FAQs and Resources

FAQs

I can do all this myself…can’t I?

Sure, if you have the time to do everything that’s required to keep a website up-to-date and compliant with all the new privacy & accessibility standards these days. Here’s the short list of what that entails you do:

  • Learning how to build a website.
  • Trial and error with what works for your ‘site and doesn’t.
  • Research
  • Classes, time and money when you can’t figure it all out yourself.
  • Updating the website, the back end and fixing it when something goes wrong.
  • The aforementioned GDRP & ADA Compliance standards you can be sued for if they aren’t in place.

Some people try to save money by doing a website themselves, but looking at the above list, one quickly realizes you will actually lose money trying to do it all yourself!

And in the arena of just learning how to build the website itself, have you considered you need:

  • a domain name?
  • hosting space?
  • good photographs?
  • an artistic flair to balance elements for a pleasing page presentation?
  • an email address?
  • search engine optimization (SEO)?
  • periodic backups in case your website goes down?
  • the technical expertise to troubleshoot problems behind the scenes?
  • the expertise to hook up eCommerce if you are selling something?
  • social networks to promote your website and keep in touch with customers?

Need we go on? Head spinning yet? We thought so.

But the t.v. ad said another company can do it for me for one low fee.

The t.v. commercials make it sound so cheap and easy, don’t they? And that’s part of the problem. They are cheap (looking) and easy (but not unique). They also charge more per month to maintain the website, email boxes are extra, interactive ‘sites with email capture capabilities are extra and on and on. By the time they go through everything they are told to tell you they can sell you, it is at a much higher cost than you originally thought it would be! And worse, when your website goes down, you get tech support in a foreign country where you’re on hold forever, you can barely understand them, it takes forever to go through their troubleshooting checklist and if you still have problems, you never get the same person twice when you call back!

Okay, so what can I expect when I hire Civic Site Design?

We sit down with you and listen to your needs, outline our recommendations and draw up an agreement that tells you and us exactly what will be done for you and at exactly what price. If you are under a deadline, that is also taken into consideration and adhered to, barring any crazy, unforseen circumstances (such as an alien invasion [which hasn’t happened yet], or a meteor falling on our office [it has to get through our defense grid and that hasn’t happened yet, either]). You can call, email, text or message us on any phone or social network we are linked to to get periodic updates when you need them.

How long will it take?

There is no hard and fast rule for this one. The more complicated/detailed/comprehensive a project, naturally the longer it will take. It also depends on how fast you get us the materials we require to complete the job. We will give you an estimate along with any detailed quote on a specific job, so why don’t you contact us for a free analysis/appointment and find out?

Can you make my website look good on phones & tablets?

Our designs are all “responsive”, that is, they all look good no matter where you view them – phone, tablet, Pad & phablet (yes, there is such a word!). If you would like a customized mobile template (we highly recommend this!), we have an excellent resource for this type of work.

Resources

Valley Professionals – is a one-person per industry group of professionals located in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas who get together once a week to share referrals. You can find us there most Thursdays. Oh and we did their website, too =)