FAQs Archive - ZagDesign

Q: What is a Blog and how is it different from a regular website page?

A Blog is a section on your site. It can look just like your other pages. It has special features that other pages don't usually have. A Blog is made up of individual "posts" which are short pieces on a topic with or without photos. A Blog can include all the normal Blog features or just a few. The most common are: Categories list (very important) Dates when posted (not always necessary) Author of post (sometimes good if you get others to give you content to use) Comment areas (a form on the site page which others can use) Archived posts (older posts) Posts by category (ability to only see these) I customize your Blog to use the features that make sense for your site. To read more, see my blog post: What is a Blog and is it important to have one on a site?

Q: Do I need to have a Blog on my site?

Having a Blog on your site definitely helps with: Search Engine Optimization Looking like an expert in your field Make a site more interesting To read more, see my blog post: What is a Blog and is it important to have one on a site?

Q: Who will maintain my site after it is launched?

Early in the process of developing your site, we will talk about maintenance of your site. The decision is usually based on the following: Your own time or that of your staff to maintain the site The budget for on-going costs Developing the content To learn more, see my blog post: Maintenance after the site is launched

Q: Will my site be cross-platform, cross-device?

I make sure your site is able to display correctly on the latest systems and browsers (going back a few years). If you want a mobile-friendly site, I make your site displays correctly on all of the most popular devices. Even if someone was to access your site from a really old computer or device, your site content will still display but probably not as well on newer computers or devices. To learn more, see my blog post: Making a site cross-platform and cross-device

Q: Are there automatic backups for my site?

Automatic backups, one time a day, usually comes with most hosting services. You can also install a plugin to give you more robust features (such as several times a day). These plugins costs between $70 and $120 a year. The hosting company I use, SiteGround, gives you free, daily backups with your site and you can manage which areas of your site you need to restore. You can pay additional fees if you want more complicated backups or if you want to save these backups longer than for 30 days.

Q: Can I have forms on my site?

Yes. Forms are very handy to have on sites. The contact form is the most common one you will see and probably the least used by visitors. Most people don't want to fill out a generic form. They would rather email you, call you or visit in person if you have a storefront. When you use forms that are more specific than a simple contact form, you have a better chance for someone to use it. However, there are some companies where forms are needed for customers/clients to use. This is where it is very handy to have these forms on your site rather than having to email, fax or snail mail a form to a potential or current customer. To learn more, see my blog post: When is it good to use forms on my site?

Q: Can I have video on my site?

Yes. It's a great way to add interest to your site and draw in traffic. When you add videos to your site, they have the potential to tapping into the second largest search engine after Google, which is YouTube. This doesn't mean Google has a certain share and Youtube is second. They each are massive on their own and are used for different reasons. To learn more, see my blog post: Adding video to your site

Q: Can I add e-commerce to my site?

You can add e-commerce to any site. E-commerce comes in many varieties. Whatever system you pick to use, it is important to pick a secure one for being able to take credit card payments. You do not want to have e-commerce transactions going through your own site. This means that you should use a third-party site that is set up with the right security and gives you the peace of mind of not carrying the liability. The time it takes to set up e-commerce for a site runs the gamut. A simple system could take just a couple of hours and will have less ongoing costs. If you need e-commerce, I can help you decide the best one for you, educate you on what you need to know, and do the set up. To learn more, see my blog post: E-commerce on your site