Web Design FAQ

• Do I need to know a lot of technical info before contacting Corvus Design Studio?
  
  Not at all. We don't expect everyone to know exactly what they want or need before contacting us. We'll explain the different types of web design services we offer and help you decide what will work best for your individual needs and goals. Whether you know precisely what you'd like, or want to weigh the options, we're here to help.

• Is a website going to cost a fortune? How much should I expect to pay for a website?
  
  

  Our web design and development service costs are determined on a case to case basis. We have base fees for our standard websites, WordPress websites, and online shops. However, every client has different needs and our prices are adjusted accordingly. We work with your budget to create a plan that maximizes the features and SEO benefits for every project. Our philosophy is that everyone should have a web presence, whether it's a simple digital business card, a comprehensive corporate site, an online shop, etc... We offer solutions for everyone.
  
  Because we're a small company, our prices are considerably less than our competition. And we feel that we offer more features, with a unique emphasis on both the form and function of the website. Afterall, what good is a gorgeous website if nobody is viewing it? And a visually unimpressive site doesn't do the job either, no matter how many people view it.

  We invite you to send us a Quick Quote request to see how affordable and feature-rich our design service really is.
  
  

  For more information about we're able to charge so much less than other studios of similar quality, check out The Benefits of Smaller Design Firms.

• How do you keep your prices so low?
  
  

  Simple. We're a small company with small overhead. That's really it. We feel our work speaks for itself, so we don't have the need for a sales department. We rely almost entirely on word of mouth marketing from satisfied clients, which not only equates to huge savings for us, but also shows that quality and customer satisfaction are of the utmost importance to us. Our small overhead, non-existent advertising expenses and small number of employees create huge savings that we're able to pass onto our clients, while still affording to produce award-winning designs.

  So, what's the catch?
  There's no catch. Really. With Corvus, you get the best of both worlds; top notch web design and reasonable rates. What you won't get with us is a lot of sales fluff. As a client, you would work directly with our designer for all aspects of the project, thus cutting out the need for a salesperson completely. Our philosophy is incredibly simple: quality work + honest pricing = happy clients + happy Corvus. No smoke, no mirrors, no fluff.

• Do you outsource your design or development work?
  
  No, we do not outsource anything. All of our services are done in-house. Our founder and lead designer handles all design and development aspects, from concept formulation to hand coding our websites.

• What sort of SEO (search engine optimization) do you offer?
  
  

  We optimize every website for search engine recognition using all organic methods (or non-paid methods). We utilize all methods of search engine optimization, including effective meta data creation, keyword correlation, alternative image text, descriptive file names, non-bloated coding practices and more.

  Although Google is very secretive about the exact characteristics of their search algorithms, we make a point of keeping informed and up to date with the latest in SEO and SEM strategies, and apply these techniques to all of our web projects.
  
  Additionally, every custom website is hand-coded to the standards set forth by the W3. This results in streamlined code that is more easily digested and parsed by Google's search bots. In other words, Google can easily recognize the keywords and search phrases peppered throughout the content of the site. This ease of bot indexing is favored by search engines, and increases the sites ranking.

• What sort of SEM (search engine marketing) do you offer?
  
  Although we don't specialize in advanced SEM, we do provide effective tools that can significantly boost a websites exposure on the web. Namely, the WordPress blog, which is included with our standard websites. Visit the WordPress Blog section to see how WordPress greatly enhance Search Engine Marketing. You might be surprised.
  
  We also give our websites a HUGE exposure jumpstart, in terms of traffic, backlinks and networking. Our qualified websites are submitted to web design award, showcase and design inspiration sites, including the IAB Mixx Awards, Webby Awards, The Best Designs, CSS Awards, and many more. Accepted websites gain dozens of backlinks, and exposure to thousands of potential clientele.
  
  Finally, we include a lot of social networking elements in our custom websites. Everything from Twitter Feeds to Social Quick Links. Visit the Custom Website section for details about out social networking strategies.

• What do I get with a website from Corvus Design Studio?
  
  

  Well, it really depends on the particular project. Each project is tailored specifically to each clients individual needs and goals. However, there are some design and development staples that are included with every site. Visit the Custom Website section for details about our base features.

• How long does it take to complete a website?
  
  On average, our websites can take 4 - 6 weeks to complete. However, timeframe's really depend on the size and complexity of the project. We work with you, and we need feedback and content from you as we progress. So, you are a big part, if not the biggest part, of the timeframe equation. We make every effort to complete our web projects in the most timely manner, but we don't cut corners. We spend a bit more time than most on the design layout and aesthetic look of your website (why is the look so important?). We pride ourselves in creating unique websites that are memorable to their viewers. We also ensure properly written code so that your website displays flawlessly on all platforms and browsers. We believe that taking the time to design and develop quality websites is far more important than knocking out as many sites as humanly possible... We're all about quality, not quantity.

• Do you offer a CMS (content management system)?
  
  Yes. If you need a comprehensive Content Management System, we are happy to design and develop your site using ExpressionEngine®. ExpressionEngine® is a cutting edge CMS development tool that allows a high level of flexibility of design and features. Visit the ExpressionEngine section for more details.
  
  We also offer a unique Hybrid CMS x Custom Website plan. Our Hybrid CMS combines the key user management capabilities of a CMS with the visual appeal and cost effectiveness of a Custom Website. Essentially, our Hybrid CMS website allows its owner to easily update key areas of the website, while other areas of the site are hand-coded, standard HTML pages. Our Hybrid CMS is designed for clients on a budget, but who also need a highly impactful look, as well as the ability to update certain areas of the site at will. Visit the Hybrid CMS section for more details about this unique solution.
  
  Visit our CMS - Hybrid CMS - Custom Website comparison guide to see which is right for you.

• Are your custom websites mobile compatible?
  
  

  Yes. We design within the constraints of the common smart phones, including iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.
  
  You might be wondering how Flash content is displayed on the iPhone and other Apple mobile devices that do not support Flash. For Flash slideshows that might take up a large area of your homepage, we use a substitute static image that is displayed when the website detects the absence of a Flash player. This is invisible to the viewer. Unfortunately there is no way to use substitute imagery for large Flash files, such as photo galleries. In such cases, we try to avoid using Flash as much as possible and instead opt for jQuery or WordPress where possible.
  

• What are hosting & domain names?
  
  With any website, a hosting account and a domain name are required. Essentially, a hosting account is a rented space on a server; it is where the website resides and is displayed on the world wide web. The domain name is the websites unique url, or web address (www.corvusart.com, for example).

• Do you provide hosting & domain names?
  
  

  We do not provide these services directly, but we're happy to help you setup a hosting account and select a domain name. We work with, and recommend two companies, HostMonster and DreamHost. These are both reputable, affordable companies, with excellent customer service (and DreamHost is a GREEN company!).

  We do not provide hosting and domain name registration because it is not cost effective to our clients. A lot of web design companies that provide "their own" hosting and domain names are simply reselling these services from commercial companies, but with an additional price markup. We just don't think that's fair to our clients, so we remove ourselves as the middle-person, allowing our clients to pay only the retail price for hosting and domain.

• Do you offer e-commerce solutions (online stores, classified ads, etc.)?
  
  

  Yes, we offer several solutions to meet your individual goals and budget. From entry level to enterprise online shops, we have the right e-commerce solution for you. Visit the Online Shops section for more details.

  We also offer classified ad websites. Our classified ad software allows for innumerable configurations, and includes options to accept standard credit cards and PayPal Visit the Classified Ad section for more details.

• I need a logo & business cards too. Do you do that also?
  
  Yes, we design logos, business cards, letterhead, brochures, postcards, and any other marketing or branding media. Our logos and print designs are based on your input and style, and can be anything from minimalist to complex. Visit our Logo portfolio and Printed Media portfolio's for samples of our work.