|
Astoria
Webs combines over 10 years experience developing and maintaining
web sites for small businesses. Many have been with
us since the beginning. Astoria Webs has grown out of our core
photography business, Astor Studio.
Digital Media has expanded so much in the past decade and the team
at Astoria Webs, has grown along with the times. We have experienced
many changes in the web world and there are more just through the
next doorway.
In fact it reminds me of a
story I heard recently
about Albert Einstein when
he was a professor. One of his student assistants who was
preparing for an incoming class said, "Professor Einstein, what test
are we giving them?" To which Einstein replied, "The same test we
gave them last week." Bewildered, the assistant replied,
"But Professor Einstein, we already gave that test." Einstein simply
said, "Yes, but the answers are different this week."
That is the way it seems
to be with designing web sites and keeping up with search engines,
new software, progress in the industry, the desires and trends of actual
people surfing the net.
We've learned a few things along the way,
and one of them is that most of the time, you just have to keep your
website honest and simple. Geared to what your offline business is
all about. Obviously if your business is in the financial services
industry it would have a polished look and feel, if you are in the
craft industry, you may want a homey atmosphere to your site. Its
all about your target market and who you want to appeal to.
People are smart, they see through the
glitz and glam. Sure a few bells and whistles are important but when
you are a busy person, as most are these days, they want the
information they are looking for ...and they want it now! They don't
want to wade through a lot of frill. You need to keep things short
and to the point, and yet, when someone is really searching for
answers, more is better. Search engine spiders are in the business
of finding information that fits what surfers are looking for, so
you need to keep things so they can find the answers in your site.
You need to be
able to manage your website appropriately to the needs of your
unique business. If this means, you want to make additions yourself,
we can help you do that. If you are too busy, you just email us the
changes to text and announcements periodically and we post them on
your web site. As most websites
for business also have dedicated email, you need to know that is
working in an optimum way as well. Some companies depend on their
email on time. It can make or break a sale.
You need to
know things are being looked after while you are busy minding your
Non Virtual World .
Our clients count on us to
keep their web sites up and running, and inform them of updates and
things they need to know. That is why our clients are with us after
10 years, and in this industry, that can be a lifetime! They know we
are here to help as needed.
You are probably
wondering about the difference in web developers.
Without writing a book here are a
few comparisons of web site developers.
-
There are large
websites requiring teams of developers, photographers, writers,
designers and liaison staff, all doing a part of your web site.
Some companies require this sort of intensive development
process. This sort of web site would start at $10,000 and go
up from there, take months to go live and require a full time
maintenance staff. If you require a site like this, we can
accommodate you, through our network of creative professionals.
-
Mid size web sites
fall into the $5000 -10,000 category.
-
Most of our small
business web sites come along in the under $5000 category and
are simple, affordable, good value yet not canned sites. They contain original images and
copywriting especially for your business. We help you market your website and
your business in several different ways.
Astoria Magazine Reviews are one way.
-
We
specialize
in small business and starter website designs including graphic design, web
hosting, original content creation, photography, domain name registration,
website redesigns, web hosting & maintenance, search engine submissions, search
engine positioning, web site optimizing, e-commerce, shopping carts.
Small
Business Solutions you can count on.
-
There are many
template style, canned sites available also, along with so
called 'free sites'. Most of our clients stay away from this
approach because it leaves them with little control. Their
website can be working just fine one day and then all of a
sudden, it can go down and they don't know who to call. Some of
our clients have come to us after learning the hard way, even,
losing a precious Domain Name in the process.
We hope you
will find that our services and the way we work will help you
further your business web site. We know small business because we are one.
You are an entrepreneur. You work hard in your business and we want
to help you have a web site that
works hard for you
!
|
