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   General
   Service
   Development Questions
   Credit Cards and Security
   Domain Names and Hosting
   Search Engines
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General

Why do I need a website?
It’s much more than just another advertising tool. Here are just a few functions it can perform:
   • Pre-sell your services to prospects
   • Establish a one-to-one connection with customers
   • Showcase products / services / special knowledge
   • Build brand image with your unique design
   • Expand customer service
   • Your site is open 24/7
   • Prettier than a yellow pages ad
   • Economically extend printed materials
   • Easier to change than printed materials
   • Distance is not a limitation
   • Today, people expect you to be online

I thought only large corporations had websites, can my small business benefit from having a website?
Absolutely. A site on the Internet can give your small business global exposure, making your business available to people all over the world, not just in your local business area.

Do I need a large site? Can it just be one or two pages and still be effective?
How large your site is depends on the type of business that you have and your personal preferences. In some instances, a single page "business card" type website might be just what you need. In other cases several pages might be a better solution. It all depends on you and your businesses needs. Your site can be as simple or as complex as you like.

What is eCommerce?
E-commerce is the buzzword for the new millennium, and for very good reason. The Internet is changing the way business is done with literally billions of dollars being made over the Internet. E-commerce simply means Electronic Commerce. E-commerce gives you the ability to accept payment over the Internet, by either credit card or electronic checks. Through E-commerce, you can sell products or services instantly to anyone in the world without having to constantly monitor your website.

How long does it take you to construct a professional website from scratch?
It really depends on the scope of the project and the services or features required as well as the ability for our clients to provide timely feedback and/or materials. We have the ability to create and market a professional website in as little as 6 weeks if you can provide us with prompt feedback and any necessary materials. If third-parties are involved like banks and eCommerce gateways, more time is often needed. We always provide an estimated timeline as part of our services agreement. If you have a short timeline, we can often make excellent recommendations for what is needed to launch on time.

Service

How do I benefit from doing business with you?
Three things set ATAK Interactive apart from the competition:
A. No hype. No pressure. While many of our competitors rely on marketing hype and high-pressure selling, we prefer to use a "straight talk" approach that emphasizes long-term relationships.
B. We don't believe in selling people services they don't need. In other words, if we don't feel that you could benefit from our services, we'll say so.
C. If you become our client, we'll offer you the best service that we can. And we won't sugarcoat the truth about achieving success. We like to tell people that it only requires two four-letter words: hard work. Do we have to meet in person to retain your services?
In most cases, no. Technology is such that just about any correspondence we may have to do can be accomplished through phone, email, snail mail or fax. While we truly enjoy meeting with, and getting to know, our customers, it isn't absolutely necessary for designing your site.

What is your website development process?

1. Initial Website Consultation & Project Estimate:
   This is a key factor in our website development process. We meet with you to discuss your website needs and desires. We ask you questions about your business including your website goals and expectations. The more information you provide, the better! Once we have this discussion we are able to provide you with an estimate of your website cost.
    
2. Website Outline:
   Based on the information you provide us in the initial website consultation we break down your new website into an outline. This outline includes artwork preferences, colors, navigation structure, how many pages, page content, any eCommerce, third party applications or special requests to be included in your new website.
    
3. Official Website Project Quote:
   This is included with your Website Outline. We also include a projected project completion date. Pending your approval of the outline and quote, and delivery of all project content we move on to the next step!
    
4. Website Design Layouts:
   We will design custom artwork and layouts for you to choose from. These layouts can include your existing logo or one we create for you. We also include any other artwork and any color preferences you provided in the consultation process. We will provide up to six custom design layouts for you. We have found that generally it takes three or less to come up with a design our clients are quite happy with!
    
5. New Website Template Created & Programming Beings:
   Once you approve a design layout we create a master website template. We begin populating your website with content you provide. During this phase of the project you will have access to the work in progress to offer input and suggestions. We will also build your administrative section(s) including CMS, Newsletter Modules, and other custom applications, if applicable.
    
6. Finalization of Website Edits:
   This is the point we take any requested changes from you and give the website a final edit, page by page until your full approval is given!
    
7. Client Final Approval & Sign off:
   At this point your new website is completely live and functional on our work server. Any and all final edits are implemented. This is where we get your official approval and sign off on the project.
    
8. Official Launch of the New Website:
   Upon Final Approval & Sign off, we officially launch your brand new website!
    
9. Search Engine Submission:
   ATAK Interactive, Inc. will submit your website to the top 10 search engines! While we cannot guarantee search engine rankings and placement, we do all we can to make sure your website is out there for the world to see!

Who will be my contact person once we begin our project?
We assign a knowledgeable and highly-experienced project manager as your contact person. Your project manager will work very closely with you to document the details of your project, answer all of your questions, provide you with frequent progress reports, and ensure your project remains on schedule. You will be provided with the direct phone number, email address and Instant Messenger IDs for your project manager for your communication convenience.

Will I be able to see and interact with my project as it is being developed?
Absolutely! You will receive a user ID and password that allows you to log in to our Clients area. The clients area provides you with a progress log (showing detailed progress on your project) and a link to your project on our test server where you can view your project at any time.

Do you require a deposit?
Yes. We generally require a 50% deposit payable prior to construction of your website, while the remaining 50% is payable upon completion.

We allow a payment structure of 30% up front, 30% upon major milestone, and balance upon satisfactory completion for all projects priced at $9,000 and above. We are able to provide net-30 terms for existing clients when the enhancements don't exceed $2,000.

What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit/debit cards- VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. We also accept checks and money orders payable to ATAK Interactive, Inc.

Who owns the rights to the site when the design is finished?
You will own complete rights to the design once it's completed to your satisfaction.

Do you have a "Guarantee"?
We guarantee your satisfaction by working on your project until we have met all project requirements and received your approval. In addition, we guarantee our work for a minimum of 6 months from project completion. That means that if you experience any future issues that weren't uncovered during testing, we will promptly fix it for you at no charge.

Do you have a "minimum" project size?
Our minimum project size for new clients is $800, we can do smaller add-ons or enhancement projects for existing clients.

Development Questions

Can my site be expanded later?
A site can be upgraded at any time. There are many options available, too many to list here. Some of the options are extra pages, multi-user web calendar, email autoresponders, forms with autoresponders, message boards, audio and video, and much more.

I want a database driven site. Do you offer database design?
Yes. We do offer database design. Once we know what you are looking for, we can have a quote available for you within 24 hours.

What kind of functionality are you able to create for my website?
ATAK Interactive, Inc. can create any type of functionality for your website from simple email and database forms to real-time credit card processing and much more. Our staff has integrated websites with mainframe computers, proprietary hardware and software, telephone systems, and even satellite. Feel free to contact us about the types of functionality you would like on your website. We are often able to suggest low-cost alternatives to custom programming as well. We will help you make excellent decisions regarding your programming needs.

Will my website be cross-browser compatible?
Absolutely! All of the websites we design are tested with Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla FireFox, and Opera browsers. We are also able to perform browser detection and alter your websites functionality to ensure it works with less-capable browsers. For instance, the animated Flash header on our website uses "Flash Transparency" which at the time of this writing is not viewable in FireFox or Opera. We are able to detect when a user is visiting our website with one of these browsers and dynamically turn off the Flash Animation. So these users see our website the same way, except they don't get the animation because their browsers don't support it.

Should I have an entry or splash page?
We don't recommend that you do this for several reasons. Firstly it is just plain annoying for your visitor to wait for a page to download simply for a message that says "click here to enter".

How will people find my site?
Just having a website will not instantly bring millions of visitors to your site. Websites need to be actively marketed on the search engines and they must be designed with this in mind. We build search engine friendly websites and know how to bring an appreciable amount of traffic to your site. Of course you shouldn't forget to mention your web address in your traditiional advertising, company letterheads and business cards etc.

Credit Cards and Security

Who needs eCommerce (credit card processing) capabilities on their website?
Most websites can get by without eCommerce capabilities, but if you are selling products that can easily be purchased online, you will increase your sales by accepting payments directly from your website.

There are many options for accepting online payments. In addition, you can choose to have a product catalog if it makes sense or simply allow users to purchase an individual product by filling out a single form.

What about security?
If you will be collecting sensitive information such as credit card numbers on your website, security is very important. Otherwise, hackers can see the credit card information passing through the Internet. To avoid this, you use something called a Secure SSL Certificate which encrypts all information between the server and your customer's web browser.

Secure SSL Certificates can be purchased from Verisign, Thawte, Godaddy.com, NetworkSolutions.com and many more companies. Price can be as much as a few hundred dollars, and there are annual renewal fees that typically apply as well. Godaddy.com is now offering Secure SSL Certificates for under $30 per year.
Please note that if you are processing payments using a third-party payment processor like PayPal, you don't necessarily need SSL security on your website because the order will be placed on PayPal's secure site.

I would like to accept credit cards on my site. Can ATAK help?
Sure. We design e-commerce websites that allow you to accept credit cards online. You will have a choice between setting up your very own merchant account and using a 3rd party processor. The number of products you have determine the price of your site. We can have a price quoted for you within 24 hours.

Will I need a "Merchant Account"?
A merchant account is a wise choice if you expect to be processing a lot of transactions, or if you want the ordering process to be as seamless/transparent as possible for your customers. Having a merchant account allows you to process the transaction completely on your website.

Alternatively, you can use a third-party payment processor like PayPal for instance. With PayPal, you do not need a merchant account or even a registered business for that matter. PayPal is very recognized and respected, but using PayPal requires that visitors ultimately make the purchase on PayPal's site and then get redirected back to your site once the transaction is complete.

Are there additional fees involved for processing online payments?
If you have a merchant account, you have already negotiated fees with your bank. However, you may also use a payment gateway that makes it easier to process payments on your website, helps protect you from online credit card fraud, and provides detailed reporting and virtual terminal capabilities. Gateways typically charge between $15 to $40 per month and sometimes apply a cost per transaction fee as well. We can help you make the best choices for your needs and budget.

If you are using a third-party payment processor like PayPal, there aren't any monthly fees...but the per transaction fees are higher. This can be a good starting point if you will begin with a lower transaction volume or want to start simple. You can always upgrade to a merchant account and/or gateway when you are ready.

Domain Names and Hosting

I know nothing about obtaining a domain name or hosting a site, can your company handle that for us?
Yes, we can register your domain name for you in your companies name as well as arrange Internet hosting. These charges are in addition to our fees and can either be billed directly to you or, if you prefer, added on to our charges.

What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique identifier for your site on the Internet. Envision Services will buy a domain name for you if you desire. You will own the name and may transfer it to any service provider as you desire.

What is hosting?
A web host provides physical space on a server for a web site. With a starter site you will probably want to host on Envision's server to control costs. Many businesses choose to rent server space to set up their sites for many reasons.

This goes for Flash intros as well. Most people simply click ont he "skip intro" link so why put a barrier in front of them?

On top of this Search Engines give the greatest priority to your home page and if there isn't anything of use contained on it you are wasting a good opportunity AND costing your site valuable traffic.

Search Engines

What is a search engine?
A search engine is basically a huge database of websites. When somebody enters a particular term or phrase (keywords) into the search box, the search engine trawls its database of websites and produces results. An example of a search engine is Google.

What are keywords?
Keywords explain the content of your website to search engines. An example:
I have a website promoting a Bed & Breakfast Guest House in Hastings, East Sussex. Think of single keywords that could describe my business:- "bed" " breakfast" "cozy" "accommodation" "Hastings". When someone types a single word e.g. "Hastings" into a search box on a search engine I want my web page in the top 20 results. A single keyword is to broad a term to get the kind of results that you are looking for.

However if I make my target keywords at least two or more words long:- "cozy accommodation" "bed & breakfast Hastings". When someone types "bed & breakfast Hastings" into a search box on a search engine I have more chance of being in the top.

What is a fully optimized website?
A fully optimized website is compatible with the search engines on the internet. Search Engine Optimization is important to attain higher rankings in search engines and increase targeted traffic to your web pages.

Other

What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is program, (generally a small string of code) that is designed to replicate, and or “infect” other programs by modifying them or the environment in which they operate. Calls to these progams in turn cause the virus to evolve. Creation of these viruses and other problems continues to grow at an exponential rate and will only continue to get worse.

Do you guys offer templates?
No, but we recommend http://www.buytemplates.net/ for those with a tighter budget.