FAQ
General FAQ
Working Together
Why is email the best way to discuss our project?
For discussing the details of your project, email — or a collaborative project management tool, such as Slack or Google Hangouts — is much better, for many reasons:
The information is saved online, and serves as a valuable record of our discussion.
Email messages can be searched and referenced at any time in the future, so we do not have to rely upon our memories of phone conversations.<br />
Any messages can be resent if necessary.
Both parties can take all the time and space they want, to be exact in describing questions and answers. When you express what you want in your own words in an email message, it reduces the potential for misunderstandings.
Project requests conveyed in a phone conversation can be (unintentionally) vague, which causes frustration and wastes valuable time. In contrast, email messages encourage us to be more specific.
Everyone has the information they need to do their tasks, which saves time and reduces the chances of miscommunication.
Files and website addresses can be easily sent via email.
Email allows us to send and receive messages whenever we want, day or night. It is not intrusive nor does it interrupt what we are doing, as does a phone call. We can receive and send information at our convenience, not dictated by a ringing telephone.
Because I spend my productive time at my computer, it is easier to read and respond to an email as soon as it is received.
Email is free, unlike any phone call outside of our area codes.
I do not have a business phone number, because I do not want anyone disrupting my personal life or inadvertently treating me as an on-call employee.
I'm more productive with no phone, as it allows me to concentrate on work, since writing code requires uninterrupted focusing.
Contacting me via email is just as fast and reliable as using a phone, because I'm at my computer for most of the day.
Any project instructions will need to be provided in writing anyway — either as a project specifications document or in an email message.
If we need to sign up for a service, can you do that for us?
Yes, but I would need all of the required information, including the credit card details to pay for the service. You may find it easier to give me that information (which naturally I keep completely confidential), but you can also sign up for the services yourself, and then send me the login information that I need for accessing the account.
Information Security
Can we avoid sending you our passwords?
If you prefer, you could set any password to a temporary value, and then later set it back to its original value, after I've finished accessing the particular account.
Project Time and Cost
Even though we have limited funds, can you still work for us?
How limited is limited? I don't need to know any exact amounts, but I definitely need to know a ballpark figure for your budget, so that we don't spend time discussing a project that cannot be afforded. Please let me know. Thanks for your understanding.
How do we pay you?
Like other web-based professionals, I do not accept cash, because it can get lost in the mail, with no recourse. The fees for my services can be paid using a bank check, or wire:
A bank wire costs a nominal fee, but it is the fastest and most secure method, especially for international money transfers. Also, it allows me to begin work on your project immediately.
A bank check is free, but it takes a few days. Most banks offer free electronic bill payments, in which they cut and mail the check for you.
In either case, contact me for the bank account information.
There are several reasons why PayPal is not the best choice for sending large sums of money, including these:
We are charged a PayPal fee that costs much more than any bank check or wire.
Consequently, either I end up not receiving the full amount for my work, or you pay more for it.
When a bank sends a check or wire to another bank, the money is truly transferred. But with PayPal, they can retract the money at any time and without warning, even if it has been withdrawn from the destination PayPal account.
However, if a bank check or wire is not an option (which is rarely the case), or the payment amount is quite small, then here is how to send a PayPal payment (eCheck is an option) so that I will receive the full amount:
Login to your PayPal account.
On the blue menu bar, click the*Send Money* tab.
In the*To* field, enter my Gmail address.
AndreAVillanueva2709@gmail.com
In the*Amount* field, enter the payment total, and select*USD* if it's not already set.
Click the light blue *Personal* tab, then the *Payment owed* radio button, and then the orange *Continue* button.
If the Payment Method is Credit/Debit Card, check the I will pay the fee checkbox if it's not already checked.
Click the orange *Send Money* button.
You can also pay on my site: AndreVillanueva.com/pay-andre where you can pay securely through paypal
Why do you charge by time, instead of a fixed bid?
Software development costs can generally be charged in one of two ways: at an hourly rate for all hours spent working on the project, or a fixed bid for the entire project. If the client can specify exactly what she wants in the project, then a fixed-price estimate can be provided easily. But for undefined custom work, fixed-price contracts do not work well for either party, for several reasons:
They often limit the client to her first idea about how the product should look or how it might work. I don't want to limit either a client's options or opportunities for her to change her mind.
To accurately estimate the total number of hours the project will require, the client would have to specify, in writing, the details of all the functionality of the product or changes to an existing one. This information needs to include text, images, links, audio and video, etc. — not all of which anyone can foresee ahead of time.
Small-business owners do not have the time for documenting all of this information. They find it much easier and faster to provide just enough information for the first cut of the project, and then provide general direction and specific instructions for future versions.
Even if a project were defined in great detail, it would still be quite difficult to accurately predict how many hours of work it would take. For a substantial project, it can be impossible.
As the project is developed, the client typically learns of previously unexpected features that she wants to try. A fixed estimate upfront would miss these enhancements, and thus underestimate the capabilities of the finished project and the time involved in developing it.
Once a project's specifications have been detailed, it can discourage the client from quickly changing course as needed. Such documentation either becomes out of date, or it must be updated with all changes, and yet probably won't be read by anyone. Even perfect documentation is not strictly a part of the delivery.
Likewise, as a project progresses, we can encounter unforeseen technical challenges, which invariably can be overcome, but require extra work. This is especially true for projects that involve integrating multiple technologies.
How can we be sure that we will get our money's worth?
Some business owners worry that an unethical or incompetent developer will milk them for as many hours as possible, or simply walk away with the deposit, without having completed the project. Admittedly, there are unscrupulous developers out there (as in any profession). But they can be easily identified, because, unlike me, they lack the characteristics of professional long-term developers.
Can we monitor your computer as you work, to track what you are doing?
If I'm not an employee; I’m not required too. If the IRS were to learn of it, they could reclassify me as an employee of your company, and charge you any back taxes. Of course they’re exceptions and at the end of the day I want the client always happy and positive about the services he/she is receiving from me.
Do you use a contract?
Generally, no. Feel free to put together any contract or agreement that you think might be needed.
Can we ask you many technical questions, before having you do paid work?
No. Sadly, I have had several cases of prospects asking countless technical questions, but never resulting in any work.
Why should we choose a freelancer instead of an agency?
You will receive more immediate and personal attention.
I can focus on your project, and not be distracted by corporate meetings, politics, etc.
Freelancers are generally better innovators and more flexible thinkers, versus a staff member of a company accustomed to working in a prescribed manner, year after year.
You do not have to pay the additional expenses of a commercial real estate lease, office supplies, employee benefits, and other corporate overhead.
A good freelancer becomes loyal to your business, while agency staff are always more loyal to their own company.
Agencies tend to hire junior programmers fresh out of school, because they are cheaper. Agencies are always looking to reduce their costs, often at the expense of the client.
Why should we choose you instead of an offshore programmer?
It's easy to be tempted to choose the lowest bidder — such as a foreign programmer or even a relative. You think your saving money, but you invariably end up with a project that does not work for his business or as intended, and has to be scrapped and replaced with something that does work. In the end, you don't save any money, but loses it — and also loses valuable time, which may be worse than the monetary loss.
Marketting Online
How can we use social media to promote our business online?
Your website can feature links to your Facebook account, a way for visitors to follow your business on Twitter, a list of your most recent tweets, etc. The social media revolution is being effectively leveraged by countless organizations that have the resources to do so.
Consulting
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IOS Development FAQ
Professional Qualifications
Can you build IOS apps in Swift or Objective-C
Yes
How much will it cost to make the app
We will need to discuss details in order for me to give an Estimate and quote
What programming languages do you know?
Swift, Objective-C, C++, HTML, Javascript, CSS, PHP
Can you make video games?
Yes I’ve create multiple video games independently. From text based games, 2D, 2D/3D, and 3d games on mobile and pc.
What’s your strongest languages?
Swift/Objective-C and C++
Working Together
What IOS programming technologies are you familiar with?
Mobile Languages
Swift, Objective-C
Software
Xcode
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Desktop/Web software languages:
HTML, Javascript, PHP C++, C
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What technologies do you typically use for building apps?
XXX
How are you able to complete projects quickly?
In summary, how do you work with clients?
This FAQ section has more detailed information, but my overall approach is:
As soon as I have a complete description, in writing, of what you want in your app, I can build it.
My preferred form of communication is email or google hangouts.
I charge by the half-hour, and always round down.
For any sizable project, prior to my getting started, I need a deposit of 25 percent of the minimum estimated cost of the project. Once a client has made a few payments, no further deposits are needed.
Can you create a mockup before we have you build a website?
Yes, but not unpaid
To begin creating our new qpp, what do you need?
What are the phases for developing an qpp?
Why is it best to develop a app in phases?
To work on our existing qpp, what information do you need?
Who will own our app's content and code?
Spoiler title
Can you do an analysis of our competitors?
Yes. If you send me the app or website addresses for all of your leading competitors, then I can research what they are doing right and wrong, and suggest ways that you can leverage this knowledge.
Information Security
What is your privacy policy for proprietary data?
How much does it cost to make a new app?
What rate do you charge for your work?
What is your policy on estimates?
If it takes less time to complete the work than I had estimated, then I charge for the lower amount (I always carefully track my time on tasks throughout the day). If it takes more time simply because I underestimated, then I only charge for the estimate, as a courtesy to my client. Naturally, if I go over budget as a result of the client changing the specifications or technical problems with a third-party service, then I would charge the actual hours. Any estimates are not to be construed as absolute commitments or fixed-price quotations. All work is billable on a time-and-materials basis. If a project is ever taking longer than expected, I keep the client updated on the hurdles that we are facing, how much more work needs to be done, and what our options are.
Instead of paying you, can we offer a share of profits?
Spoiler title
Will we be able to modify the app content ourselves??
Website Features
Will you be able to update the app code, settings, and capabilities?
Is it worthwhile improving our existing app?
Where can we find royalty-free stock images?
Links
• Bigstock
• deviantART
• Dreamstime
• everystockphoto
• Flickr (use their Advanced Search, and enable “Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content”)
• Freepixels
• FreeFoto.com
• Freerange Stock
• FreeStockPhotos
• Getty Images
• ImageBase
• iStockphoto
• Kave Wall
• Liam’s Pictures from Old Books
• Lorem Pixel
• morgueFile
• Photogen
• Pixabay
• Public-Domain-Photos.com
• Shutterstock
• StockVault.net
• Stock.XCHNG
• Turbo Photo
• deviantART
• Dreamstime
• everystockphoto
• Flickr (use their Advanced Search, and enable “Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content”)
• Freepixels
• FreeFoto.com
• Freerange Stock
• FreeStockPhotos
• Getty Images
• ImageBase
• iStockphoto
• Kave Wall
• Liam’s Pictures from Old Books
• Lorem Pixel
• morgueFile
• Photogen
• Pixabay
• Public-Domain-Photos.com
• Shutterstock
• StockVault.net
• Stock.XCHNG
• Turbo Photo
How can we in app payments from customers?
Can we receive notifications that a customer has made a purchase in or of our app?
How do we protect customers' sensitive information online?
App Maintenance
After our app is launched, who maintains it?
How often should we update the app?
What statistics are available for our app downloads?
Web Development FAQ
Professional Qualifications
What Web and application programming technologies are you familiar with?
Web Languages
PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Software
WordPress
Database systems and tools
MYSQL
Desktop/Mobile software languages:
Swift, Objective-C, C++, C
Payment systems
Paypal
What Web technologies do you typically use for building websites?
WordPress, for many reasons
CSS is the best tool for Web page styling and layout. It makes future changes easier and faster, and improves a website's visibility to search engines and its accessibility to blind visitors.
MySQL is the most commonly used Web database system. Like the above technologies, it requires no licensing fees.
I also take advantage of 3rd party plugins
Working Together
How are you able to complete projects quickly?
I am able to work at a very rapid pace and finish the work faster than most developers, while maintaining quality, for several reasons:
Years of experience have taught me what tools to use to get the job done as efficiently as possible.
The code I write is reliable, clean, and well structured — which makes it much easier to modify if needed.
The websites I build use CSS for layout, which makes styling easier.
I'm not interrupted by telephone calls, television, and other distractions.
In summary, how do you work with clients?
This FAQ section has more detailed information, but my overall approach is:
As soon as I have a complete description, in writing, of what you want in your website, I can build it.
My preferred form of communication is email or google hangouts.
I charge by the half-hour, and always round down.
For any sizable project, prior to my getting started, I need a deposit of 50 percent of the minimum estimated cost of the project. Once a client has made a few payments, no further deposits are needed.
Can you create a mockup before we have you build a website?
Yes, but not unpaid
To begin creating our new website, what do you need?
To develop a new website for you, I need to know exactly what you want it to be able to do. That information forms the project specification (often referred to as the “project specs” or “design brief”). Please send me the following in an email message:
A list of all the desired features (unless you already sent me a complete list).
The text for the website — or at least everything needed for the homepage — or indication that you want me to use the text on your existing website, if any.
For all the administrative users who will need to login to the website and make changes: each person's name, email address, and a chosen username. I could set the usernames if you have a preferred format. I will set the initial passwords, which can always be changed later.
If you already have a Web host, then I need the access information (username and password) for the Web host (FTP) and for the database admin (typically cPanel). If you do not already have Web hosting, or you want a better provider I will get you one.
If you already have a Web host, then I need the access information (username and password) for the Web host (FTP) and for the database admin (typically cPanel). If you do not already have Web hosting, or you want a better provider I will get you one.
What are the phases for developing a website?
Planning: I discuss with the client what he/she is looking for in a new website. The client chooses a domain name (if one is not already registered), and opens a web hosting account. The client tells me the project specification, and we clarify any remaining questions and options.
Development: I build the website. This includes creating any needed content types, user roles, and test users.
Feedback: The client confirms that the website incorporates all of the requested functionality, or identifies any discrepancies, which I then fix. The website is then complete.
Launch: I transfer permission, ownership, or website backup to client after final payment.
Promotion: To increase the new website's publicity, the client may at this point use a variety of online marketing techniques. This may include hiring me to write and distribute an online press release, announcing that the new website is open for business. At the very least, a link should be published on a known web page, so search engines can find a new website and index it.
Why is it best to develop a website in phases??
Years of experience have shown that large projects are best created in phases
The success of each phase allows both parties to verify that the project is on track, and to know what is the next step.
At each stage, both parties have tangible proof of commitment, in the form of completed work and cleared payments.
Cash flow is improved, by spreading out payments over the entire project, which helps accounting and budgeting. Prompt payment of invoices is especially critical for small businesses such as mine. If I do not receive a milestone payment, then I stop working on the project.
After each phase, both parties have a chance to provide timely feedback, thus minimizing risks and maximizing both parties' engagement in the process.
Each phase can be started when I have received payment for the prior phase and the client has decided on all of the work that she would like done in that subsequent phase.
Overall website delivery is faster, because some parts of it can be launched while others are in development, thereby preventing a single part from stalling the remaining parts.
There are more marketing opportunities, because each new feature can be publicized when it is launched, thereby motivating the public to visit the website again to try out the feature.
To work on our existing website, what information do you need?
Your website address.
Your company's exact name and address (if it is not on your website).
Your Web hosting company's name and website address.
The access information (username and password) for the Web host (FTP) and for the database admin (typically cPanel). This information likely was sent to you by your Web hosting company when you signed up with them. I need this information so I can download any existing multimedia files, and then later make changes to your website.
The access information for the account administration tool and any databases.
The details of your shopping cart (website address, username, and password), if applicable.
Who will own our website's content and code?
You will. I build most new websites using WordPress, which is a content management system that almost anyone can use— both the core code and any contributed modules. This means that I don't own any of the code, and it is licensed to be freely used by you. Non-Wordpress third-party applications, which are typically used for the websites I build, are owned by their respective creators, and usually offer a license for use by anyone, without charge. You will own the text, images, and other content that you create, including anything edited by me. Copyright and ownership of the complete website are transferred to you, the client, only when full payment for the project is received.
I reserve the right to use a screenshot and description of the website in marketing materials, which at this time is only the portfolio section on my website.
How do we get a domain name and Web hosting??
I recommend that all my clients choose reliable Web hosting and domain name registration services, which can save a lot of time and trouble. If a client insists upon using a problematic hosting service (such as Go Daddy or Network Solutions), then it will cost extra because it will take more time to set up and maintain the website. If a client-chosen hosting service is causing us many problems, then the client must open an account with a service I recommend.
Can you do an analysis of our competitors?
Yes. If you send me the website addresses for all of your leading competitors, then I can research what they are doing right and wrong on the Web, and suggest ways that you can leverage this knowledge.
Information Security
What is your privacy policy for proprietary data?
All client information is kept strictly confidential. I respect your privacy, and will never sell or distribute your organization's sensitive data, such as contact information, ideas for new businesses, etc. If an organization requires that I sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), and I have no problem doing that. If you think that is necessary, you could mail such a form to me, with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and I would be happy to sign it and send it back to you.
How much does it cost to get a new website?
The time that it takes to develop a new website — and thus the cost to do so — depends upon the complexity of the website, including:
what features the website has (i.e. all the functionality it provides to visitors)
the number of pages
he amount of text and images
the size of the navigation menu
any multimedia elements
any e-commerce capabilities (such as online products and a shopping cart)
the ambiguity of the project, and thus the amount of time required to clarify exactly what is desired
What rate do you charge for your work?
My billing rate depends upon the type of work, its urgency, and other factors. Contact me for more information. Developers with my skill set charge anywhere from $20-40 per hour(Of course their are exceptions)
Unlike most consultants, I do not round up to the nearest hour. Instead, I round down to the nearest half hour. This saves the client money, especially for many small tasks requested separately.
Service title
I bill my clients at the end of every month. Invoices are due and payable upon receipt. Tardy clients can become ex-clients.
If you have a critical project that you would like me to begin immediately, or you anticipate such a project in the near future, then you are encouraged to prepay for a block of time, which will guarantee that your project will be the highest on my priority list.
I am compensated purely for my time spent developing a website and computer code, and not for any products. Thus I am liable only for my productivity during the time billed, and your solicitation of my services indicates your acknowledgement of such. You will find that I am dedicated to the highest in quality service, professional results, full confidentiality, and client satisfaction.
What is your policy on estimates?
If it takes less time to complete the work than I had estimated, then I charge for the lower amount (I always carefully track my time on tasks throughout the day). If it takes more time simply because I underestimated, then I only charge for the estimate, as a courtesy to my client. Naturally, if I go over budget as a result of the client changing the specifications or technical problems with a third-party service, then I would charge the actual hours. Any estimates are not to be construed as absolute commitments or fixed-price quotations. All work is billable on a time-and-materials basis. If a project is ever taking longer than expected, I keep the client updated on the hurdles that we are facing, how much more work needs to be done, and what our options are. Fortunately, this rarely happens.
Instead of paying you, can we offer a share of profits?
No, my policy is to charge a fee for my services, due when the work is complete. I do not undertake any speculative work. Working for free dilutes the value of freelance work for everyone involved. You can read why spec work hurts both of us.
Why is WordPress the best choice for building your website??
Among developers who have tried various tools for building websites, WordPress has emerged as the CMS of choice, and is becoming quite popular, for many reasons.
Will we be able to change the website's content ourselves??
Yes. I can set up your new website so that you can make updates to the text, images, videos, and other content within pages easily, anytime you like, without needing to request or pay for technical expertise. This significantly reduces the risks that your website will become obsolete in the future (which often happens when business owners try to save money by going with the lowest bidder, which typically delivers a website difficult or impossible to keep up-to-date).
Website Features
Will we be able to change the website code and settings?
If a client changes a website's code or settings that control how the website works, then there is no guarantee that the website will continue to work. If such changes result in my having to fix any problems, including code cleanup, then I will charge for the time required. Also, I would need to be apprised of exactly what changes had been made. This is just one reason why I strongly recommend against clients making code changes.
Will you be able to change the website code, settings, and capabilities?
Yes. After your website is launched, I can make enhancements to it, as requested, even years later. Those modifications will be billed at my current rate. I can make ongoing updates to your websites, to match your changing business needs. That allows you to focus on your business, while I maintain the value of the website.<br />
What are the advantages of forums?
The benefits of having discussion forums on your website include:
Customers can answer one another's questions, thus reducing your support costs.
If you or a customer answers someone's question — especially with a detailed response — this information can be referenced in the future, so you don't have to recreate it every time someone sends you the same question.
As customers discuss your offerings, they are generating, for free, fresh content that is rich in keywords and is attractive to search engines.
By having an online community, customers are encouraged to visit your website more often, and then they tell others about it.
Customers will typically and freely share ideas on how you could improve your offerings, market them better, and reach new prospects.
What are the disadvantages of forums?
The primary risk is that spammers will try to litter your forums with messages promoting their own products. Fortunately, we can limit the posting and reading of forum contents by requiring visitors to log in, and we can keep out visitors unless they are approved by you or by forum moderators whom you designate. Those moderators can also police forum contents, and delete any spam that gets through.
Should we have a single password for all users??
No, it is better to have individual usernames and passwords. A single password for all users greatly increases the chances that it will be compromised. Assuming you discover the security leak, you then have to notify all of the users of the replacement password. Individual usernames and passwords offer many advantages:
Your website is more secure, because a person generally will not give away a username and password that uniquely identify him. But people often won't hesitate to give a universal password to unauthorized outsiders.
Any troublemaker is identifiable from his unique username. You can revoke his login privileges without affecting any other users.
It is easier to grant different permissions to users. For instance, you may want to allow a select group of trusted users to serve as moderators.
People prefer setting their own passwords.
Website Design
Should we have any flashing text or images??
No, because rapidly flashing (or scrolling) text or images usually look awful, are considered by Web designers to be quite outdated and amateurish, and are annoying to most Internet users, especially if they cannot turn off the effects. The only tasteful movement on a Web page is an optional slideshow, which rotates through non-advertising images at a slow pace, or an embedded video that does not start automatically but instead is controlled by the website visitor.
What about website visitors using old browsers??
The finished website will have full functionality and styling in the latest stable versions of all the major Web browsers. The website will most likely work fine in each browser's previous major release, but may not look identical (*pixel perfect*). There is no guarantee as to how well the website will work in even older versions of browsers, which tend to be obsolete — especially Internet Explorer 5, 6, and 7.
Is it worthwhile improving our existing website??
Considering that your company's website is the face that it presents to the world, anything that would make it better would be well worth the time and effort. Secondly, some improvements in one's business are only temporary, while improvements to a website tend to be long-lasting, and they build upon one another. Many of my clients have been not only happy with the changes made to their legacy websites, but even more delighted when they learn that they can expand their existing websites to build an online community, take orders online, etc. Most if not all of these opportunities became known only after the clients began thinking of ways to improve their websites, and asking me what is possible.
Is it worthwhile having a single-page website??
Yes. Even if you only have enough text and pictures for one web page, a single-page website — often referred to as a “brochure website” or “nameplate website” — is far better than nothing at all. It serves much like an enlarged business card that you can hand out to potential customers all over the world, again and again. Such a website has at least two advantages over larger ones:
There is no need for any navigation controls.
It is possible to gather visitor information (to put it in simple terms) more easily.
Where can we find royalty-free stock images??
We may need to find stock photos for your website, e.g., as the background image for the banner area at the top of every page. Fortunately, there are many websites that offer stock photos for free or low-cost, and without any royalty restrictions:
Links
• Bigstock
• deviantART
• Dreamstime
• everystockphoto
• Flickr (use their Advanced Search, and enable “Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content”)
• Freepixels
• FreeFoto.com
• Freerange Stock
• FreeStockPhotos
• Getty Images
• ImageBase
• iStockphoto
• Kave Wall
• Liam’s Pictures from Old Books
• Lorem Pixel
• morgueFile
• Photogen
• Pixabay
• Public-Domain-Photos.com
• Shutterstock
• StockVault.net
• Stock.XCHNG
• Turbo Photo
• deviantART
• Dreamstime
• everystockphoto
• Flickr (use their Advanced Search, and enable “Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content”)
• Freepixels
• FreeFoto.com
• Freerange Stock
• FreeStockPhotos
• Getty Images
• ImageBase
• iStockphoto
• Kave Wall
• Liam’s Pictures from Old Books
• Lorem Pixel
• morgueFile
• Photogen
• Pixabay
• Public-Domain-Photos.com
• Shutterstock
• StockVault.net
• Stock.XCHNG
• Turbo Photo
Should we add animated images or Flash to our website?
Experienced designers and developers recommend against this. Animated logos and other images can make your website look cheesy. The use of Adobe Flash — especially for navigation — can make your website inaccessible to people with disabilities. Putting your website's text in images makes it invisible to search engines.
But what if we still want Flash?
I can add Flash movies to your website, but I do not know how to create the movies. Typically, a dedicated Flash specialist is the best choice. But if you simply want to rotate through a set number of images — optionally using effects for transitioning from one image to the next — that can be done without Flash, using techniques that I know.
E-commerce
Why would an individual want an online store?
Whether you are a parent looking for a way to spend more time with your family, an entrepreneur wanting to create another revenue stream, a corporate employee ready to take control of your own future, or a retiree trying to supplement your income, selling goods or services online could help you to achieve more work/life balance, financial freedom, and peace of mind. Of course, there are no guarantees that an online business would make money. But you can be certain that you won't make that money if you don't try.
How can we accept payments from customers?
Most online businesses start with PayPal Website Payments Standard, because it is simple and cost effective for startups. When your customers check out, they are sent to the PayPal servers to make their payments securely. So you can accept major credit cards online, without having to pay for:
the PayPal Pro monthly fee
an SSL certificate for your website's server
PCI compliance
After you sign up for PayPal Standard, send me the e-mail address for the account, because I will need that for setting up your website to accept payments.
If we want to sell products on our website, what information should we collect?
For each product to be listed in your shopping cart, you will need the:
Product name
Description
Price
Image, if applicable
Product options, if any product code that you use for tracking that product
supplier's catalog number, if any, so we can reference the product from the supplier
It is best to gather all of this information in a spreadsheet, with a column for each of the items above. Also get at least one image for each product, preferably in PNG format, of the highest quality possible.
Can we receive instant notification that a customer has paid online?
Yes. I can integrate any of the major payment systems with your online store so that you will be automatically notified when someone makes a purchase. That notification can take the form of an email message to you, or an update to your website's database.
Can our online store accept credit card orders securely?
Yes. We should have some options:
Purchase buttons that send the visitor to a secure third-party payment server.
A shopping cart system built into your website, with secure payment on your website (this requires an SSL certificate) or on a third-party server.
How do we protect customers' sensitive information online?
In order to allow customers to connect to your server using a secure connection (indicated by the yellow padlock in their browser), you will need an SSL certificate purchased and installed in your Web hosting account. Here are the specific steps to follow:
1. Login to your SiteGround hosting account.
2. Click “Order Extras”.
3. Click “Private SSL Registration…”.
4. Under “Rapid SSL”, click the orange “ORDER” button.
5. Choose your domain name.
6. If given the choice of registering your domain with or without the ‘www’ prefix, choose the former.
7. Fill in the requested information, including your email address.
8. Click the orange “SUBMIT” button.
2. Click “Order Extras”.
3. Click “Private SSL Registration…”.
4. Under “Rapid SSL”, click the orange “ORDER” button.
5. Choose your domain name.
6. If given the choice of registering your domain with or without the ‘www’ prefix, choose the former.
7. Fill in the requested information, including your email address.
8. Click the orange “SUBMIT” button.
Please let me know when the order has been completed.
Marketing Online
Can you help us optimize the website for search engines?
Yes. I have done a lot of search engine optimization (SEO) research.
How can we publish a newsletter?
Business owners often decide to publish online newsletters to attract more publicity and prospects. A newsletter can be emailed to the subscribers, or it can be published on the website — perhaps in a subscribers-only area — and subscribers can be notified with a simple email. The latter approach is usually better, for several reasons:
Each issue of the newsletter can contain as much text as you want, and as many images, regardless of their size — versus filling people's email inboxes, and having to manage the rejection messages caused by your message being too large.
Search engine spiders can and will index your newsletter Web pages, which results in far more people discovering your newsletter than you could have ever contacted via email campaigns. The search engines will not find your emailed newsletters — unless someone happens to post them, but then you have lost control of that posted content.
Even though you may allow recipients to unsubscribe from the newsletter, many recipients will mistakenly flag your newsletter mailings as spam, which can cause all sorts of problems for your business.
Website Maintenance
After our website is launched, who maintains it?
If the client organization has at least one technical staff member, then the project manager usually chooses that individual to maintain the website going forward, or at least serve as the single point of contact when sending me requests to make updates to the website. Smaller organizations usually do not have programmers on staff, and so they ask me to maintain the website. I can perform regular backups of files and databases, make requested improvements to the website, add new features, and update the CMS system and its modules. All of this work is billed at my regular rate. The website content is the responsibility of the client, but I can always help with any technical issues.
How often should we update the website?
Some organizations make the mistake of viewing their website as a one-time project, rather than an ongoing one. Consequently, they let their websites fall into disrepair. To keep a website up to date and consistently effective, it should be updated with fresh content as often as possible.
What statistics are available for traffic to our website?
Google analytics amongst other but consists of or includes:
the number of unique visitors and visits, pages viewed, hits, and bandwidth usage
that information for the current month versus earlier months in the year
that information for every day of the month
that information grouped by day of the week and hours in the day
that information grouped by country
IP addresses of top visitors
search engine bots/spiders
visitors' time spent on the website, grouped into first 30 seconds, first two minutes, etc.
file types seen by visitors
site pages most frequently visited
visitors' operating systems and browsers
traffic from search engines and inbound links — this information is quite useful for organic marketing
key phrases and keywords used by visitors to find your website using search engines — also quite valuable
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Other Technical Topics
What service do you recommend for marketing email?
MailChimp is considered by many online marketers to be the best option for eblasts and newsletters.
What is my IP address?
Every computer on the Internet is identified by a unique IP address, a group of four numbers separated by periods. Your IP address can be found at whatismyipaddress.com
Someone is trying to register a domain name similar to ours.?
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