Site-Shack FAQ

Q. I want a new website. What happens after I make my first call to Site-Shack?

A. Easy. Site-Shack will setup a time to meet with you, at no cost. During the meeting, we'll discuss such practical needs as domain names (do you have one already?) and where the site will live (where it lives is called a web host) . We'll also discuss your company and your reasons for wanting a website. We'll talk about your target demographics — the folks who'll most likely be be using your website. And we'll carefully discuss the scope of the project — defining and separating essential elements from the bells and whistles. And through it all, Site-Shack will have its antennae out — beginning the development of a sense of you and your product. Oh yes, and we also talk about color and design, the really fun stuff.

Q. What happens after that?

A. After the initial meeting, Site-Shack will write a cost estimate/bid for the project and present that to you, the client, within 10 days. We might ask more questions as we create the estimate, which, by the way, shows the cost itemized by project area. Once you receive the bid, feel free to ask us any questions. When agreement is reached, we'll then send you 2 signed, hard copies of a basic contract with an attached production schedule based on our respective calendars. We'll also include a 25% deposit on the bid amount. You'll need to sign one contract and return it to Site-Shack with a deposit check; the other contract is for your records. When the signed contract and check are received, the work begins according to the production schedule.

Q. As the client, do I have to do anything else about my web site (other than write the checks)?

A. Yes! You'll need to work with Site–Shack to gather your content. One of the first tasks will be to establish the site architecture (or to put it in simpler terms: the section and page list). Once we establish that, we'll begin collection everything from existing or new head shots to bios to new or repurposed copy.

Q. What else happens?

A. Plenty, but just like our user–friendly websites, Site–Shack is also user–friendly, meaning that we explain each step in the process, using simple language, as we move toward launch. And just days or weeks into the actual construction, you'll be able to view your site's progress at a “staging location” — a temporary online location hidden from search engines and accessible by a user name and password, where you'll watch your site come to life. During that time, we invite your questions and comments. Remember: it's your site and your content. Site-Shack is just facilitating its online presentation.

Q. I might have more questions.

A. That's great. Just email them to us at info@site-shack.com. We promise to answer quickly.

Why are they so successful?
Web usability guru Jakob Nielsen points out that Google, Yahoo, Amazon.com and eBay are ". . . extremely profitable and extremely successful." And why? "All are based on user empowerment and make it easy for people to do things on the internet," he said. "None of them have a fancy or glamorous look," he added, declaring himself surprised that these sites have not been more widely copied.
Source: BBC Tech News

What's clickthrough
rate mean?
The percentage of those clicking on a link out of the total number who see the link. For example, imagine 10 people do a web search. In response, they see links to a variety of web pages. Three of the 10 people all choose one particular link. That link then has a 30% clickthrough rate. Also called CTR.
Source: Webmaster World