frequently asked questions

The internet is a worldwide network linking computers around the globe. People use it to find information out about almost anything. It can used as a vehicle to promote your business both locally and internationally. The internet has removed communication barriers; email allows your customers to contact you quickly and effectively.

• Having a website opens up your company to a massive local and international customer base, giving you the potential to increase your business.
• A well designed website can help to improve your companies image.
• Using email, you can improve your contact with customers and other businesses. You can manage your communications to improve efficiency.
• The internet provides a cheap effective way to promote your business.
• You can update the information on your website quickly to keep it up to date without reprinting and distribution costs.
• You can have added functionality to your website, so it provides a service to your customers and improves your efficiency. e.g. online accounts

"Web design isn't difficult. I can knock something up myself" - yes you can, but be warned, a badly designed site can do more harm than good. There are many, many pitfalls in web design, surely it's better to have someone who knows their way around them to do the design.

A badly designed site, unattractive, difficult to navigate around and slow to load will drive your potential customers away before they even get to see the services you provide.

We have the knowledge and experience to build a fast, stylish, optimised and effective site that is accessible to all internet users. A site that will enhance your business, not damage it.

Every website needs a web host. A web host is a server on the internet that holds all the information that makes up your website. When someone visits your site, it processes the request and returns the page. It is important for web hosts to be fast with a good link to the internet, otherwise your pages can take a long time to download, by which time your visitor has got bored and gone elsewhere.

Web hosting also provides email services, so if you buy www.mycompany.co.uk you can also have email addresses like office@mycompany.co.uk.

Web applications are programs that provide added functionality to your website. Some examples are:

• A website that customises itself for the visitor so that they can easily access the information that is relevant to them.
• A website can pull its information from an online database, so it can be presented in multiple formats and be easily updated by the owners.
• A website with embedded email that formats the message and presents it in an efficient way.
• An online message board or chat room.
• An online shop and ordering system.
• Web based email systems, such as hotmail.

We can custom author your web applications so they exactly meet your requirements.

An intranet is an internal website that is only accessible to your business. It can be used to share information and resources within your company to improve efficiency. Combined with web applications, an intranet can become even more powerful, providing functionality such as web based email, stock control and ordering.

An Intranet needs to be hosted within your company's network and usually will require a separate server to live on.

You could also have an extranet, a intranet site that is available securely to your employees and/or clients via secure password protection. You can use this to distribute sensitive information via the internet that you do not want the general public to have access to.

An intranet can be a great asset to a company, no matter what size it is and can greatly increase your efficiency, whether you are simply sharing resources or using for more complicated tasks. For example, if you have an online shop, then you can have your stock control on your intranet. That way your internet site is constantly up to date.