Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
DCS & General Website Issues
What does "From Design To Delivery" mean?
What's a "Web Guy", and why do you want to be ours?
My company is very small, why do I need a website?
I've already got a web page, but nobody ever uses it - what's the point?
Domain Names
What is a domain name?
Do I need a domain name to have a website?
Can I use my company or trade name as my domain name?
What can I do if someone else already has the domain name I want?
How do I register my domain name?
How long will I own my domain name?
What happens when my domain name expires?
I received a domain renewal notice from a company I don't recognize. What should I do?
Layout & Design
Does DCS create custom-built websites?
Does DCS ever use "templates" in designing a website?
Can DCS redesign my existing website?
Can DCS design a website according to my specifications?
Will my new website be consistent with my existing marketing materials?
How much does will it cost to have my website built?
Programming & Development
Can DCS create a nice Flash Intro for my website?
Do fancy graphics and animations cause long load times for dial-up customers?
What browsers and operating systems do your websites support?
I need a powerful e-commerce system for my online store. Can DCS help with that?
Do you use pre-programmed scripts in your websites?
Website Hosting
What is "Website Hosting", and do I need it for my site?
What are the most important factors in choosing a hosting service?
How do I know which DCS Hosting Plan is right for my website?
What happens if I exceed my allocated disk space or bandwidth?
My site is on the "Info" plan - can I add a Blog to my site without changing plans?
Can I add a second site to my existing hosting plan without changing plans?
What kind of website traffic statistics are available with DCS Hosting plans?
Internet Marketing
What is Internet Marketing?
Are there any no-cost or low-cost means of attracting visitors?
How can I get my website listed on Google and Yahoo?
How can I improve my page ranking on Google and Yahoo?
What is pay-per-click advertising? Does it work?
WebLinks: Reciprocal Linking
What is reciprocal linking?
Why is reciprocal linking important to me?
How does the DCS WebLinks program work?
One of my competitors is also a DCS client. Can I exclude them from my Links page?
Can I choose the sites that are featured or excluded on my Links page?
What is link-fraud, and is WebLinks secure from link-fraud?
How much does a subscription to WebLinks cost?
How can I find out more about the DCS WebLinks program?
Website Maintenance
Does DCS offer maintenance plans?
What is the hourly rate for website maintenance?
Are there better rates available for major revisions?
Do I have to pay for maintenance in advance?
Will I get a report of maintenance activities performed?
Answers
 DCS & General Website Issues
What does "From Design To Delivery" mean?
It's our way of saying we'll handle ALL your website needs. No matter what the issue is, if it's related to your website, there's only one person you need to deal with - DCS Websites - your "Web Guy". We do everything from creating original website designs, to helping you market your website, and we even have maintenance plans available to help keep your content fresh and your customers coming back. [top]
What's a "Web Guy", and why do you want to be ours?
It's a simple concept, really. Just think about your cable TV service. Almost everybody has cable TV today, but few people have the time, or the expertise, or the desire, to install, service, and maintain their cable TV services. When you need something done, you call your "Cable Guy". No matter what the issue is, there's only one number to call, and they can do everything needed to manage your cable TV services. Well, just change "cable TV" to "website", and that's what DCS Websites offers. We'd like to be your "Web Guy". [top]
My company is very small, why do I need a website?
Not every company needs a website. But consider this: The number one resource used by consumers to find suppliers of goods or services today is the Internet. For Business-to-Business transactions it's the overwhelming favorite. So unless your company is in the enviable position of not needing any new customers, you really do need a web presence, even if you're not selling anything online. [top]
I've already got a web page, but nobody ever uses it - what's the point?
Well, in order for people to use your website, they need to be able to find you. On the Internet, this means you need to be listed on the Search Engines. Without that, it's kind of like having a telephone with an unlisted number - there's no way for customers to call. Of course to be listed on Google, Yahoo, or any of the search engines, your site needs to be formatted appropriately. DCS can help get your site listed AND noticed by the people who are trying to find you. [top]
Domain Names
What is a domain name?
It's the unique name associated with your website. For example, "dcswebsites.com" is the domain name for this website. [top]
Do I need a domain name to have a website?
Technically no, but without one your visitors would need to know your websites "IP Address", which is essentially a 12-digit number. Domain names are much easier to remember. [top]
Can I use my company or trade name as my domain name?
Yes, provided the name isn't already registered to someone else. Also, valid domain names can only consist of letters, numbers, and dashes. Domain Names are NOT case sensitive. [top]
What can I do if someone else already has the domain name I want?
You can either register a different name, or try to purchase the name from the existing owner. Many online registrars have a lookup feature to find contact information of the current owner. Also, some online registrars allow you to go on a "waiting list" for the name - so that if/when the name expires, you may get the opportunity to register it then. [top]
How do I register my domain name?
Simple, just contact your "Web Guy" - DCS Websites. We'll take care of all the details for you. There are also many online registrars, if you prefer to do it yourself. [top]
How long will I own my domain name?
From one to ten years, depending on your preference. [top]
What happens when my domain name expires?
If DCS is your registrar, you will be contacted 60 days in advance of expiration, for renewal instructions. If you renew, everything continues as normal. Otherwise there is a possibility that someone else will register your name. [top]
I received a domain renewal notice from a company I don't recognize. It says my domain name will expire soon. What should I do?
Contact the company you used to register your domain and ask them about it. One popular method of hihacking domain names id to send bogus renewal notices that are actually authorizations to transfer your domain name to a different registrar. If you send them money you could lose your domain name and have no legal recourse to get it back. Legitimate renewal notices should only come from the company you used to register the domain. [top]
Layout & Design
Does DCS create custom-built websites?
Yes. We feel there's no better way for a company to establish a strong brand identity than through a custom designed website. [top]
Does DCS ever use "templates" in designing a website?
Yes, occasionally. We recognize that not all companies have the need, or the budget, to warrant a fully custom design. For those clients, we sometimes use design "templates" as a starting point in our design process. Either way, the result is always a professional appearance, that is customized to your specific needs. See our showcase page for examples. [top]
Can DCS redesign my existing website?
Certainly. Depending on the circumstances, we can either update your existing design, or create a whole new look and feel for your website. Web technology is changing by the day. A quick redesign is a great way to increase your website traffic, by adding new "sticky" features designed to encourage repeated visits. [top]
Can DCS design a website according to my specifications?
As your "Web Guy", we'll meet with you frequently to make sure our designs meet or exceed your expectations. As we progress through the various stages of development, you'll have the ability to view the website as it's being built. At certain key points, you'll also be required to approve the progress to date. This helps to insure that the final result is always on target. [top]
Will my new website be consistent with my existing marketing materials?
Yes, if that's your desire. We can incorporate your existing logos, branding, and other graphics into your new website, and utilize a complementary color palette. And of course, we don't start the programming work until after you've approved the graphic design. [top]
How much does will it cost to have my website built?
Since every project is unique, it's really impossible to say with any certainty. If your needs are fairly basic, we offer a couple of standard packages. For more sophisticated websites, we price each project individually. Note! We work on fixed-price basis, so you'll always know the exact price before we start. [top]
Programming & Development
Can DCS create a nice Flash Intro for my website?
Certainly. Our programmers work with Flash to some extent on many of the projects we undertake. We can provide simple Flash animations, or more elaborate Flash Intro's, depending on your requirements. We can also create an entire website from Flash, but this makes website maintenance much more costly, so this has to be considered carefully. [top]
Do fancy graphics and animations cause long load times for dial-up customers?
Yes, they can, if your website developer doesn't take adequate measures to optimize the site. The key is to find the proper balance between an image's visual quality, and its file size. At DCS, we review each graphical element on the page to ensure that it's as compact as possible without sacrificing quality. Only when this is complete will we publish the site to the Internet. [top]
What browsers and operating systems do your websites support?
Due to their status as overwhelming industry standards, we typically target the Windows XP platform, and the Microsoft IE (v6) browser. We also verify that our sites will render properly using IE (v4+), Netscape (v4+) and Firefox (v1+). In addition, when project requirements dictate, we can also certify websites for use by Linux- and/or Mac-based browsers. [top]
I need a powerful e-commerce system for my online store. Can DCS help with that?
Yes indeed. We have experience building very sophisticated e-commerce websites that include complete product administration systems, and features such as automated tax and shipping calculations, affiliate programs, multi-tiered product categories, etc. [top]
Do you use pre-programmed scripts in your websites?
Yes, when the situation warrants. It's a great way to save both time and money for our clients. [top]
What kind of testing does DCS perform prior to publishing a website?
We use a 3-Server approach in our website development process. Initial design, programming, and developer testing is done on a Development Server, which can only be accessed by our development team. As modules are completed, they are migrated to a Testing Server, which is available over the Internet using password authentication. Here, a full suite of functional tests are performed to ensure all features are working properly. We also conduct usability tests, and the site is made available to the customer for review and additional testing, as required. After all tests have been completed, the site is published to the Production Server, and a set of implementation tests are conducted before the site is made available to the public. [top]
Website Hosting
What is "Website Hosting", and do I need it for my site?
Website Hosting is basically using the resources (disk space, bandwidth, etc.) of a Web Server in order to make your website available to the public over the Internet. Some companies host their own websites, while others use hosting services, such as DCS, and rent the resources on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Every website must be hosted in order to be available on the Internet. [top]
What are the most important factors in choosing a hosting service?
1 - Security. DCS servers are configured to prevent both accidental and malicious loss of data. There is built-in redundancy on all mission critical components, such as hard drives, power supplies, processing units, etc.
2 - Reliability. Our equipment and networking facilities are setup to provide maximum availability. In addition to advanced servers, our communications facilities utilize state-of-the-art equipment, and include multiple redundant paths to the Internet.
3 - Speed. DCS hosting services are among the most responsive on the web today. [top]
How do I know which DCS Hosting Plan is right for my website?
The best way is to contact DCS and we'll help you pick the most appropriate plan for your site. To summarize though, The Starter plan is intended for companies that only need a single-page website. The Info plan supports complete informational websites, but not advanced features such as e-commerce, blogs, or discussion forums. The E-Biz and Enterprise plans are for e-commerce, or more sophisticated web-based applications. [top]
What happens if I exceed my allocated disk space or bandwidth?
As you approach the threshold you be notified, and if/when you actually exceed your subscription will automatically be upgraded to the next higher plan. There will be no interruption of service, and any additional charges will appear retro-actively on your next quarterly invoice. [top]
My site is on the "Info" plan - can I add a Blog to my site without changing plans?
No, the Info plan does not support advanced features such as blogs, discussion forums, e-commerce, or any other feature that requires a database and/or server-side scripts such as PHP, CGI, PERL, ASP. etc. You would need to upgrade to the E-Biz plan. [top]
Can I add a second site to my existing hosting plan without changing plans?
Under certain circumstances, yes. But this is a complex question with many factors. Contact DCS and we'll go through the alternatives with you. [top]
What kind of website traffic statistics are available with DCS Hosting plans?
All DCS hosting plans include a comprehensive web traffic reporting program. Here is a partial list of statistics available: Monthly summary, monthly history and daily summary showing unique visitors, number of visits, pages viewed, hits, and bandwidth used; Activity by days of the week; Activity by hours of the day; Visitors by country; Visitors by host; Authenticated users, Robots/spider visitors; Visit durations; Files viewed; Visitor operating systems; Visitor browser versions; Referring sites Referring search engines Search keywords; Search keyphrases; Added to favorites.
In addition, all DCS hosting plans include access to the raw log files, for those interested in creating their own custom reports. [top]
Internet Marketing
What is Internet Marketing?
In the context of this website, Internet Marketing refers to the process and methods of attracting visitors to your website. [top]
Are there any no-cost or low-cost means of attracting visitors?
Yes. Perhaps the most effective means is to get listed with the major search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. Also, you can list your company on any number of web directories. These directories are usually specific to a particular business category, and are searchable by geographic region (by state, for example). [top]
How can I get my website listed on Google and Yahoo?
If you are a DCS client, we will submit your website to several dozen of the most popular search engines. All sites designed and hosted by DCS are submitted upon their initial publication to the Internet. It is also possible to submit your site manually by going to the search engine's website, and following the appropriate links. [top]
How can I improve my page ranking on Google and Yahoo?
Perhaps the two most important steps in improving your page ranking are; 1 - Get links to your site added to as many other sites as possible (our WebLinks program can help with this). Also, search for online directories that list businesses in your industry, and get your site listed. Search Engines love inbound links. and 2 - Have your site content optimized by DCS. We have tools that will analyze your site and compare it to the top 10 sites listed for your keywords. We'll then update your content accordingly, and resubmit your site to the search engines. [top]
What is pay-per-click advertising? Does it work?
Pay-per-click is a popular method of website advertising, where you create small advertisements that are related to specific keywords. The ads are shown on search results pages, emails, and newsletters that are related to the keywords. When someone clicks on your ad, they are linked to your website. Under the right circumstances, this can be a very effective means of advertising your site, since you pay nothing until someone clicks on your ad. It also has the advantage of being extremely targeted - everyone who sees your ad is interested in the keywords you chose. [top]
WebLinks: Reciprocal Linking
What is reciprocal linking?
Reciprocal links occur when two companies agree to place links to each other's website on one or more of their web pages. [top]
Why is reciprocal linking important to me?
In order for a website to be effective, it needds to be found easily by people surfing the web - particularly prospective customers. All the major search engines consider the number and quality of inbound links when compiling their results pages. Simply put, the more quality inbound links to a site, the higher that site will be ranked, and the easier it will be for people to find your website. [top]
How does the DCS WebLinks program work?
Weblinks is a subscription service that is offered only to clients of DCS Websites. Subscribers receive a new "Links" page on their website that will contain links to all other subscriber websites (click for example). Clients can choose which sites to be "featured" on their Links page, and which site to excluded. [top]
One of my competitors is also a DCS client - can I exclude them from my Links page?
Yes, absolutely. However, you should consider the following carefully before deciding to exclude anyone from your Links page:
- Since the Links page is targeted at search engines, not viewers, the Links page will not be accessible from your sites main navigational menu. This will make it less likely that your visitors will view your links page and navigate away from your site.
- From the search engine's point of view, the most valuable links into your website are those coming from sites that contain the same keywords as your site. This means that, by far, the most valuable inbound links are those coming from your direct competitors.
- If you exclude a competitor from your Links page, you will automatically be excluded from their Links page as well, therby losing an extremely valuable inbound link.
[top]
Can I choose the sites that are featured or excluded on my Links page?
Yes. just send an email to LinkMaster@DCSwebs.com. Additionally, you can send updates to the link text, description, and website address. Changes to these fields are included in the cost of your DCS hosting plan. [top]
What is link-fraud, and is WebLinks secure from link-fraud?
Link fraud is when one party in a reciprocal linking agreement removes the link to the other party's site. This creates a one-way inbound link for the first party, which is very highly valued by the search engines. Since the WebLinks program is actively managed by DCS and restricted to DCS clients, subcribers are completetly safe from link-fraud. [top]
How much does a subscription to WebLinks cost?
The WebLinks program is now included in all DCS hosting plans (except the Starter Plan), and there is no additional cost. [top]
How can I find out more about the DCS WebLinks program?
Just call DCS at (860) 698-9329 or send an email to LinkMaster@DCSwebs.com. [top]
Website Maintenance
Does DCS offer maintenance plans?
No, DCS no longer offers pre-paid maintenance plans. All website maintenance is now performed on an hourly-rate basis. [top]
What is the hourly rate for website maintenance?
We recently lowered our standard hourly rate to $50 per hour. However, if a client exceeds six hours in any given quarter, excess hours are billed at the rate of $40 per hour. [top]
Are there better rates available for major revisions?
The above rates apply to all maintenance performed on your website. However, if you have a major project in mind, it would probably be more cost-effective to handle the project under a separate fixed-price contract. Contact DCS for further information on this. [top]
Do I have to pay for maintenance in advance?
No, maintenance activities are billed on a quarterly basis, in arrears. So if you used four hours of maintenance during the first quarter, they will be billed at the beginning of the second quarter. [top]
Will I get a report of maintenance activities performed?
Yes, whenever we send an invoice that includes maintenance charges, we also include a detailed report that shows all activities being billed, and the actual time spent on each item. [top]
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