Frequently Asked Questions

What services do you offer?

We offer web site development, hosting, and maintenance. See the Services page for more information.

What is the procedure for getting a new web site done by Lakecrew Web Design?

The following is a brief description of what you can expect:

Startup:
- Once you contact me expressing interest in a new web site, I will provide basic information concerning Lakecrew Web Design services and of course will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
  Note: If you decide NOT to use my design services, please be courteous and let me know!
- The next step is for you to assess & communicate your web site requirements.
- Together we will decide on the appropriate package for your needs.
- I will send you an invoice detailing the down payment (based upon the chosen package). Once I receive your down payment, I will begin working on your project.
Site Design:
- If you choose a pre-existing template, we will proceed immediately to the next step.
- If you want a custom design, I will put together a design prototype(s) for your approval.
Site Development:
- As you send content, I will create your web pages. All development work is placed in my "test server" for your review. This test version may be password protected (you will of course be given an id and password).
- As the project proceeds, you should review the web pages and notify me of any necessary revisions and/or additions.
- Please note that however the web site looks in test is how it will look in production (in your web space). You are responsible for notifying me of necessary changes/corrections while the pages are being developed. Once the site "goes live" I will make only minor adjustments.
Wrapup:
- At project completion, you will be given an opportunity for a final "walk-through". This is your last chance to catch errors and/or request those final touches to your site before it "goes live".
- After I receive your final payment, I will move all pages from the temporary development space to your domain's web space.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Process page.

How much would a site cost?

That will depend upon several factors:

How many pages you want for your site

How many photos you want in your photo gallery

Whether you wish to use a web template or want a custom look

Whether you would like to include flash or dynamic html components

Whether you need features that require dynamic content and database processing

For more detailed information, please see Lakecrew's Service Prices.

What am I (the client) responsible for?

In a nutshell:

Selecting the design you wish to use from the ones we provide you.

Determining how you wish to organize your site's information (topics and sub-topics).

Providing the most important component of all: Content.

Providing honest and swift feedback throughout the process.

Reviewing completed pages and informing us of any necessary corrections or additions.

How long will it take to produce my site?

That will depend upon the complexity of your site. But in general, once the design has been agreed upon (this process may take a week or so), we should be able to complete your site within 2 months. CAVEAT: I can work only as fast as you can provide the content.

Also, you will want to review completed pages and submit change requests on a frequent basis to keep the process flowing. (HINT: Do NOT wait until the project is nearing completion to do this!)

I saw one of the other sites done by Lakecrew and didn't think it contained enough [pick one] a) information, b) photos, c) something else. Would my site end up like that?

You (the client) are in complete control of your web site's content. It will be up to you to put together and send me the material that you wish placed on your site. My role is just to make it accessible and attractively presented on the internet.

What formats should I use for text and photos?

Text: MS Word, Excel, emails, etc. (lots of flexibility here, but it must be digital)
Photos: Digital - either originals or scanned with a resolution of 300 dpi. I prefer jpg (jpeg) format. Please do NOT send .bmp files or photos embedded in Word documents.

How do I get my text and photos to you?

You can either send them as email attachments or via snail mail on a CD. If photos and text are not in the appropriate format, I will charge an additional fee to convert them (please see Additional Services Available).

How many photos can I put on one page?

Photos can be a wonderful addition to your text pages, but I do recommend a limit of 4-5 photos per page. Any number greater than that should really be placed in a photo gallery. Statistics have shown that most people do not want to have to scroll more than a couple of pages on the internet.

We need a hosting service - what do we do?

You can select a hosting service yourself and provide us with the contact information for your service.
-- OR --
If you are interested in having us register your domain name and manage your hosting, let us know. We will recommend a plan that is based upon your requirements. Details on our various hosting plans.

When do I pay for the site?

Please read our Payment information.

I want a consistent look to my site - can you do that?

Absolutely! And here is how:

I use cascading style sheets to ensure that the same set of fonts and colors are used throughout your site.

I use Dreamweaver templates and/or server side includes to ensure that elements such as the header, navigation (menus and buttons), and footer are the same on every page.

In addition to ensuring consistency, these tactics also ease maintenance -- as layout and styling modifications only have to be made to a handful of files and NOT to every page.

I have things I'd like to discuss by phone. What is the best time to call?

Please feel free to call me M-F, 9-4 CT to discuss any details: 512.264.2637. If I'm not here, leave a message and I will return your call.

I don't like (fill in the blank) that you've done on my site - what do I do?

Please, please, please let me know as soon as possible! This is YOUR site, and I will normally be more than happy to make the changes that you request. I will of course advise you when a request goes against industry standards of web design, or would cause performance or maintenance problems.

I want my site to turn up on search engine results - can you make that happen?

Following are several ways to optimize web sites for search engines. I will do the first 3 and you are responsible for the last:

Use title tags

Use keyword meta tags

Use image alt tags

Provide rich content and keep it updated

If your package includes it, I will also submit your site to Google and other search engines.

Note that, even with these actions, it may take anywhere from 2 weeks to several months for search engine spiders to find and index a new web site.

What if I discover things that need to be changed after my site is "live"?

I provide 2 weeks of free maintenance after your site goes up. That gives us time to "tweak" the site (make minor changes) and/or fix any problems that are discovered. Large volumes of changes will not be accepted nor will new pages/photos be added under this offer.

After my site is "live", can I still send you updates or new stuff?

I will be happy to provide further services under a paid maintenance contract. If you are interested, please refer to the "Web Site Maintenance" section of the Prices page.

Can I make my own updates to my site?

You can certainly do your own updates, using the tools of your choice.

I have started a web site and would like help finishing it. Do you provide that service?

If you have started a new site and just need someone to "finish it", my approach for such a project would be to treat it as a modified redesign. That is, I would create all new pages using most of the elements from the site that was in progress. And, if you already have a design, I would give you a 20% price break off the price of the package which best fits your project.

If you did not find an answer to your question(s), please email me with the specifics.

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