Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you don't see a question posted that you have, feel free to Contact us.

Domain Names - How Does It Work?

What It Is: A domain name is basically the 'address' to your website. Put a great deal of thought into selecting and then securing your domain name. Your domain name should directly reflect your business or type of business you are portraying on your website.

You can have as many domains as you want. Some people actually have created a business in regards to selling and buying domain names.

We recommend using a well known entity like 1and1.com or Network Solutions and selecting your domain name here. Your Domain is your property and is owned by you or your business.

How It Works: Whether you're accessing a Web site or sending e-mail, your computer uses a DNS server to look up the domain name you're trying to access. The proper term for this process is DNS name resolution, and you would say that the DNS server resolves the domain name to the IP address. For example, when you enter "http://webcentricom.com" in your browser, part of the network connection includes resolving the domain name "webcentricom.com" into an IP address, like 00.00.000.0, for Webcentric Communications Web servers.

You can always bypass a DNS lookup by entering 00.00.000.00 directly in your browser (give it a try). However, you're probably more likely to remember "webcentricom.com" when you want to return later. In addition, a Web site's IP address can change over time, and some sites associate multiple IP addresses with a single domain name.

How Long Does It Take To Build A Professional Website?

The Answer varies with the scope of work, brought forth with each customer. It could take as little as 1 week and long as 6 months depending on the depth of your project. It could also depend on our production load at the time as well.

How Much Does A Website Cost?

Great question. That largely depends on what your needs are. Do you need a simple (3 page) brochure site? A large (40 page) brochure site? Something in between? We charge $60 - $90 per hour to build a website. This depends on software and programming needed to get there.

It's best to contact us for details and review what you are looking for so we can provide you with a flat rate, this way you know exactly what your price will be.

Modules & Extensions - Do You Have Them?

Webcentric Communications offers a wide variety of extensions for your website. It is important to use the right modules, components and extensions to achieve your desired results on your websites. Here are a few of the most popular pieces.

• Map & direction extension (Multiple location)
• Event Calendar
• Live Weather Module
• Newsletter Builder
• News Ticker
• Multimedia - Audio / Video & feeds
• Document Library
• Picture or Photo Gallery

These are just a few of the extensions we offer. There are many more just waiting to be added to your new site and used by your audience.

Once The Site Is Built, What Is My Yearly Cost?

Another Great Question. Here is a list of additional costs.

• Hosting:

In most cases we provide the first year of hosting for free. Now you can purchase your own host package with one of our affiliates (click here) and this will reduce your yearly hosting cost. But keep this in mind; If your server goes down, you are responsible to contact your host for support information.

• Domains:

You will have a fee as well to continue your domain ownership. In regards to this, you can purchase your domain on a yearly basis or multiple years at a discounted rate.

• Maintenance:

There are two way to accomplish this.

1. When we complete your site, we will provide you with training on how to edit your website. depending on distance, we can do this in person or via screen viewing software. Training length largely depends on your skill level but usually last about 2 -3 hours. After training you will have the skills you need to edit your site.
2. Or, you can hire us to work with you as your in house web team. We will set up a monthly maintenance program that best suits you. We will work against the set of options provided to deliver the most desired results.

Web content is the textual, visual or aural content that is encountered as part of the user experience on websites. It may include, among other things: text, images, sounds, videos and animations. Now if you're reading this, you're probably researching our ability to deliver to you, a potential customer, the website that you 'need.'

In Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, Lou Rosenfeld and Peter Morville write, "We define content broadly as 'the stuff in your Web site.' This may include documents, data, applications, e-services, images, audio and video files, personal web pages, archived e-mail messages, and more. And we include future stuff as well as present stuff.

That was well said and not too technical at all.

Now there are several types of websites you may be looking at, so, let's see what's available.

• Blogs are a type of website that contain mainly web pages authored in html.  Millions of people use blogs online; a blog is now the new "home page", that is, a place where a persona can reveal personal information, and/or build a concept as to who this persona is. the core of a blog is the fact that it is written by a "person" and that person reveals information from her/his perspective.
• Search engine sites are composed mainly of html content, but also has a typically structured approach to revealing information. A search engine results page (SERP) displays a heading, usually the name of the search engine, and then a list of websites and their addresses. What is being listed are the results from a query that may be defined as keywords. The results page lists webpages that are connected in some way with those keywords used in the query. Most every business that has a websites uses this format.
• Discussion boards are sites composed of "textual" content organized by html or some variation that can be viewed in a web browser. The driving mechanism of a discussion board is the fact that users are registered and once registered can write posts. Often a discussion board is made up of posts asking some type of question to which other users may provide answers to those questions.
• E commerce sites are largely composed of textual material and embedded with graphics displaying a picture of the item(s) for sale. However, there are extremely few sites that are composed page-by-page using some variant of HTML. Generally, webpages are composed as they are being served from a database to a customer using a web browser. However, the user sees the mainly text document arriving as a webpage to be viewed in a web browser. E commerce sites are usually organized by software we identify as a "shopping cart."

No matter which site you need, don't forget, 'Content' is king! Text content is particularly important for search engine placement. Without original text content, most search engines will be unable to match search terms to the content of a site.

CMS or Content Management System - Organizing your content through a system (or tool) through the use of an administrator. content needs organization in such a manner to provide the reader (browser) with an overall "customer experience" that is easy to use, navigates with ease, website can fulfill the role assigned to it by the business, that is, to sell to customers, or to market products and services, or to inform customers of it's intent.

So, the best way to explain it, we uncover your needs, work with you to mold it into shape and deliver a site that gives your customers what they need.

Do you have a plan? Do you know where to start your plan? Will your plan work?

As with any form of marketing, there is no silver bullet. However, if you start with some guidelines and goals, your progress will be easier to monitor and adjust as needed. Additionally, by closely monitoring your social streams, you have an opportunity to create a more intimate relationship with your public. They will get to know your company and company culture and you have the opportunity to listen to their needs and concerns. 

Think you don't have time to get social? Webcentric Communications has that solution too!

So, back to the plan:

• • What's your style?
    • Establishing your outward appearance helps strengthen the company's character and identity
    • Does your appearance need to be formal and systematic? Or will your audience better relate to a relaxed atmosphere?
  • Define your goals for each outlet
    • Do you want to get people talking?
    • Do you want feedback on your products?
    • Do you want your public to share your content?
  • Set parameters, but allow leeway, practice makes perfect
    • You want your message to be consistent, but to show depth in your company, allow the administrators of your social channels to use their own voices.
    • Have your agents sign off on posts with first names and departments when possible
  • • You or one of your managers may need to monitor your social media posts while the agents get accustomed to your brand's voice and style
  • Mandate social response
    • You wouldn't leave a phone ringing off the hook, don't leave a post (good or bad) unanswered
  • Teamwork
    • If you are handling your social media campaigns in house, it is often a good idea to pair up a marketing professional along with someone that is more social media savvy. Two sets of eyes are better than one.
  • Don't reinvent the wheel
    • Take a look at your top competitors, study what works and does not work for them
    • Use the good, leave the bad, and add your voice
  • Answer anything
    • You will get positive, negative and indifferent posts; answer them all with respect and kindness
    • It's especially important to establish a procedure for agents to follow in dealing with irate fans
    • Capitalize on every opportunity to demonstrate superior customer service

Contact Webcentric Communications for help in establishing and executing your social media marketing plan!