Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and Answers

Below are some questions and answers covering many topics regarding the design of an effective Web site. If you would like to find the answer to a question not covered below, please contact us with your question.

How does a project get started?

After an initial meeting has been held and the timeline, requirements and budget for your project have been reviewed, Nu-Designs will prepare a proposal that includes a detailed outline of the job along with cost estimates. Upon acceptance of the proposal, Nu-Designs will send a signed agreement and begin designing your Web site.

What if we are not sure what the requirements are for the site we envision?

Some clients may choose to consult with Nu-Designs to develop a thorough list of requirements for their project prior to signing a full-scale production agreement. If this is the case, both parties will sign an agreement specifying that you have agreed to hire Nu-Designs for an initial-needs assessment consultation.

How many Nu-Designs staff members will be assigned to my project?

Nu-Designs typically assigns one to three people per project team: a creative director, a project manager and various support staff, depending on the complexity of the site. Additional staff members are made available when needed.

How does the communication and review process work?

Your personal project manager will always be available for any questions or communications. Nu-Designs maintains a customized project tracking system. From this password-protected area, you can monitor the time spent on your project on a daily basis and view the status of your project as the work progresses.

What if our business is located in a city outside of your geographical area?

Many of Nu-Designs’ most satisfied clients are from outside our geographic area. Most communication on a Web development project is conducted via e-mail, telephone and fax. All mock-ups and in-process designs can be readily viewed on the Web. When needed, Nu-Designs and our clients can make arrangements to meet face-to-face during projects.

How do we ensure that we get the end result we want for our site launch?

Nu-Designs excels at meeting client expectations during every phase of the project. Because we include the client during the entire development process, there are no surprises at the time of completion. Nu-Designs guarantees that all final Web site designs and capabilities meet professional industry standards in craftsmanship and quality and will be free of defects.

How does Nu-Designs set its fees?

Our project estimates are based on time and materials. Our hourly rates are currently $90 for high-level creative design, graphic services, xHTML and CSS production, site programming and database management services.

What is Nu-Designs’ payment and approval process?

A one-third prepayment is required at the start of a project. Subsequent payments correspond to the completion of specified milestones and are always contingent upon client satisfaction.

Will there be any extra fees incurred during the project that were not specified in the initial cost estimate?

Revisions beyond the scope of the initial project agreement will be billed either as a contract revision or hourly based on the scope of the change. Nu-Designs will obtain verbal or written permission from client before performing additional billable work above and beyond the fee agreed upon in the initial work order.

How long will it take to complete your project?

Nu-Designs prides itself in having one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry. From the signing of production agreement, Nu-Designs averages an eight to 12 week turnaround time for most sites.

Who will retain ownership and copyrights for all Brand Identity and Creative work?

Clients retain complete copyright ownership of all final artwork and designs. It is possible that purchased or leased photographs may be used within a site may have managed usage rights with limitations defined during acquisition.

How is a Web presence different from traditional advertising?

A Web presence is much like radio, print, or television advertising in that your goal is to determine your target audience, capture their attention and motivate them to action. With traditional advertising it is sometimes possible to make a poorly-conceived advertisement work for you as long as you saturate the medium being used. This is not the case on the Worldwide Web. If your site is complicated, poorly designed and impossible to navigate easily, people will simply move on and probably never return no matter how well your site is ranked within search engines. Unlike traditional forms of advertising, visitors to your site, whether they followed a link or found you through a search engine, arrive there because they are already interested in something you have to offer. With that bonus in your favor, a well-constructed Web site is what it takes to convince them that they are in the right place.

What things should I consider when developing my site’s layout?

One consideration is to make certain that your layout allows visitors to easily absorb the information presented and that it allows for efficient navigation. Also, if you do not have enough content on your site to justify a sophisticated layout, don’t feel obligated to use one; in other words, if your site’s message is going to be simple, then keep your layout simple. A well-designed layout will make important page links obvious to your visitors, allow them to obtain the information they want in no more than two mouse button clicks and keep them from having to hunt for page links to get more information.

What things should I consider when designing graphics for my site?

When designing graphics to be used within a Web page, knowledgeable designers try to balance aesthetics and efficiency. Graphics should be attractive and functional, imposing only a moderate download time of the entire page. Our current development techniques utilize many photos as background images which load independently from the content, helping the search engines find the content quicker.

Should I include links from my Web site to other sites?

Including relevant links to other sites is good business on the Web. For example: If you operate a store that sells ski equipment, including a link to the manufacturer’s Web site would allow those visiting to find out more about some of the products that you offer. Overall, links are easy to include and are a great way to provide additional information, entertainment and education to your site’s visitors, all of which increases the likelihood that they will become customers.

Should I actively promote my Web presence?

Yes. Promotion of your Web site is critical to its success. If nobody knows your site exists, nobody will see it. Word-of-mouth advertising is valuable, but not enough to garner a return on your investment. Luckily, there are ways to go about promoting your Web site that are relatively simple-and effective. The experts at Nu-Designs can help.