Freqently Asked Questions

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We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help our clients better understand the website development process. If you have a question that is not on the list, please feel free to contact us.

What are the typical costs of a Total Internet website?
What determines the cost of your site?
Total Internet – why are we different?
What is detailed in our Quotation?
What does the Web Development process involve?
Do we do anything after completion?
Considering other web design companies?

What are the typical costs of a Total Internet website?

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As previously mentioned, we do not use templates to build our websites. Therefore, it is impossible to provide a simple
answer to this question as each website is truly unique. However, indicative costs for custom websites range from:

• Product Catalogue/Brochure style website: $1,995 - $3,995
• Content/feature rich rich website: $3,995 - $14,995
• E-commerce website = $4,995 - $29,995

Pricing depends on a number of factors such as size, functionality and complexity of design. Before preparing a detailed quotation of the hours required for a job, we like our clients to come in for a chat and make sure we understand their needs. If you can't make it into our office, we are always happy to do a conference call.

What determines the cost of your site?

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Many things affect the requirements needed to build a website, however costs are kept lower if:

• The website does not require custom graphics (good graphics already exist via existing print media, such as brochures, promotional CDROMS etc)
• Text is all available electronically
• The site does not require database access or complex back‐end processing
• Many pages use the same format/layout
• A strong design identity already exists
• The site does not need Flash animation technology
• The site does not need a complex Content Management System
• The site does not need extensive server side processing
• Client already has a strong plan of how the website will look and behave

Total Internet – why are we different?

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• We focus on people and good service.
• We don't expect our clients to be computer experts. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have, and we discuss your requirements in plain English.
• We take the time to find out about your business/project, so we can use our expertise to develop a website that will work for you, and will reap return on your investment.
• We design and build your website from scratch. ‐ We don't use off‐the‐shelf templates, meaning your site is unique, differentiated and an excellent reflection of your business. More importantly, your website is tailored to suit your exact requirements.
• A number of our designs have received awards in excellence by the Australian Web Designers Network for extremely high standards in graphics, artwork, layout, navigability, functionality and originality. Get your name on the winners list!
• Proven Search Engine Optimisation. It is about making your investment in a web strategy more productive for your business, bringing in greater enquiries and a more profitable customer. Search engine optimisation improves your rankings in such search engines as MSN or Google. Most potential customers only view the first couple of pages of search results, so when your website is as high as possible on a results page, you greatly increase the chance of your web site being successful in your field.
• We guarantee our work. If there is an error in what we produce, we will fix it free‐of‐charge. Correctly built, error‐free websites are extremely important for your public image and also for good search engine listings.
• We are committed to providing our customers with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards compliant websites. In doing so, we automatically provide our client’s sites with the following benefits:
  • Improved user experience by reducing page weight and providing faster load times
  • Increased page accessibility, therefore increasing the audience
  • Maintained consistency
  • Easy to maintain pages, reducing maintenance costs
  • Forward browser compatibility
  • Improved Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) practices
• We are happy to provide ongoing maintenance to your site, no matter how minor. All work is fully detailed and priced in advance.
• We are endorsed by the Australian Government through our accreditation as an .au registrar. This accreditation provides a degree of certainty that your web site will be developed using the best technology, delivered on time and on budget. It also means we will provide you with superior advice regarding domain registration and hosting, along with the various ongoing costs associated with a website. Remember TOTAL INTERNET.

What is detailed in our Quotation?

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Our quotations are extremely thorough. They clearly spell out what will be delivered to you and all the costs associated with your new website. There are no hidden extras.

1. The first part of our quotation lists any domain registration, hosting or other related particulars (if required).
2. The second part identifies proposed time required to research, develop and document our proposed solution. ‐ Furthermore, it details the planning and analysis of your site’s primary objective and goals, and what methods we propose to implement to ensure a professional delivery.
3. The third part outlines the design time and costing.
4. The fourth phase describes the specifics of the front‐end site build and will include:
   • A description of each web page OR particular functionality that you have requested and any technical processes involved
   • Any Flash components required
   • Project size parameters (e.g: maximum number of pages, images anticipated etc)
5. The fifth part lists the site administration system components (if any).
6. The sixth and final costing section of the quote will provide a clear summary of all times and costs associated with the project. This section will also include any Optional Extras or Additions that TOTAL INTERNET believe may improve and enhance your site.
7. The final section requires the contractual agreement for approval to proceed. When you sign our contract you know there are no hidden extras. Any subsequent amendments to the contract are made by mutual agreement eg: if you want some additional feature we quote in advance and then issue a fully costed quotation amendment for your approval.

Please note: every website we design is unique – we do not use website templates. This approach provides you with a tailored website which is a unique asset for your business but this also means that we cannot provide any design mock‐ups until a contract is signed.

What does the Web Development process involve?

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When we receive the signed contract and first installment of the payment the development process will commence.

1. The first stage of development will include taking all information regarding your new website determined pre‐quotation and deliver a full, comprehensive report outlining our proposed solution. This report will include specification documents for the front‐end site build and back‐end administration system (if applicable), site navigation diagrams and site layout structure diagrams when required.
   These documents will need to be approved before the process moves to the next stages and will be
   the basis on what and how will be developed.
2. The design stage will include providing a website design mock‐up within 15‐25 working days for your review. We will provide the design at early and regular intervals to ensure you are happy with the direction it is heading. Occasionally we may ask to meet with you again either at our Melbourne offices or at your workplace to further discuss design options.
3. When the mock‐up design(s) is(are) ready we will load them to the internet as images (eg: not functioning web pages). You then have between 5‐10 days to provide final requests for adjustments. We can always accommodate minor variations to the design drafts.
4. Once a design is approved we commence the website build. To ensure there are no delays, you should plan to provide all the website text and graphics (if applicable) to our staff before we start building the website. Please note that we can source or create images and logos for you (and these costs may already be factored into your signed quote).
5. Depending on the size of your website, the build process can take between 5 weeks and 16 weeks to complete. The expected completion date will be specified in the contract but this deadline is dependent on our staff receiving all website content from you in a timely manner. Most small websites can be completed to draft stage in around 5 weeks.
6. The first web build process ends with a working website being deployed to our test server. When we have fully tested this you will be given access to the website via the internet. You now have 5‐10 days to review the website.
7. During the website review stage the contract allows for up to 10% of content to change without incurring any additional fee. This gives you a good opportunity to change some photographs or reword text if you wish to. When you have completed the review we seek your approval to proceed to completion.
8. When we have applied any final changes and final payment, the website will be loaded to the internet.

Do we do anything after completion?

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• If you have chosen to include Total Internet Search Engine Optimisation:
  • We manually submit your website to important search engines and relevant service directories.
  • Your website is added to our exclusive Total Internet linking program which ensures that your website will be constantly optimised and is found by search engines. This service is free for existing customers for 12 months from the launch date. This service remains free thereafter but should you cease to be our customer (by not making website changes over the year or by using the services of another web design company) you can continue to utilise this service for an annual fee of $1200.
• During the first 2 months of operation of your new website, we provide up to 5 hours of free website updates. We do this to demonstrate how easy and cost effective it is to keep your website up‐todate. We don't abandon our customers once the website is built so whenever you need changes simply contact us and we will provide a quick written quote. Most changes can be made within 5 days or less.

Considering other web design companies?

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Then ask them these questions:

• Do they offer a guarantee to fix errors free‐of‐charge after your website goes live?
• A website is an investment. Will they take the time to sit down with you and find out about your business and are they committed to the success of your project?
• Do they offer any free allowance to make final changes to the website prior to its release?
• Will they thoroughly test your website system for cross‐browser compatibility?
• Will they test using web browsers over 18 months old?
• Will they provide free, human‐driven, personally tailored search engine optimisation and will this be on‐going after the website has gone live?
• Will your website be accessible to visitors who have no plug‐ins? (not everyone has the Flash animation plug‐in and some websites don't function without it)
• Will they adhere to the latest programming standards such as XHTML which will make applying future changes easier and will cut down on future costs?
• Will they be available and willing to maintain your website after it goes live?
• Will they accept a reasonable deposit payment up‐front with the balance on completion?
• Does the development work stay in Australia? Many companies use overseas contractors, the results are often poor and the development process inflexible.
• We use Australian staff and support our local I.T community. Do they provide any free maintenance allowance after going live?

At Total Internet we say 'YES' to all the above.