What is your turn-around time?
This depends on the size of the project, how well the client organizes/communicates their needs, and on whether or not there are changes made to the order during development. Granted everything goes as planned, work is usually started a couple days after being requested, and often completed within that week. If you have a rush job, we suggest notifying us in advance so we may arrange our schedule accordingly.
A friend offered to do my website for free (or really cheap), but they don't have much design experience. Do you have any advice?
Yes. Ask any designer and they will tell you much of their business comes from "redo's". With today's technology, anyone can put together a website, or create a logo. But unless this person has had formal training, or a lot of experience, key factors to a successful result will be overlooked (such as positioning, consistency in fonts/colors/layout, appropriate look for your business and building a user-friendly interface). What often happens is that the person offering this service has no idea of the time involved in creating a cohesive site, and the project gets "dropped" halfway through. The biggest danger of having a non-professional do your website (or any other graphics), is that your company will be misrepresented. If your image speaks of poor quality, your potential customers will assume the same of your services. It's really important to get it right the first time; this will save you money, and a lot of headaches!
I'd like to sell my products online. What eCommerce system do you recommend?
Our eCommerce system of choice is Site-etc. They provide the means to completely custom design every single page of the checkout process, their system is very user-friendly, and they offer lots of free extras you can add to your site, like electronic greeting cards, easy to update calendar listings, a "tell a friend" function, and many more. Using a system of this caliber guarantees you will have a website that's as professional as major corporations', but for a lot less. We've also used the CCNow system, which to the last of our knowledge charges 9% of sales. This can be beneficial for companies with very small inventories and small budgets, however, with CCNow the user leaves your website during the checkout process. Remember, your website represents your business, and you must consider whether you want to sacrifice professionalism for a "good deal". We can help you decide what is best for your business.
I have some listings on my site that I'd like to update weekly/daily myself. Is it possible to do this without any knowledge of HTML, nor any web editing software?
Absolutely. When your site is being developed, we can add a feature called 'content management' to any specific area of text (or images) that you know you will be updating regularly. Or, if you are looking for something more involved, Site-etc may be the perfect solution for you. Either way, you will be able to change this information from any computer in the world that is connected to the internet and has a web browser; that's it! And since only you will have the user name and password necessary to make those changes, only you will be able to modify the content on your site. This comes in really handy for calendars/upcoming events pages, as well as realty and restaurant websites.
I will be needing to take photos of my products. Any recommendations?
Sure! The first thing you will need to decide, if you haven't already is how you will take the photos. Your options are hiring a professional, or taking them yourself. Hiring a professional is best is you have an inventory that doesn't change very often, and you have a budget that allows for it; for example if you want to print a top-quality catalog. If you're planning a website, and you inventory changes constantly and primarily consists of products that are relatively easy to photograph (books covers, for example), then you may benefit from photographing them yourself. The most efficient way to accomplish this is to use a digital camera, and image processing software (such as Adobe Photoshop). You may also do this with a conventional camera since an increasing number of photo development companies can provide you with your pictures digitally on diskette or CD (and save you the trouble of having to scan them yourself). You would still have to process them using image processing software, to change the size, lightness/brightness, and possibly color mode and resolution. It may sound intimidating to the uninitiated, but provided you have good instructions, you will very soon be comfortable with the process. We provide consulting and training that can teach you tricks on how to take good photographs, how to use a digital camera or scanner, and choosing, as well as using the image processing software that's right for you. We also offer photography services; in-house or sub-contracted to an expert, depending on the nature of the project.
Some of the websites in your portfolio state they were designed by "Cat-Graphics" and "C-ME.com". How are you connected to them?
Cat-Graphics was the first business name of Aurora Design, while in Southern California. When relocating, the owner felt the business name should not be associated to her name, nor should should it be limited to graphics. The owner of Aurora Design was also senior web designer at C-ME.com, a company in Pasadena that offered web design, although not primarily.
We are a Non-Profit Organization and don't have much of a budget. Does your company offer discounts or donations?
Yes. Aurora Design supports the activities of many non-profit organizations, including those promoting education, environmental awareness, ethical treatment of animals and civil rights. Please contact us with information on your organization, and details on the project. If it is a cause we support, and have time in our schedule, we can offer assistance.
