| How much does
a web site cost? |
| |
The cost of a web site
depends upon what you wish to accomplish with it. Many companies
benefit from a standard information site, while the current
business trend in site development encompasses database back-end
applications, streaming video/audio, and e-commerce. We will
set up a meeting with you to discuss your goals, and provide
you with an estimate and a development schedule. >top |
| How do
I get started on a business web site? |
| |
Decide what
you want to accomplish with your web site. Do you want to reach
new customers? Do you want to provide additional services for
your existing customers? Gather all the information possible
regarding your products or services. This will become the resource
for developing your Internet presence. Contact us and describe
your business needs. We will then be able to give you all of
the information that you require to build a budget and timeline
for your web site project. >top |
| What is
involved in an e-commerce store? |
| |
E-commerce capability
can be added to any site. Most factors involved in a traditional
brick and mortar store are required to build your e-commerce
store. The major difference is that your sales process is created
through your Internet website. Product information and pricing
particulars are generally kept in a database within your site,
and can be maintained by your staff or web design firm. A shopping
cart maintains a "shopping session" which allows your
customer to browse and add items to the cart. Once customers
decide that they want to buy from you, they are directed through
a purchase process which uses an encrypted secure connection,
safeguarding their confidential information. There are several
options available to you for processing payments from web site
sales. Online payment gateways process your transaction for
a fee. Some businesses may already process credit card information
in-house. If so, you can have the credit card data sent securely
to your sales staff, who can then process the credit card sale
at your business as usual. This option alleviates the additional
online payment gateway fee. >top |
| What is an
ISP and why do I need one? |
| |
An Internet Service
Provider (ISP) hosts your website. Generally they also maintain
and house your "web server" on their premises. Additionally
they provide services such as e-mail management and site security.
>top |
| How will
people find my site? |
| |
Meta data consists of
key words and phrases in the code of your web pages which describe
your web site content. Popular search engines generally will
read these keywords and decide if your site satisfies the search
criteria. If it does, the user will be provided with a link
which will take them to the appropriate web page. Either automated
submission or hand submission of your site will keep your site
and keywords current with the search engines. Printed materials,
newspaper, television ads, and other types of marketing which
include your web site address, will guide customers to your
site. An easy to remember domain name seems to work best. >top
|
| I have QuickTime
player. Why can't I view streaming movies? |
| |
Even though you have the QuickTime
player, you may not have the correct version required to play
the videos. Videos on the Stratos site require QuickTime version
4 or higher. You can download the latest version of the QuickTime
player for free by clicking
here. Note! If the installation procedure asks you for a
registration number or username, this only applies to the users
of QuickTime Pro. If you are just downloading the QuickTime
player, just leave the name and registration number blank and
click next. The player will then install. You should then be
able to view the videos as long as you have a fast enough connection
to the Internet. >top |
| Why are the
streaming movies choppy or jerky when I play them? |
| |
Video on the Internet is just coming
of age. Once you have the correct player software as well as
minimum hardware requirements, it all comes down to how fast
you can download data from the Internet to your computer. Users
who have a Cable Modem or DSL will experience good quality video,
while dial-up users may have problems playing the file until
most of the file downloads. One workaround is: If you have a
dial-up connection, when the movie player opens, it will attempt
to play the movie quickly. Click the stop button on the QuickTime
player control panel and wait a few moments until you see that
most of the movie has downloaded. Then click the play control
and view the video. >top |
