FAQs

Common Website and Graphic Design Questions

Below you will find a list of the questions we hear most often. Please click on the question to reveal the answer.

If you have a question we haven’t covered or need a more detailed explanation we would love to talk with you. Please give us a call today at (208) 939-0493.

Oasis Interactive General FAQs

I have interacted with web guys before and they always talk over my head. Do you speak English or geek?
We are fluent in both. Our clients appreciate the fact that we can explain technical things in plain English without using jargon that goes over their head. If something doesn’t make sense we always encourage our clients to ask for clarification.
I’ve heard that web guys are notorious for being non-responsive. Do you return phone calls and emails?
This is probably the main reason clients switch to us from other vendors. We believe communication is critical.  We do our best to respond to all phone calls and emails within one business day. We even have a phone system that allows you to reach us after hours in the case of an emergency.
I am in another state. Will this impact our doing business together?
We work successfully with clients locally and all over the United States. All meetings and collaboration can be done via the phone, Skype and email. Content can be uploaded and provided to us using Dropbox. As an out of state customer you can expect the same level of excellent service that we provide to all of our clients in Idaho.
  • Logo Design, Business Cards
    and Branding FAQs

    Many vendors only provide a few logo concepts to choose from. How many do you provide?
    After a comprehensive initial interview we provide 7 full-color concepts for logos and 3 concepts for business cards/stationary to choose from. You then choose your favorite concept and we start making revisions until we create a product you love. If you do not like any of the initial concepts, we are happy to start over with another round of concepts at no additional charge.
    I have heard most companies only include 1 or 2 rounds of revisions. How many revisions do you included?
    We want to create the perfect logo/stationary for your company so we do not stop until you are 100% satisfied. To accomplish this we include unlimited revisions at no additional cost on all logo, business card, and stationery design projects. Specialized graphic design projects like tri-fold brochures, product packaging/inserts, and vehicle wraps require significantly more time. When we bid on these kinds of projects we specify the number of revisions included when we bid the job.
    I know someone whose logo took several months to complete. What turnaround time can I expect?
    We understand that time is of the essence when it comes to marketing your business. From the time you complete the client interview process to the time you receive your initial concepts is typically 3 business days or less. Additionally revisions are usually available within 3 business days. Exactly how long it will take complete your unique logo is very hard to say because so much of that depends on a number of variables. Factors like how many revisions are required and how quickly you respond to feedback requests can have a huge impact on the amount of time it takes to finish the project. We do everything in our power to keep the project moving forward, however, and most logos are done within four weeks.
    The last vendor I talked to said they would keep all rights to my logo and I would have to use them every time I needed something. Do you own my logo or do I?
    We believe in empowering our clients by providing them what is rightfully theirs. This means we do not hold your logo hostage by providing formats that are of limited benefit. Once your logo is finalized we will provide you with the raster and vector image formats electronically to use as you please. It’s your intellectual property so you should own it free and clear.
    Most companies make you pay for your logo even if you are not happy with the final product. Do you have a satisfaction guarantee?
    We would not want to pay for something we were not happy with and neither should you. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee we will keep working until we meet your expectations.

    Web Hosting FAQs

    Another hosting company says if I host with them I get unlimited bandwidth and hard drive space. Is that for real?
    No, it is not. Companies who sell their services this way are offering something that is a physical impossibility. While unlimited bandwidth and hard drive space sounds great the vendors who sell using this kind of language are being manipulative and dishonest. Websites are hosted on computers, and computers have hard drives with a limited amount of space. Hosting companies cannot provide unlimited space on a computer that has a finite amount of space available. Bandwidth is also a finite thing that is restricted by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who provide it to web hosting companies.

    Even if it were possible, unlimited everything is a gimmick because the majority of websites require 1GB or less of hard drive space and 3GB or less of bandwidth. They are trying to sell you by offering you something you do not really need and which they cannot really deliver.

    This kind of sales tactic is referred to in the web hosting industry as “overselling,” because it involves selling more than they can actually provide. It’s much like an airline carrier who sells more tickets for a particular flight than there are seats on the plane. The odds are good that not everyone who bought a seat/ticket will actually show up so they’ll be alright. If everyone DOES show up then they offer incentives for the overflow passengers to take a different flight.

    The bottom line is that “unlimited hard drive space and/or bandwidth” is a myth. While vendors who sell their services this way are the cheapest in the industry, many clients find it’s not a good fit for their business. Read this article for a layman’s explanation of overselling for a more thorough explanation of this issue and why you should avoid hosting companies that oversell.

    Other vendors offer hosting plans that appear to be cheaper than yours. Why should I spend more and use you instead?
    Unfortunately many of the prominent hosting companies use deceptive marketing practices. They offer an “introductory price” to get your business and then raise the prices once you are under contract. We contacted one of the more well-known companies to determine their actual prices. We found out (after reading very hard-to-find legalese that was not available until making a purchase) that the plan advertised as $9.99/month jumped to $37.95/month after the first month. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

    Most if not all hosting companies that have rock-bottom prices can charge so little because their business model is based on volume and outsourcing. They get their servers cheap, oversell them, and outsource all support to third-party companies whose call centers are located overseas. If you need support you could spend 30 minutes waiting on hold just to get a human being, and even then you might not be able to understand them because of their accent.

    We are a local company whose web server is in a network operations center here in the USA. We provide technical support 24/7/365 ourselves and don’t make you wait on hold. You will get amazing service, terrific value, and a variety of hosting options to choose from. Whether you just need a simple hosting plan on a shared server, a dedicated server all to yourself, or something in-between we can offer a solution that’s perfect for your business, with very competitive pricing.

    There are several options. How do I know which plan to choose?
    Every website is different, but for the majority of our clients the Standard plan is the best choice. While we don’t offer unlimited plans (since there really is no such thing) we put plenty of what you need in our Standard package to make sure that it meets the needs of a typical customer. We are happy to take a look at your site to get a better feel for what you need. You are always welcome to upgrade or downgrade as needed. If your web hosting needs change over time as your business evolves we are happy to give advice on what kind of hosting package would best fit your situation.
  • Website Design and
    Development FAQs

    I know someone whose website took a year to complete. What turnaround time can I expect?
    If it takes more than two or three months to complete a website it’s usually because one of the following things is happening:

    1. The scope of work (SOW) is beyond that of a typical website.
    2. Scope creep pushes out the launch date repeatedly because the originally planned SOW isn’t published before changes are made.
    3. The project is poorly managed, leading to delays and missed deadlines.

    We have worked out a great system and stick to a 60 day timeline on the majority of projects. Within the first several days we provide you with a list of all the items we will need to complete your project. We ask that you provide these items within 21 days so that on day 22 we can begin production of your website. Since we have everything we need when we begin we can produce the site quickly. Most sites are in the beta stage by day 47 and live published by day 60.

    I am trying to determine what my budget should be. What does a website cost?
    This is like asking, “How much does a car cost?” It depends on the business purpose and goals behind the website as well as the features it includes. Most web designers bill by the hour so your final cost is unknown until after the website is finished. In contrast, we charge based on the number of pages of content plus the functionality you want.

    We will discuss your needs and your desired budget to help you determine what features will give you the most bang for your buck. Our per item charges are set up front so you never have to worry about us raising our prices based on how much money you have to spend. Also, with WordPress it is easy to craft a solution that fits within your budget and then add additional features down the road. We would love to do a free needs assessment and get you a bid on your specific project. Click here to request a quote now.

    I have heard from several colleagues that their final bill was much higher than what they were quoted. Will I get a surprise bill at the end?
    All too often we hear stories of people choosing the cheaper vendor only to end up paying way more in the end. This happens when clients hire the vendor primarily based on price.

    Most companies that have really low prices compared to their competitors don’t take enough time at the beginning of the relationship to determine your needs. They ask very generic questions that don’t meet your specific business requirements. Then, based on inadequate information, they provide a bid based on a guess of how many hours they think your project will require. Because their price is entirely based on billable hours, the total costs skyrocket above what you were told up front after they begin doing the work and discover what you really want. At this point the website is built and you are stuck with paying their bill because they have done the work you asked for.

    This is why we have chosen to bill projects based on the scope of work (page count and features) instead of straight billable hours. There are caps on hours budgeted for each portion of the website build project, and that information is clearly communicated in our proposal. When you get a quote from us you know what all of your costs will be up front as well as how many hours we think the project will take. If a specialized portion of your project does require hourly work we will do our best to estimate that portion up front and get your approval before doing any work over our estimated amount. You will never get a bill from us that you were not expecting.

    I don't want to have to pay you every time I want to make a change on our website. Can I make updates to the site once it is published?
    Absolutely. We build our websites in WordPress which makes them extremely user friendly for our clients. We even offer a unique training subscription that plugs into the back end of your website. It provides a comprehensive training manual that you can access 24/7. We can provide personalized training and troubleshooting as well. If you would prefer we update your content for you our prices are very affordable. We have a 30 minute minimum and beyond that bill based on actual minutes spent.
    I have heard the term CMS. What is it and why should I use it?
    CMS stands for Content Management System. It is a web based software program that allows a website to be built and maintained without knowing how to do web programming. Using a CMS enables the client to make updates to their own website. When websites are built using static webpages instead of a CMS the client is at the mercy of the web designer for every update and change. While there are many different CMS options available we have chosen WordPress for its versatility, SEO friendliness, and ease of use by clients. Check out this page to learn more about the benefits of WordPress.
    I need a basic website now but am going to want more bells and whistles later. Is my website upgradeable?
    It sure is!  That is one of the many benefits of building websites with a CMS like WordPress. Pages and functionality are all sold à la carte and can be added at any time. The price for each feature is the same whether it is added during the initial build or after the site is launched. We can get a website up and working for your business right away and adapt it over the years as your company grows and changes.
    I have a friend/relative that does some web design on the side and they have offered to build me one for free or really cheap. Why should I hire a professional instead?
    You have heard the expression you get what you pay for, right? It’s really true, especially when it comes to something as important as building a website to promote your business.

    I can’t tell you how many times we have heard this story. Someone hires their neighbor or friend to save money and it all goes terribly wrong. Usually months go by and they still have no website because the person is doing it “in their free time.” Since they are not being paid to provide a professional service (with an associated deadline you can hold them to) there is no incentive to make it a real priority. Without that incentive it never seems to make it to the top of their “to do” list.

    In these scenarios you rarely get a quality finished product you can use, assuming it even gets completed. The site is either launched out of guilt because you don’t want to hurt the person’s feelings or scrapped entirely with the same outcome. Either way, the time spent working on the site is wasted and you having nothing to show for it. You end up having to pay a professional after all, with much better results.

    Your website is a mission-critical business tool that directly affects revenue. A professional web designer is going to make sure your website is an investment that makes you money and solves problems for your business. Any up-front investment you make working with an expert will be far outweighed by the ROI. In the long run it is easiest and wisest to do it right the first time.

    E-Commerce FAQs

    My colleague was billed double what he was quoted for his e-commerce system. How can I keep my costs within reason?
    Unlike many vendors we do not bill our e-commerce projects entirely by the hour. We charge a flat fee for e-commerce work based on the number of products you are selling and the functionality you need. Before we get started on the project we will have a thorough conversation about your requirements in order to prepare a customized estimate for your online store.

    The bid includes very specific language about what is included in the price and the number of hours budgeted for that scope of work. This leaves no room for “surprise” fees on the backend of the project after the work has been completed.

    I know a lot of businesses that still do not sell their products online. What are the benefits of having e-commerce?
    E-commerce is a great investment for any business to make. It allows you to expand your market and customer base beyond your city. What was once available within a small geographic area can now be sold worldwide. It also saves you time and money since the website can take over the job that you would have to pay a sales associate to do.

    Utilizing e-commerce also allows you to do business around the clock instead of being limited to the business hours of a brick and mortar store. Statistics show that online shopping continues to increase because people love the ease and convenience of shopping from home.

    I am starting to see more and more sites with premium paid content. Can you tell me more about this trend?
    Businesses are finding that an additional way to make money is to monetize their website. They start by creating valuable content to offer their visitors. They then place this content behind a login that requires users to pay a one-time or recurring fee in order to access it.

    We have helped clients sell everything from online video seminars to white papers and business training resources. You may have more to offer your clients than you thought, in the form of digital or information products that customers would be willing to pay for.