What is a red eft?

Technically, the red eft is the land form of the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens). Its colors range from red to orange in the spring and summer, and from olive to brown toward autumn. After it rains here in the mountains of West Virginia, numerous red efts appear. We consider it a propitious totem and strive to emulate its adaptability in our business.

How much does a custom designed site cost?

Cost varies according to the complexity of the site. A rule of thumb is a range of $150 - $300 per page, using the definition of a page as the content of no more than three screen lengths of text and graphics.

The graphic on the right is equivalent to one screen length.

What other costs are involved in putting up a web site.

Other costs include registration of a domain name ($20 - $35 per year), and renting space on a web hosting company's server ($5 - $20 per month). Just remember that the less you pay for hosting, the more likely your site will be crowded onto file-choked servers that also use your site as a launching pad for pop-up ads that subsidize the low hosting rates. Some companies even offer free hosting in return for plastering your site with their ads.

Do I need my own domain name?

If you are serious about establishing a presence on the web that is easy to find and is completely under your control, you need your own domain. If you want just to put up some personal pages, consider having a sub-doman under someone else's domain. Homestead, Geocities, Tripod and others offer free hosting of sub-domains in return for the posting of ads.You web address will be www.webhostingcompany.com/yourname/ as opposed to www.yourname.com — if you have your own domain.

Can you design a web site that I can update myself?

We can but we don't like to. First, it is risky to have multiple people getting into a site and making changes. Ignorance can happen, and we don't want to repair other people's mistakes. It is possible to set up sites that have editable sections, but the client would need to buy off-the-shelf software that results in clunky, unintegrated chunks on our custom-designed site. Our preference is that you update your site by e-mailing us the changes. We have a quick response time for updates, and our cost is minimal.

What makes an effective web site?

An effective web site is one that motivates your target audience to use your product or service. The web site is a coherent, logical presentation of whatever it is you are offering. The navigation is easy to use, the text is clear and concise, and every feature on the site works flawlessly. The site is so good, in fact, that visitors bookmark it for future reference.

How do I get my site on the first pages of search results?

You can't . . . unless you are prepared to spend lots of money on paid placement.Only if the search terms themselves have no commercial value do you have a chance of being near the top of the results. Searching "red eft," our site usually shows up in the first pages. Searching "web designers" leaves us buried below those paying for placement or paying someone full-time to do search engine optimization.

How can I sell stuff from my web site?

You can go the whole nine yards and have an e-commerce enabled site, complete with shoppping cart and secure credit card transactions, just like Amazon.com. It's not cheap! Or you can start small by having people order from your site by printing out an order form and mailing it to you with their payment or faxing it to you with credit card information for faster service. On-line payment acceptance companies, such as PayPal, are also an option for setting up a less expensive e-commerce capable site.

How do we work together if you're in West Virginia and I'm in Washington?

We have a telephone, fax machine and Internet connection. You can send us your text and photos via e-mail. We also have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Referrals form a major portion of our business, so it is in our best interest to keep you happy.