Frequently Asked Questions
Ok ok, we admit some of these could be questions we *wished* you asked. But even so, we think this is a valuable page.
I'm just starting my company up and I need to put together my advertising materials such as business cards. What do I need to get it done right?
As you start out, you will likely be doing some advertising, either word of mouth or even through cold-calling or mass mailings. Make sure first you have settled on a business name. If you don't have a logo in mind, remember that not every logo needs an actual image. You can do just as well with a beautiful and readable text treatment. You'll want business cards, letterhead, envelopes and at least a one-page description of your services. When we put together your logo design, we can help to add the logo to the document materials so they look sharp and not distorted.
Once you have your logo and description of services, you have laid the groundwork for building on those descriptions and creating a brochure, website, signage and all kinds of marketing materials depending on your needs. As you start out, you might want to do smaller quantities of print materials to save on expenses and in case you change addresses or phone systems, you won't have so many outdated copies to throw out.
How much does a website cost?
There's no way to know without planning out the site what it will cost. However, here is the best way we can narrow it down:
1. Free solutions such as web journals or list sites where you can publish basic information, blog, or post images. Free sites are typically unbranded, and you are locked to whatever template designs are provided. However if you are just publishing a page of simple information such as a list of recipes, these might be perfect. Myspace, Facebook, PBWiki, Google Pages, and Wordpress.com are just a few examples.
2. Personalized site like an online brochure with a custom banner or logo and few graphics, maybe 3-7 pages of content describing your organization. Mostly static text and contact information. Once set up, you are only paying a small yearly server and naming reservation fee.
3. Well developed design, either template-driven or original layout. Graphics and branding have gone through revisions so they match other materials such as your letterhead. Site requires multiple categories and may contain extras such as PDF white papers or online form processing. Powering the site might be a content management system with basic features enabled so pages can be edited from the browser.
4. High-powered database-driven site with features such as a shopping cart connected to a credit card processor merchant account. Development of the site requires multiple meetings with various stakeholders making sure that all the products and services line up with your organization's business processes. Time is spent doing SEO, Search Engine Optimization so that the site is high-ranking in search engine results.
Is it really expensive to make an online store?
There are some inexpensive shopping cart solutions available that work out of the box. You can set up a Paypal account or a payment setup through google. The site is set up so you can upload photos and product prices fairly easily. The more customizations you do, and the more products you have, the more expensive you can get.
How can I promote my site?
There are a lot of ways to promote online, but whatever you do, make it systematic. Constantly remind people of your site if you do business with people on a daily basis. Create a newsletter or other information source encouraging people to look at it. Staple a card with your website to every bag of goods you sell, or every flyer you hand out. Post questions and answers in online forums related to your type of business. Put your site on your t-shirt and wear it whenever you can. Traffic might only trickle in gradually, but that's still a very good thing. Just make sure your site is working well and has good content, so people are rewarded for visiting it.
What are the common pitfalls when planning a website?
There are two that come to mind. For people who never had a website before, it can be a challenge to come up with content. Even a single page of writing puts people off. You don't want to have an empty shell of a website sitting there while you come up with something. It's best to really have your services or descriptions in draft form so you can actually publish a full page. It's a good idea to enlist a professional copy editor if you can't seem to get things down on paper.
The other pitfall is scope creep. This is when you have all kinds of things you want to put into the website and you keep adding onto it before you really know what kind of use your site will get. Also, the more layers of requirements, the more strain you might put on programming to make your site consistent and connected. Anticipating needs is a good thing, but it's better to have realistic expectations and to create release goals that are timely. What would you rather have, a huge site that's two years away from being built, or getting a modest site up in a few weeks and seeing where it goes from there? Once you know what scope creep is, you will be able to recognize it in your planning. Just be wary of the conversations that start with "Oh wouldn't it be cool if...." especially if they mention features outside your business needs.
What are some ways I can save on printing?
There are a lot of ways to save on printing. Sometimes it's as easy as finding the right vendor that has the most efficient printing methods in place for your particular needs. Color is another way. An example with saving on color is where you use color, and how much of it. If you are printing business cards, you might save by printing only one side color. Same goes for larger print documents such as magazines, books and catalogs.
If you find yourself confused by all the options in printing, just remember that companies who print a lot of material often employ people just for print buying. The buyer's job is to find all the best prices, materials and wade through the hundreds of options. Sometimes it's best to request a sample packet from the print vendor. They may provide previously printed cards or flyers on a variety of paper stock to help inspire you and for decision-making.
