Flash Website Design

Some web designers turn their noses up at templates. Q Web Designs believes in utilizing technology that allows businesses to get effective web sites at affordable prices. If a template will get the job done in a clean, professional manner, then why not use a template for a web site? Click here to check out our latest flash website that we did from a template. We are sure you will agree that it is a very nice site.  You may also see more of our work on the Samples page at www.qwebdesigns.com

Content Management System – Demo Video

Would you like to know exactly what we can do for you for much less than what other web site designers will charge you? Check out our demo video. It shows you the back-end of a web site (Content Management System) that we built for a client. You will see with your own eyes how easy it is to make updates to your own web site without knowing anything about web site design. There is no software program to learn, and this platform is self explanitory. Even if you swear that you don’t know anything about computers or the internet, you will love this!

Click here for 3-minute demo

Web Designer Breaks Into Sports Photography

Even though photography has taken a back seat to web site design, friends still remember that I do photography for fun in my free time. It didn’t take much convincing for me to spend a Saturday photographing a softball game between factory workers and their office staff. The labor union wanted to add photos of this annual event to the photo album on their web site. I don’t really call myself a Sports Photographer, but here’s a peak at my first shot at sports photography. This link goes to a slideshow, but if you want to click on thumbnails, simply click “Exit Slideshow” at the bottom of the page. Enjoy. www.cwa84807.com/photosSoftballSlideshow.php

Yellow Pages Ad, or Your Own Website?

I received a question from a business owner on Merchant Circle. It was a good question, so I decided to post it in my blog.

Question:  We are a very small business, but we want to grow. What can a web site do for us versus a Yellow Pages ad?

Answer:

The first thing a web site will do is give you tons more space to use when telling the world about your company. A Yellow Pages ad can only be a very limited size with limited content. In a web site, you can have as many pages as you want, and have as much content on each page as you want. You can have text, photos, music, and even videos playing in your web site. PRICES. Yellow Pages does not allow prices in their ads. You can display prices, specials, comparisons between you and your competitors … anything you want in your web site. You can even use your web site as a source of revenue by selling advertising space on your site (if you wanted to). The options are almost endless with web sites.

The second thing a web site will do is get you in front of the entire world … not just people who choose to search the Yellow Pages. Many people don’t even use the actual phone book very much at all anymore. They go online. Before people get to YellowPages.com, they started somewhere else like on the home page of Google, MSN, Yahoo or AOL. A web site can make you visible to all major search engines, even if people don’t go to YellowPages.com.

The third thing a web site will do is save you tons of money compared to a Yellow Pages ad. I know people who pay over $100 every month for Yellow Pages ads. Many web design firms offer maintenance for a fraction of that cost. My company charges a 1-time fee for building your web site, and only $6.67 each month to host it. Many simple updates are free to all of our clients (change address on web site, switch out a picture, add a new e-mail account, etc.). Most of the web sites we build are for small businesses with small budgets and high hopes. We have served clients in several states across the U.S., and we are BBB accredited. Please check out the home page of www.qwebdesigns.com to see some testimonials. Our Samples page displays links to live web sites that you can click on and see how they function.

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Forgive me for the solicitation at the end of my response to that question. That’s what we do on Merchant Circle … right? 

Obama Flip-Flops: and it’s the right thing to do.

I have tried to keep politics out of my blog, but I must speak up for President Obama. I strongly agree that releasing photos of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan being abused while in U.S. custody would greatly jeopardize the safety of American troops and allied forces in those countries. In fact, I questioned whether or not such details would be released when President Obama first started talking about transparency. My doubts then and strong support now both stem from me being a veteran who served in Afghanistan back in early 2002. If you are not an actual war veteran, it can be very difficult to understand how some simple photos would put lives at risk and drag the war on terrorism out for several more years. Take if from someone who was there on the ground with a rifle in her hands, gas mask, protective vest … the whole nine yards. The decision to not release those photos was the right decision. Stop hounding President Obama about a promise he made and now (in many people’s eyes) has to break. I would rather hold him to his promise to protect America and its citizens than cry about some photos. His decision saved American lives, and that’s the # 1 promise that he must keep regardless of how some Americans view him afterward.

Shift in Website Demand

With money being so tight for everyone these days, fewer business owners have the funds to even think about getting a web site. For those who realize the importance and decide to scrape up the money from somewhere, it is a difficult challenge. First you have to decide if you will try to do it yourself, ask a friend to either do it or recommend someone, or just research different website design companies … their fees, qualifications, samples, the whole nine yards. Who even has the time to decide where to start?

Regardless of how they decided to hire me, my most recent clients have been asking for something totally different than what many previous clients have requested. Most of my past website design clients just wanted something quick and cheap.  So, I gave it to them. While a few just want to build a site and leave it out there, many come back to me for updates or additions pretty often. But what if you don’t always have the money to pay a web designer for updates as you need them? That’s where the shift comes in.

Business owners are realizing that they may not always have the money to pay for updates. Now, they are asking for content management systems (CMS) that allow them to update their own website as needed (no coding necessary). CMSs require a database for storing the website information, and a graphical user interface (GUI) for the business owner to easily make changes. CMSs can instantly drive the price of a website up by thousands of dollars (cheaper from Q Web Designs).  Q Web Designs offers payment options to make CMSs more affordable.

Why pay more now when you already have less money to work with?

Because you may have NO money to work with later, but will certainly need updates to stay visible and competitive on the web. Businesses are asking for more control over their website content. This allows them to make updates at 3:00 a.m. if necessary. I believe this shift in demand is a direct result of our terrible economy. At first, it didn’t seem like many people understood the importance of a website. Then the idea started catching on, and people just wanted to “get something out there” to be able to say they have a website. Now, people want to do it, and “do it right”.

Strength and Pride

Of course I like the increased demand for CMSs because it means more revenue for Q Web Designs. But I also love the awakening I am witnessing in many business owners.  We have all heard the saying “It is easy to start a business. The tough part is STAYING in business”. That is true now more than ever before. With or without a website, I commend all business owners who still have the courage and strength within them to do whatever it takes to stay in the game. I take great pride in providing affordable resources that business owners can depend on during their journey.

Jeffersonville Police Officer on the Mend After Motel 6 Shooting

I just got off the phone with Dan Lawhorn, one of the two police officers who were shot last February at a Motel 6 in southern Indiana. It was so refreshing to actually hear his voice and know that he is ready to throw some business matters into his daily mix of recovery efforts. I didn’t visit him at the hospital like I wanted to because of a mixture of information I was getting from multiple sources near him and the hospital in general. Mainly, I was convinced that my gut instincts were right. The first several days needed to be for family only, but were nearly overwhelmed by media.  Then he was off to rehab, and now he is at home. With the sequence of events and timing of everything, he may not have even remembered I was there. 

I have been getting my piece of mind through the media, text messages from him … and now, a phone call. I know it was just a phone call … but WELCOME BACK DAN! Glad you are on the upswing

Melissa

Why Show Prices on Your Website?

Well we all know that if we have to dig too hard or “Call for prices”, then it must cost a fortune … right? At least that’s what I think when a company refuses to show prices on a web site. With that said, if we (as consumers) want to see prices on everyone else’s web site, then doesn’t it only make sense for us (as business owners) to give our potential customers the same courtesy? We know what consumers want. Let’s give it to them.

Reason # 2: If you don’t show prices on your web site, and a competitor does, who do you think the buyer is likely to go with? Even if the competitor’s prices are too high, at least the consumer knows how much haggling they need to do.

Reason # 3: The buyer landed on your web site for a reason. Whatever the reason was … take advantage of it. If you don’t give them everything they need to make a purchasing decision while you already have their attention, you may lose them forever. They may stay on your site if you convince them to. Then they may buy from you if you convince them to AND make it easy for them. All of these and many other factors determine if your web site lands a sale for you. If they stay on your site, like your service (or product), want to buy it but can’t find a price, that’s the first strike against you … and it’s a big one. What do you expect the buyer to do … stop what they are doing, pick up the phone to spend a few minutes or more explaining what they want from you, and then make the purchase over the phone right then? That’s not as likely as many business owners would like it to be. Consider the fact that the internet is worldwide. People could see your web site at 2:30 a.m. and want some answers. Even if they aren’t buying right then, if they have the answers they want, then you stand a much better chance of them bookmarking your site and certainly buying from you later.

“But My Competitors Will Know My Prices!”

If that is a real concern for you, then re-direct your attention to your quality, experience, customer satisfaction and other things that distinguish you from your competition. What’s the worst they can do if they know your prices … under-bid you? Have you noticed that everyone is hurting for money these days, even your competitors? While they may drop prices lower than usual to make a sale, they are not likely to enter an extended price-war with you or take a lot of losses just to pick on you and close your doors.

“But My Prices Are a Little High and May Scare Some People Away”

You get what you pay for, right? Go with that mentality and justify your prices. Are you better at what you do than your cheaper competitors? If yes, then prove it. Wow the customer with your wonderful presentation (website, brochure, portfolio…). Convince them that THEY NEED YOU, not your competitor. If you are really good at what you do, then it shouldn’t be hard to get the fees you deserve. If you are not very good at what you do, then you are right. Your prices are too high, and you shouldn’t put a high price on a web site that may not convince consumers that you are worth it.

“I’m a wholesaler, and I want to do retail sales too, but my re-sellers would kill me.”

Call me. I have some ideas that can work well for you. I have already helped other wholesalers wiggle around this little problem.

Don’t Forget

No matter what you put on your web site, you must check out www.bizadnation.com. It only costs $25 to place a picture ad that links straight out to your web site.

Job Openings in PHP & MySQL

Q Web Designs is growing, and I love it! However, with growth comes additional workload and the need to manage time much better. The only way I can manage my time better is to create more of it. So, I’m looking for more programmers. If you know anyone who is competent in PHP and MySQL, please send them my way. Those with college classes and/or degrees in programming, internet and related fields will be considered first. Experience will be considered for those without college. I could use someone with HTML, Flash and JavaScript experience also, but the more pressing need is in PHP. INTERNS / EXTERNS WELCOME! Positions will be as independent contractors or interns on an as-needed basis. Work from home with regular contact with me via phone and e-mail. Control panel access and FTP accounts provided.

I don’t care about age, race, gender bla bla bla. I just need good programmers fast. Go to www.qwebdesigns.com and click on “Contact Us” to submit your request for consideration. No phone calls please.

Successful Site Move!

I moved the Q Web Designs web site to a new server a couple of weeks ago. Business has picked up and kept me a bit busy lately. I’m finally getting around to importing the blog and making posts again.