's a good chance that you'll eventually climb the ladder. We'll help you to determine special search criteria which will aid the search for your product.
Use your website address on every printed item you distribute or display.
We even suggest you put it on all delivery vehicles and in your newspaper
ads. This helps to remind your potential audience that you have a website.
Nowadays its expected of every business.
Storage of your website. Website Hosting
Although we construct websites on our systems, it doesn't stay there once your site is
published. Most websites are "hosted" on dedicated servers. These
are optimized computers built for the task.
Treehouse Consulting enjoys a strategic partnership with a leading web hosting service company, Hetzner Africa.
This allows us to provide you with world class web hosting solutions combined with our own personal
service and support.
Through Hetzner we can offer you hosting solutions covering the full spectrum of services and
capacity. Treehouse Consulting can advise you of the most suitable hosting
plan for your needs and have your web hosting service operational within hours of your confirmation to go ahead.
We upload your website once it is completed.
Hosting fees are paid annually in advance.
Your contribution to your new website
Because you have a better understanding of your service or product than do we. You'll need to feed us with enough data, pictures, illustrations and a logo so that we can build your site so that it
properly projects your company. Take a look here for some useful pointers. Read
more...
We expect you to supply us with at least the following:
See our contact page for courier delivery address
or postal address.
• Your logo. Preferably electronically - as a JPEG, GIF,
BMP or TIFF image. We can't work with your logo imbedded in a Microsoft Word document; we need the real image. You can e-mail it to us, or provide it on
a CD or disk. It should be in PC format, and it must be high resolution.
The preferred file format would be a Photoshop layered image, but we can't all have what we want.
If your logo was created professionally by a graphic designer, it should be available
electronically from the designer. All you have to do is ask. If you supply an inferior image we will quote you to reconstruct the logo. Or we can design you a new
one for you.
• Your brochure. This will tell us how your products and services are put together and what your business image is. Often we can scan photos from the brochure, but we might also call for the original prints or transparencies.
• Your business card. This sometimes contains information that your brochure doesn't. Remember, you don't have to include every bit of information that you produce - just enough to entice potential customers into making further inquiries.
• Photos. We can accept photos in digital format, or as prints or transparencies to scan. Transparencies may incur an additional charge. Select photos which have a good colour and exposure balance
and ones that have a sharp focus.
How long will it take to design?
Generally we can have your site ready to launch in a few weeks, depending on a number of factors
such as the domain name registration, the information you supply us, and the approval process.
Website Maintenance
We recommend that you regularly make small changes to your website.
Inevitably your business will grow, and you may want to add new product or
services. You may not have the ability or the time to do website changes
yourself. No
problem. We can provide this service at very competitive rates and will
update your website on request. These updates will be charged for on a per
order basis.
On-Site Computer Support (Branded as Computer Medic
Services)
Our clients often need help beyond the setting up of their website. You might need help with e-mail configuration, networking, internet access, file transfers, data recovery, PC upgrades,
virus removal, maintenance and advice on purchasing new hardware. Give us a
call we can help you with qualified help at competitive rates, too!
Our range of services includes but is not limited to; general troubleshooting, upgrades, peripherals and
SOHO network support.
Even if you're not a web-client, and you need help with your computer, Feel
free to call us for an obligation-free assessment.
Website CD Back-up or Photo or presentation disks
You may want a complete hardcopy of your website on CD, just for safety
sake. We can offer you this backup service at a nominal fee. This is only
available to owners of website domains designed and hosted through
Treehouse Consulting.
Should you require digital photo albums, or offline websites on CD, no
problem we can design these type of presentation CDs on request too.
Payment Options
We accept cash, bank guaranteed cheques and direct bank deposit or
electronic bank payments only.
All computer support is C.O.D. in other words, you will be charged on-site
and be expected to pay the standard call-out fee and an hourly rate plus
the cost of replacement parts or software if required, on invoice.
For Website Design, a 50% non refundable deposit/progress payment will be
due on accepting our proposal to design your website. The balance is to be paid on completion and prior to upload or going "live".
Take a look at our affordable rates
here.
CURRENCY
CONVERTER
Ever thought of hosting your site in South Africa or Germany?
Make some
comparisons to hosting costs in your country!
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