Why do I need a website?

When is the right time to build a website?

How do I go about setting up a website for my company?

How will potential customers find my site?

I only sell products wholesale. How do I exclude retail visitors to my site?

Not many of my customers (trim shops) have computers. Why should I have a website?

Why should I choose Web Design Makers to do my site?

Do I need to use a local company to build my site?

Is Web Design Makers an established company?

How many sites / web pages has Web Design Makers done?

How much will it cost to build my site?

How long will it take to complete my website?

Why do I need a web site?
A website is now an integral part of a company's profile, customer service and advertising. It can bring new customers from a much wider area than most other media. In fact, it is the lowest-cost way to reach the largest audience possible. A website can also drastically reduce present costs for advertising, mailings, order processing, paper and printing to get information to both regular and potential customers. It can also reduce costs for answering technical questions by having the updated information on the website where it can be accessed day or night without having to staff phone lines or answer correspondence. This is especially helpful for customers in other time zones.

When is the right time to build a website?
The projected growth of business to business online commerce is staggering. It is growing even faster than the rate of individual transactions on the internet. We have found that the longer a website is up and running and advertised as available, the response rate grows accordingly. This is similar to other forms of advertising where education and repeat availability factors come into play. The number of people that find your site continues to build as you advertise on your brochures, letterhead, packaging, print ads, product and business cards while we continue to advertise on the internet. As with most decisions in business, taking the time to do the important things pays off. A website will affect more aspects of your business in a positive way than you probably realize right now.

How do I go about setting up a web site for my company?
We will do most of the work for you, but there are some things we need from you. First, you need to determine what your goals and objectives are for the site. Service to existing customers, locating new customers, wholesale, distributors, jobbers, retail or a combination of these maybe required. Next decide what degree of e-commerce you want for your site. Our design will follow your particular business needs for efficient operation. Logos, company colors, company profile, catalogues, magazine ads, product information, product samples or photographs may be incorporated in the design. Unlike a lot of web designers we do not charge for digitizing (scanning) each image or product.

How will potential customers find my site?
Most new customers (80%) locate you through the top 25 search engines. For your part you will need to advertise your site in the traditional ways - on letterhead, print ads, brochures, business cards, packaging, etc. The selection of the best possible available domain name is very important. Our proven design methods and success in advertising your site on the internet add up to the highest possible exposure for your company. We have researched the key words, descriptions, meta tags, site design, submission requirements and other determinants of excellent search engine placement. Please check our recent search engine results. Keeping your site updated and posting new information will increase the amount of repeat use. Check our recent search engine results.

I only sell products wholesale. How do I exclude retail visitors to my site?
There are several ways to do this. First, plainly label your site as wholesale only. Second, qualify your new customers by using a simple password system that will only allow access to password holders. A form would be provided for online/e-mail confirmation. Some of our customers allow the general public access to their product line and description but require password access to wholesale pricing. Probably the best way to handle these visitors is to refer them directly to your distributor or retail outlets by giving them a list in their region. This will help your distributors increase their business and customer service. Those with websites could be linked directly from your online list requiring no work on your part.

Not many of my customers (trim shops) have computers. Why should I have a website?

Talking to our customers that are distributors we find they are going to electronic ordering systems to save time and money. Think of the savings of time and personnel if you could place orders after hours or at a slower time of day, check to see if items are in stock, read tech sheets and installation instructions all without having to wait on a phone line. Many distributors are offering a discount if you order online.

Another reason for a website is your business image and the low-cost, updatable, 24 hour a day advertising that it does for you. New customers can discover your business and what you have to offer literally from anywhere at anytime. For established and new customers you can really reduce mailing and printing costs for brochures, flyers, catalogues, seasonal sales, new products by putting them on your website. Take the information or service your customers fax, call or write in about and use your staff to put that information in usable form on your website. You will be offering your customers access to up-to-date product information from your most experienced staff anytime they need it. This is now part of today's expected customer service because of the internet.

We have found when looking at the reports we generate each month for our maintenance customers that there is an increase in usage between the hours of 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. This may indicate that many shop owners are using their home computers to access their distributors' sites.

Why should I choose Web Design Makers to do my site?
Web Design Makers is the only designer with a parent company, Sample Makers, that has a background of 25 years in the fabric, automotive, and marine industries as a provider of sample books and catalogues. We have experienced, in-house design, layout and printing departments totaling 100 employees. The sites we build present a professional appearance, load quickly, and are easy to navigate. We have created websites for companies throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Our extensive software library, personal experience and research has resulted in excellent search engine results for the sites we build and maintain.

Do I need to use a local company to build my site?
We have designed websites for companies throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. You can monitor our design progress at your convenience with password entry over the internet from beginning to end - as much as you care to. We have found that this input and interaction saves time and gives final results that match your expectations more closely.

Is Web Design Makers an established company?
Web Design Makers is the only website designer with a background of 25 years experience in the advertising and catalog design business for the automotive, fabric, marine, furniture, contract upholstery, garment, and health care industries. We understand the special needs of the industries we serve and have built websites that work by thoroughly researching the most effective ways to promote them on the internet. Our search engine results have verified our success.

How many sites / web pages has Web Design Makers done?
We have designed and programmed more than 1200 individual web pages.

How much will it cost to build my site?
Contact Ralph at (865) 475-7575 to discuss your website requirements. We can give you a written quote upon review of your materials. You can also request a brochure that outlines our basic pricing structure.

How long will it take to complete my web site?
We will set up a timetable for completion of your site based on the size and complexity of your web pages. Generally, we can complete a site in approximately 6 - 8 weeks after the receipt of all materials.