How does the design process start?
I don't live in your local area, can you still design my site?
I already have a domain name registered. Can I still use it?
How much of my web site can I update using Backstage?
How do I accept credit cards online?
How do I get a UPS or USPS access key?
How do I get a good ranking on the search engines

How does the design process start?

For businesses and organizations, the initial step is to have a consultation, either via phone, email or in person, to determine your goals and purposes for your site. We will also go over your business practices and rules to determine how the site will operate. For the design of the site, if you have an existing logo or have other artwork and photos that you want used, send those in first. If you have these in digital format, you can send the files via email. If the files are too large for you to send via email, burn them onto a CD and send it to us in the mail. If you only have printed artwork or photos, send them in the mail and we can scan them. If you have specific ideas about how you want to the site to look, write them out in an email or talk to us via phone. If there are sites that you have seen that you like certain elements of, send us the links. We will then take all your art, photos and ideas and come up with a rough draft (or "mockup") for the design of your site. You will be able to view the rough draft online and from there we can make changes and adjustments. Once we have agreed on the design, work can then progress on the various pages and features that you have chosen. Back to top

I don't live in your local area. Can you still design my site?

Absolutely! Over half our clients are in different states. While face-to-face meetings are great, we have found that the design process can take place very effectively via phone or email. Back to top

I already have a domain name registered. Can I still use it?

Yes. You can continue using whichever company you originally registered your domain with. If you are using Anthem's hosting, you will need to login to your domain account and change the "Nameserver Addresses". They will need to be changed to:

Primary Nameserver: ns1.anthemdesign.net
Secondary Nameserver: ns2.anthemdesign.net

If you continue to use your original domain name company, you will continue to be billed directly by them. For your convenience, you can request to transfer your domain to be handled by Anthem, so that Anthem will bill you for your domain renewals. You can request this transfer when you sign up for a package or by contacting us directly. Back to top

How much of my web site can I update with Backstage?

You will be able to update any information on your site that usually needs to be changed on a regular basis, including product information, prices, and photos. More information about Backstage can be found here. Back to top

How do I accept credit cards online ?

There are a variety of different ways to accept credit cards online. You can use Paypal or other similar services such as 2CheckOut.com or ccnow.com that can integrate with your site. Or you can set up a merchant account with a bank that is capable of interfacing with a payment gateway. A payment gateway serves as a "go between" between your bank and your web site. Anthem can recommend banks and gateways for you to consider and help you through the process of getting your accounts set up. Here are some pros and cons of the two methods:

PayPal Web Site Payments Standard
(or other simlar services such as 2CheckOut.com or ccnow.com)

Pros: This method is simple to set up and usually there are no monthly fees. Many services (especially Paypal) have become familiar names that are trusted by customers. You do not need to purchase an SSL Certificate for your site.

Cons: Sales are completed on a third party website which may affect the overall impression the customer has of your company as most major e-commerce sites do not use this method. If you are focused on building your brand name, you don't want to show someone else's logo. It will also be more time consuming for you to enter new products as there are extra steps involved. You must enter the product information into both PayPal and into your web site (via Backstage). PayPal then generates a block of HTML code for that product that you must copy and paste into the product description via Backstage. Your shipping or other customization options are limited.

Merchant Account with Payment Gateway

Pros: Give customers the most professional impression. Sales can be completed without the customer leaving your site. Product information only needs to be entered once via Backstage. Allows the most fexibility in regards to business rules and shipping options.

Cons: Depending on the banking institution or gateway, there may be application fees and/or a flat monthly fee. Usually you need a high volume of sales for this to be economical. Applying for a merchant account with a bank usually involves a credit check and the whole process can take some time to complete. You will also need to purchase a SSL Certificate for your site.

Anthem has had years of experience dealing with both methods of credit card transactions. We are glad to go over all the options with you and help you determine which method is best for your business.

How do I get a UPS or USPS access key?

To sign up for UPS Online tools, go here. To sign up for USPS Web Tools, go here. Follow the online instructions. If you get stuck, we can help you through it. Back to top

How do I get a good ranking on the search engines ?

Every search engine has it's own way of collecting and ranking web sites for various search phrases. It is impossible to guarantee that any certain method will work. Generally, the way to get a good ranking is to build a good web site. It must have informative text that relates to the search phrase you are targeting. Various elements of a page, such as the title, "alt" tags of images, and text links, must also relate to your search phrase. Another major element of getting a good ranking is to have several links from other related websites to your site. Lastly, carefully choosing the search phrase you want to target is important. Generally, more specific phrases, or phrases that contain specific regional names will be more likely to be sucessful. Anthem has had good sucess with search engine optimization and while we cannot guarantee specific results, we will work with you to give your site the best chance of a good ranking. Back to top

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