FAQs
What can imaginAction do?
- Website design, website upgrades, website management.
- Google Business Profile set up and management.
- Integration of AI into business operations, such as chatbots and documentation.
- Graphic design – for social updates, websites and print products.
- Newsletter marketing – writing, mailouts and management.
- Software set up and ongoing general support.
- Build you a support ticketing system for clients and staff.
- All sorts of writing – newsletters, books, blogs, brochures, staff policies and procedures.
- General business support and process improvement.
I have Instagram/Facebook for my site. Does my business need a website?
A lot of businesses do this because it might be easy, but they don’t realise can annoy or turn away potential customers. There are many of use that don’t have or regularly use social accounts. Right there, you are cutting people out.
Then consider that those platforms do not have all the features your website can have. Things like product detail, interactivity and ease of use are all missing from social.
Having only a social account for your business looks lazy and often does not represent your business it should be represented. A website is yours and is designed as such. A social account belongs to them.
A social account can be complimentary to your website, not replace it.
How long will it take to design and build my new website?
Well, that depends on the need. A simple site can take a day or two. Something more complex can take weeks. An example of a simple site might be 1-3 pages, static content and no functionality beyond a contact form.
Something more complex would be a shopping cart set up with multiple products, video content, graphics, animation, mobile optimisation, et cetera.
What will you need from me to complete the project?
Anywhere from nothing to everything. If you have nothing, the best place to start is a piece of paper and list the things you want on the site. List also what you have, such as images, logos, colour preferences and existing content.
We can rewrite everything and create new images, for a fresh looks, but anything you have help.
This sounds hard, and expensive.
It is highly likely that it is less hard than you think, and therefore less costly.
Do you outsource to overseas?
No. Everything is done right here in Batemans Bay.
Do you have only local clients?
No, we have clients in Canberra, Central Coast, Sydney and South Coast. Everything can be done online, so distance does not matter.
The good thing however is we are a small business without the large overheads an agency in a capital city has. Therefore, our pricing can be significantly less.
What content management system (CMS) do you use, and why?
WordPress. This platform is industry standard, secure, easy and can do everything. It is a platform that can be managed by you, us or another business.
In the long run, it works about far better and cheaper than paid platforms like Squarespace. If in doubt, we will show you.
Can you build an e-commerce website for my business?
Absolutely. Again, we would use WordPress with the additional of a WooCommerce shopping cart and related software.
What about other platforms like Squarespace?
Yes we can do those, but let’s have a chat and decide on the best way forward first.
These all-in-one platforms (paid) compete with WordPress and fees can often add-up. There is a very good reason that more than one third of all sites worldwide choose WordPress.
Will my website be mobile-friendly and responsive?
Yes, we design sites that display well on desktop screens, tablets and mobile devices. A site is tested to ensure all displays well.
What is ‘domain registration’ and ‘website hosting’?
Domain registration- this refers to purchasing your website name. There is an annual fee, generally about $30/yr. We can register the domain for you.
Hosting – this is where your website lives. It is what makes it available to the rest of the world. Hosting is a specialised service that includes security, back-ups and email.
We are not a ‘website host’ but will set it up or you. If you already have a live site, you may want to continue with the existing host. That’s something we can look at and make recommendations. Hosting costs can differ from host to host, and some can be quite expensive, so it’s a good idea we look at this together.
We look at these things in depth in the Info Hub section of the site. If you’re interested, make sure you take a look.
Do you offer SEO services, and will my website be optimised for search engines?
Yes. Page structure, content and images will be optimised or SEO. We call this on-page SEO. Things like mobile responsiveness, user of colour contrast and accessibility features also play a role in SEO-friendliness. We make this part of the site build.
SEO is a big topic, and there are also some companies that charge way too much for it. If you’d like to learn more, check out our Info Hub articles.
I heard AI is scary, shall I start running and screaming?
No! AI is simply a tool, like Google, that we can use to help your business.
For example, we can build a ‘chatbot’ for you site that answers basic questions visitors might have, such as opening hours or product details.
Is it the solution to everything?
Not at all. That is a bit of hype, but it can change or refine a few processes you might have.
For example, you may have 1-3 admin staff that reply to only enquiries and quote requests. The problem might be inconsistent responses and response times. We can use AI to write standardised responses to enquiries, reducing the staff input and improving service to the end customers.
Will it take away our jobs?
No. They said that about computers. They said it about the internet too. They said it about free trade agreements. They said it during the industrial revolution too. The world lived through all of these things. People moved forward and adapted. We can show you how your business can use it and/or benefit from it.
How much does a new website cost?
This depends on the number of features and requirements. A simple site might be a few hundred dollars. Something more can be a few thousand. We do not charge as much as city-based agencies given low overheads.
Are there any recurring costs I should be aware of after the website is live?
There are some recurring costs with a website. These can include:
- Hosting is a recurring fee, but the amount will vary. Generally speaking, hosting is about $30/month. This hosts your website, provides security software, back-ups, email, databases and many other features. Some hosting packages are more than this, some less.
- Domain registration – generally about $30/yr.
- Ecommerce transactions/merchant fees on shopping carts. We use Square Payments on several sites. Fees are similar to bank merchant fees.
- WordPress – there are no recurring costs with WordPress, but the platform does require periodic updates.
- Support and software updates. This an vary on requirements. We can set a fixed fee or hourly for this. It really depends on what you need. Not all sites need this.
- Other software – this is dependent on what we use to build the site. Some have annual costs, some have none at all. Not all sites need this.
What is the payment process, and when is payment due?
We will agree on a deposit to get started and end of project payment.
Will I be able to update the website myself once it’s finished?
Yes, or we can do it for you. Proper site management is important to get right, but not a big task.
Do you offer ongoing support and maintenance packages?
Yes, we can look after your site, customer enquiries, social account and anything else. It’s not expensive and frees up your time to focus on what you do.
What if I need help with my site down the road?
We would be delighted to help.
Will you provide training on how to use my new website?
Yes, anything you need.
How will we handle content updates after the site is launched?
Yes, if you want to, or we do it for you.