MindsEye Productions

Web FAQ

1. Why should I have a website?
2. How long will it take?
3. How much does it cost?
4. What software do you use?
5. Can you make it all flashy and everything?
6. Can you help me put my pages on the Internet?
7. What about updates and changes?
8. How will people find my website?

If it's our credentials you're looking for, check the credits page for a sampling of past projects. To get the particulars about other services offered by MindsEye Productions, see our videoFAQ or wordsFAQ. And if you have any other questions, please do contact us.

1. Why should I have a website?
More and more people are using the internet to learn, get product information, search family histories, check their horoscopes, shop, or share their experiences. And this is particularly important for those of us in rural areas. (If we want find out about something — almost anything — the first thing we do is hit the Internet.) It's like having the whole world right there on the desktop. If you provide a service or sell a product, why not let your customers know who you are while they're in their "happy place" — which is more likely to be at their convenience than yours.

2. How long will it take?
This site took 5 years — that is, 5 years for us to decide what we wanted to say, and 3 days to get it up and running! But if you already have a strong sense of what your website should do for you, MindsEye can get a good start before your cheque even clears.

3. How much does it cost?
Some web designers use a flat rate system, some charge an hourly rate, and others use the "a la carte" method. We charge an hourly rate of $50 (Canadian) to design and code your site, wrangle its graphics, upload the files to the hosting server, and submit it to key search-engines and directories. Of course, our standard business ethics apply.

4. What software do you use?
A lot of people swear by the WYSIWYG website editors like FrontPage and DreamWeaver, but we find that hand-coding HTML gives us better control over the page's appearance and file size. We use a basic text editor: Windows' own Notepad, or EditPad, which is similar to Notepad but allows several files to be open at once. As we work, we check the layout in several different browsers and at three different screen resolutions because the Web is still fumbling its way toward a single reliable standard.

5. Can you make it all flashy and everything?
Yes, if that is what will best serve the site. We're no Luddites, but we do believe that strong content should outrank the whiz-bang effects. If you want a fast-loading, friendly, useful website that's accessible (even for those millions of people worldwide who have slower dial-up Internet connections) and easy to navigate — let's talk.

6. Can you help me put my pages on the Internet?
Certainly. There are any number of hosting options out there, with prices from free (advertising-supported) to ouch! (full service, full price). Depending on your comfort level and your website's requirements, MindsEye can walk you through the process or we can do the leg-work for you.

7. What about updates and changes?
We'll be pleased to discuss a maintenance contract for your website.

8. How will people find my website?
The Internet depends heavily on search-engines and directories, and we'll submit your site to the dominant half-dozen or so. More importantly, we'll design your website with the search-engines in mind, right from the beginning — text, headings, layout and link distribution all come into play, as well as the mysterious Meta tags that lurk invisibly behind each page. Search-engine optimization is a tricky, fascinating business — frankly, we get a real kick out of tweaking a website to rank highly in relevant searches.