5 Things You Should Know About Web Hosting

February 13th, 2010

Atlanta web hostingContinuing our “5 Things” series, we’re taking a look at web hosting.  While there are many factors to consider in a web host, here are a few important factors that you shouldn’t miss:

  • Free Web Hosting vs. Not-Free Web Hosting
    Several companies offer free Web hosting services, often sustained by advertisements, but users can expect relatively limited services. Paid Web hosting providers are more likely to have the expanded bandwidth, backup servers and features necessary to provide its users’ websites with more uptime and accessibility.
  • Backups
    Investigate the backup and security policies of potential Web hosting providers. How often do they backup? How long is backup data stored? You want to guarantee that your website is protected on a daily basis in the event of a server crash or unexpected high volume of downtime.

    Tip: As a rule, you should request a copy of your website from your web developer. In the event that you part ways with your web developer, you’ll want to make sure you have access to all your files.

  • Commitment Periods
    Carefully consider commitment periods when selecting a Web hosting service. Many companies offer discounts and rate reductions in order to draw customers into extended contracts. This most often becomes an issue for business owners if the provider’s services fall short in attaining desired results.
  • Compare Features
    Research the features offered by different Web hosting providers before selecting the best one for you. Compare and contrast email options, subdomain additions, technical support departments, domain name registration options, account activation timeframes and conversion tracking tools.
  • Know Your Needs
    Some Web hosting companies have only the ability to support basic web programming, such as HTML and static Web pages. For many businesses, the ability to hold more advanced programming, such as PHP, SQL database operations, Flash animation and secured payment functionality is essential. Have an understanding of what your company’s needs are, and let them be a determinant in selecting the proper Web hosting provider.

5 Things: About Redesigning Your Website

February 9th, 2010

The key to keeping a competitive edge, as well as to the overall branding and success of a company, is an attractive business website.  Redesigning your company website can be a daunting task, even with the best designers and developers to assist you.  When initiating a redesign of your company website, consider these factors and review all with a professional website designer:

  • Know Your Target Audience
    The goal of a business website is to communicate the assets of your company to an audience who may not know it exists, but recognizes their need for your products and services.  Your logo, the website content, the navigation structure, and images should all articulate the core strengths of your organization in a clear manner, and help the viewer understand why your company is superior to competitors.  Understanding your target audience and communicating effectively with them is a high priority in a successful website redesign.
  • Use Only Quality Graphic Assets
    It may be tempting to use outdated logos or amateur photography on your updated business website; however the results are typically disappointing to both the business owner and viewers. Redesign of your company website creates a great opportunity to refresh a dated company logo or have a professional photographer shoot your offices, take quality head shots of principals, or capture recent projects that represent your best work.
  • Do Your Research
    Before meeting with a designer to discuss your business website redesign project, it is helpful to have a short list of websites you like to review with them.  These sites can be in any area from news to competitors in your field.  When you review these sites with a website designer, be prepared to discuss what you like about them, such as use of colors, fonts, interactive elements, and presentation of the content. These cues are very helpful as the creative process of designing a new web identity for your company begins.
  • Content Rules
    Business websites often rely on content to help new customers locate them through search engines.  Content is considered ‘relevant’ by a search engine when it contains valid information and incorporates the terms people commonly use when searching for the products or services on the Internet.  If you do not plan to initiate a pay-per-click advertising campaign in tandem with the new website launch, ask your website designer to recommend a writer who has an understanding of creating optimized content as well as crafting appropriate meta tags to help organic search rankings of your redesigned website.
  • Maintain Your Appearance
    Keeping content on your business website fresh is important to search engine rankings as well as to keeping existing and potential customers up to speed on happenings in your company or industry.  You can update content through a CMS (content management system), through a company blog, or through email newsletters that are archived on your website.  Discuss content maintenance strategies with the designers of your updated business website and be sure you can support their suggestions to best use the tools available.

Redesigning your company website can help build new business and introduce your company to new customers day in and day out. By preparing well for a website redesign, you maximize the value your company reaps from a fresh web presence.  Contact Southern Web Group at 404-848-9440 for more information on how to get started on a business website design today.

When it rains, it pours…

September 27th, 2009

On September 20th and 21st, Atlanta was hard-hit by record rains and flooding.

Our office did not escape the storm’s wrath. These pictures were taken the morning of Monday, September 20th. The rains continued that day and the water levels in the office rose above a foot of water.

Fortunately, no one was hurt by the flooding and our data was saved. Unfortunately, we lost several computers and it will be several weeks before we’re able to return to our office.

This week we’ve worked to get all our staff situated so they can work remotely while the repairs are underway.

Here are some photos of the flooding:

And the winner is …

September 2nd, 2009

Sony Pocket Reader

Congratulations, Cyndi Wolf of Tampa Bay, Florida, you’re the winner of the Sony Pocket Reader.

If you didn’t win this time, be sure to stay on our fan list. We’ll have another Facebook fan contest shortly.

Cyndi, send us an email at email hidden; JavaScript is required to arrange delivery.