You can download a free copy by clicking here. Print out the worksheet add as much information as you can, and give us a call. We can discuss you plans and needs, all at no cost or obligation.

We can get your site started NOW. Call us Toll Free at 800-598-4008

First a bit of history. The term blog started out to designate a type of website that was a personal journal. Each posting to the website was an entry in that journal.

This was a leap forward for people wishing to have an outlet on the Internet. Blogging sites were easier to setup and add content to, than traditional websites.  Blogging remains very popular today.

What does a blog have to do with a business website? A blog does not have to be named a blog. OK, so this is just double talk, right? Stay with me, this will all makes perfect sense.

A blog creates a system for arranging the post, or entries to the blog. In fact, a blog also uses a system for sorting the entries by the category you assign to each entry.  The category can be used to search for, or list, various entries or posts to the blog.

If we create a website for your business and add a blog, but instead of calling the area that lists the entries to the site a  blog, we call that section “News” or “Tips” or “Testimonials” or any other name you like.  Then, as a news item or a new testimonial is is added to the site, the entries are displayed in order down the page. In addition, we can configure specific pages on your site to hold just one type of entry or post. So you could have a page of news items as well as a page of testimonials on the site.

We can train you, or a staff member, how to add these types of entries to the site. You can then have a website that stay up to date and interesting for visitors and keeps them coming back for more.

Call us today for a FREE Consultation – even the call is FREE – 800-598-4008

I often get calls from clients who would like the ability to make changes to their website themselves. Sounds like a reasonable idea, right? Maybe, but it can lead to some headaches.

Contrary to what everyone thinks, making changes to a site is not as easy as 1-2-3. It takes some time to learn a system, there are rules that must be followed and thousands of options that can be used.

On average,  it takes about two hours of introduction and then several more hours of fine tuning for most people to start changing their own websites.  I am happy to take the time needed to teach a new user how to edit their site and I think my fees are very reasonable to do so.  However, is that really the best use of  a business owner’s time?

Once the novelty of making your own changes fades, the harsh reality of keeping the site updated and fresh becomes a dreaded chore. If a site owner does not make frequent changes, he or she often forgets how to do it.  So, some research will be needed before anything gets done. Or, worse yet, it just gets put off until the site is full of out-dated, stale items. We all have visited sites where the last update was years ago.

Before you jump to the conclusion that you want to maintain your own website, consider the time involved to do so. Your business may be better served hiring us to make the changes as needed.

Call us to discuss this or any other website needs. Of course the consultation is FREE and so is the call at 800-598-4008.

The domain name is how visitors will get to your site. For example, the domain name for this site is www.ontraxweb.com. Each site must have a unique name.  If you permit a web designer or hosting company or any third party to register your domain for you and you have no access to the account, you could be in for big problems. If the third party goes out of business, files for bankruptcy, gets seriously ill or even dies, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to move your site to another service. Keep reading to learn how this all works.

In order to direct visitors to the site when the domain name is typed into a browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, Chrome, etc.) the directions to where the site is stored on the Internet is held at Domain Name Servers or DNS. When a user types in a domain name as in http://www.ontraxweb.com the information is passed on to a DNS and the request is sent to your site.

There are several options in purchasing a domain name. Some cost more than others. It is relatively simple to register a domain but can be a bit confusing if you have never done it before. So, many web designers or hosting companies offer to register the domain for you. Wow, that seems nice. No it is not!

The domain registration information is the keys to the castle. If a third party holds the key, you can end up being held hostage to a service you no longer wish to use. Imagine if you decide that you would like to change the hosting service to one that offers more features or any other reason. The first step is to notify the DNS where the new site will be hosted. Where do you do that? It is in n the control panel of the hosting company. If you did not set up the service you most likely do not have access to that control panel. So, you will need to tell the current company that you want to leave them and go elsewhere. How do you think they are going to react? Do you think your request will be at the top of a to-do list? Probably not. I know of some sites that have taken years to get their domain names moved.

The solution: Register your domain name yourself, no matter who is hosting the site. At the very least, if you have someone else register the domain for you; make certain that they give you the user name and the password to access the account. Do not let them talk you out of this.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!

Ontrax Web Design is happy to either set up an account for you or to talk you through setting up your own account to register your domain name. Either way, you will have complete control of you domain.

Call us for a FREE Consultation. Yes, it actually is free. Call 800-598-4008.

The long answer is: you can make your own site using any of those programs but be prepared for some major frustration.  You must realize that no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to do some things on your site.  No matter what the commercials say, the chance of being listed at the top of the search engines overnight is nonexistent.  In fact, getting your site listed at all is a challenge.

I decided to look into these do-it-yourself sites and found some interesting things to think about:

30 Day FREE Trial – but you must give your credit card info and agree to automatic billing in order to try the service.  Can you imagine how difficult it will be to have the billing stopped if you are not happy?

So Easy – but even one of their videos state “if you would like to try adding…” What happens if you are not successful in your try?  Help may be available but at an additional cost.

Bait and Switch – not exactly but if you want more than the bare minimum, be prepared to pay more.  The monthly fee jumps from $9.99 per month to $29.99 if you want the search engine options.

Your Free Domain Name – this is the kicker. Most of the do-it-yourself sites offer you domain registration for less than it actually costs – some at no cost at all. Is this too good to be true? You bet it is.  If the company controls your domain name, it is virtually impossible to leave them. Read this post to learn more.

Call us for a free consultation about your website 800-598-4008

Always keep that in mind when writing or speaking about your products or services. Explain how they will solve your customer’s problems.

No matter how great your product is or how proud of it you are, resist the urge to brag about it. Instead, tell the prospective buyer what it will do for them. Tell them how it will make their life better, easier, make them more money, make them more attractive, etc.

I owned a portrait photography studio for many years. If I would have tried to sell my photographs on the idea of how great they were, I would never have made a living.

Instead, we stressed “You are going to look FANTASTIC” in our photos or “Give someone you love a portrait” or “The best gift you will ever give Mom”. Not one of these headlines said if our photos were good or bad, the message was the benefits the photos would give to the buyer.

Of course, you need to have a good, if not great, product or service to offer and you will have to go into detail about that once you have the buyer’s attention. Even when listing the advantages of your item, slant everything to how it relates to the buyer and how it will solve their problems.

If you would like to discuss how we can make your site “Sizzle” call today for a FREE consultation at 800-598-4008

My sincere sympathies go out to the families and friends of all of the victims.

To all of the heroes of 9-11, the Firefighters, the Police, the First Responders and all others who gave their lives in the hope of saving others, THANK YOU!

These everyday heroes are the backbone of America and enable us all to go about our daily lives. Even though we take them for granted, we appreciate their service.

And to our service men and women, who have fought and are continuing to fight,  to keep us  free: You make us all proud. If you see a member of our Armed Forces, please tell them we appreciate them.

Proud to be an AMERICAN!

Just what is a blog? A blog is a term for a web site that has an online log of a person, idea, or anything else that is desired to be shared with the world.  Since so many now are familiar with Facebook, think of a blog as your personal “wall” where you control all of the content.

You add to the blog by creating “post”, just like this one. Photos, videos or sounds can be added to the post. If you wish to have the opinions or thoughts of others appear on your blog that is possible as well. You can have control over which comments get added to the blog, edit any comment or post and approve a comment before it appears on the site.

There are over one  hundred million blogs online today. If you would like to join the blogging community we can help. We can set up your blog, customize it, teach you how to add content and fix any problems or issues you may have with your blog.

Call us today for  FREE information about blogging. Call 800-598-4008