These are some of the most frequently asked questions about our web design services.
If your question is not listed here, then please don't hesitate to contact us on 0800 043 1843 or via our contact form which is located here
What makes VTSDesign different from other web design companies?
How much does web design cost?
Do I have to pay a deposit?
I want you to design my site, what happens now?
Do you charge for updates?
Are there any hidden costs involved in your web design?
What payment methods do you accept?
How will my site be maintained?
If you design my site, does it have to be hosted with you?
What sort of content should I have on my site?
Do you enter all the site content for me?
Can I have a login feature for all members on my site?
How long does it take for a site to be completed?
Can I supply my own images and background graphics?
Will I be able to see my site as it develops?
What screen resolution will you be designing my site for?
Do I get to see all the code used on my site?
Will my website look the same to every visitor?
Will my site appear on the first pageof search engine listings?
What makes VTSDesign different from other web design companies?
Most of our sites are designed using a content management system.
This means we are able to greatly reduce the cost and timescale of creating your site.
The sites are also far easier to modify afterwards, both by ourselves and by the end user allowing for easy upgrading as your needs change.
We also place great importance in liaising with the client at every step of the project. After all, it is your site and we want to make sure that it looks exactly as you want.
Our support doesn't end when the site is complete either with a dedicated support desk ready to answer any future queries you may have.
How much does web site design cost?
Every website that we design is different.
The cost depends primarily on what features you require from the site and how much content you intend to place on it.
To give an idea, the average price for the sites in our portfolio falls in the range of £350 - £500.
An individualised quotation is provided for every enquiry with all aspects of the work detailed so you know exactly what you are paying for.
We include a year's web hosting free of charge with all new design projects.
We only ask for a 15% deposit if you are not using our hosting services.
If you will be hosting the site with us, then no deposit is required.
I want you to design my site, what happens now?
Once a design enquiry has been submitted to us, then one of our designers will contact you to arrange a consultation.
Usually, we come to meet you at your workplace or home but the meeting can be over the phone if preferred.
We will then go through all your requirements and explain how they could be presented on a web site.
After the consultation, we will produce a detailed quotation including a full timescale for the project.
Usually, there is no charge for minor updates such as minor cosmetic adjustments.
For major changes such as new features, or a change in the way the site looks, we will issue a fixed quotation based on our estimation of how long the work will take.
Are there any hidden costs involved in your web design?
No, none at all
You pay one charge for the design work as quoted
The first year's web hosting is free. Subsequent years are charged at the current price for your hosting package (Learn more..)
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept the following payment methods
- Online Credit or Debit Card
- Bank transfer
How will the site be maintained?
Most of our sites have a built in text editor allowing you to make changes in the same way as using a word processor. There are guides available on our site to show you how to do this.
You are also able to add and remove pages as you require.
Alternatively, we can make modifications and update content for you if you would prefer that (a small charge may be applicable depending on the volume of changes required).
If you require a major new feature or structure to your site in the future, then we are happy to provide a new quotation for your requirements
If you design my site, do I have to host it with you?
No, we are happy to work with your site at other hosting locations.
However, we prefer you to use our hosting services as this makes it far easier for us to design and maintain the site.
We offer the first year's hosting free of charge to all new design clients.
What sort of content should I have on my site?
This is entirely up to you but we are happy to offer guidance.
Most sites have as a minimum..
- Home page
- About us
- Pages detailing main services/products
- Latest news
- Contact us
You can then add features for your visitors such as message board forums, E-Commerce, photo galleries and other interactive features.
Our sites are designed to be expandable so you can always add more features as required at a later date.
Do you enter all the site content for me?
Yes, unless you want to enter it yourself. During our initial meeting with you, we establish how the content will be supplied, e.g. in a Word document (preferred)or handwritten notes etc.
If you are using our E-Commerce solution, then we can enter your products for you if required for an additional charge per product.
Can I have a login feature for all members on my site?
Yes.
This is a standard feature on all our sites.
You can limit access to individual features for each member as required.
You can also specify that new members to your site have to be approved before they can become registered members.
How long does it take for a site to be completed?
This depends entirely on the features that you have requested and how quickly the content is supplied.
As an example, a straightforward site can be done within a week if all content is provided before work begins.
At the start of the project, we will issue a timescale based on the quotation supplied.
You can view the progress of your site at any time from the link we will give you.
Can I supply my own images and background graphics??
Yes of course
We will endeavour to fit them into the design of the site with your full input as to how you would like them to appear.
If required, we can source and insert stock images for you.
Will I be able to see my site as it develops?
Yes
We will give you a link where you can see every stage of your site's development. We think this is very important to ensuring we get the design exactly how you want it.
The site will only go live when you are completely happy with the final preview copy.
What screen resolution will you be designing my site for?
We target most of our sites at 1024 by 768 which is what the majority of people are browsing at currently.
However, the target resolution can be set to whatever suits your requirements.
Do I get to see all the code used on my site?
Yes
We adhere to open source policy. All code that we write is open for you to see and modify as required.
Once the project is complete and payment has been received, then the site and all code belongs to you with the exception of any licensed third party components used.
Will my website look the same to every visitor?
We test all our work on the following browsers
- Internet Explorer 6,7 and 8
- Firefox 2 + 3
- Opera 9
- Google Chrome 1 + 2
- Safari
Obviously, there is a slight difference in appearance from browser to browser.
We endeavour to ensure however that these differences do not spoil the look of a site in any way.
When browser updates are released, we carry out testing of our sites to ensure that they continue to work in the way that they are supposed to.
Will my site appear on the first page of search engine listings?
We work with you to identify the key text relating to your site and the target audience that you want to appeal to.
We then build this text into each page of your site ensuring that the major search engines pick up on them
It is impossible to guarantee that you will get front page listing on a search engine without paying for a sponsored advert. However, with the right combination of keywords, your site will stand a good chance of featuring highly.
We can also discuss setting up sponsored ads so that you are guaranteed to get a front page listing if the right combination of search words are entered.
