Fast Presence - Affordable Small Business Websites

a client website

Frequently Asked Questions

Cost

Features

Domain

Steps

Cost

Exactly how much will my website cost?

$495 to setup ($395 if ordered via our online setup special!) and $179 semiannually for comprehensive service. These fees cover everything needed for a typical small business website. Bottom line: the benefits of a custom, professional website are yours for an unbeatable $1 per day. This can be your lowest monthly expense!

You are too inexpensive.

Some Fast Presence clients were initially doubtful our costs could be either low or fixed after having shopped around or having had prior experience with websites. They read about our low cost approach and philosophy, looked at our showcase of client websites and spoke with us. We earned their business and will earn yours too.

You are too expensive.

Compared to any other professional web service we are aware of – not so! Only do-it-yourself websites are less expensive in some (not all) cases. Their downsides are numerous: unprofessional results, large time commitment to setup and maintain, confusion and frustration, slow shared hosting accounts, unexpected costs, no professional guidance and other disappointments.

How does Fast Presence offer such low prices for custom websites?

In a nutshell, the secret is our approach:

We specialize in small business web services. We believe that every client is unique and needs a custom website, but we are not starting from scratch each time. Our experience gives us a solid framework and direction resulting in high quality, reliable websites without the huge expense of one-off design efforts.
We leverage technology. Each Fast Presence website is implemented as an independent CMS (Content Management System) image backed by a SQL database. We reliably deploy these instances with proprietary tools. We have also developed a number of specialized tools such as our unique page caching technology that enhances performance. Site styles allow us to develop and debug the website "look" in advance.
We automate. Every Fast Presence website is checked several times per day by software robots that detect any changes (using an MD5 hash) or performance problems. This will uncover web hosting issues or hacking attempts and notifies us immediately so that we can take corrective action. Similarly we check external links, manage backups and perform other on-going maintenance tasks.
We are a small business like you and proud of it! Our overhead costs are low and carefully managed.

Was that your advertisement I saw / heard recently?

No! We advertised 4 years ago when we started but our business since then has come largely from referrals (and occasionally from this website). We do not have to tell you how expensive advertising is. We are dependent on satisfied clients and pass the savings along to you, our very next satisfied client. BTW – your website will also be an outstanding resource for converting referrals into customers.

Features

What specifically is included in these prices?

Setup covers all professional design and testing time, domain name registration, draft website hosting and even stock images. Comprehensive service includes business class web hosting, semiannual updates, continuous monitoring, maintenance, backup, and domain registration renewals.

What is "business class" hosting?

Reliable, high-performance web hosting. Most certainly not cheap, shared hosting used by many individuals and even some small businesses. Fast Presence websites are hosted on our own Virtual Private Servers (VPS) guaranteeing performance and availability to our clients.

What is your "continuous remote monitoring"?

Fast Presence tests every client website several times per day. We want to insure our websites load fast and have not been compromised by hackers. We also check external links daily and correct any "dead" links.

What is "maintenance"?

In the unlikely event your website experiences any problems, we fix it. We also take proactive steps to update the various layers of software involved. When our client websites came under SPAMbot attacks, we developed sophisticated technology to thwart them. The bottom line is maintenance takes proactive steps to avoid problems and promptly addresses problems when they occur.

What are updates? Can they be more frequent than semiannually?

An update is a set of changes to your website. It can be anything from a changed address to new pages to design modifications. Your service includes a semiannual update - whenever you need it - to keep your website current. Service plans are also available for clients needing more frequent updates.

Will search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing and others find my website?

Yes. As part of our service we add hidden "meta" information to your web pages, create a hidden sitemap XML file and submit your website to the major search engines. We follow search engine guidelines to insure your website is not banned from their index. The decision to include any website in their index is controlled by the search engine companies and Fast Presence can not guarantee any specific placement now or in the future. That said, our experience is that the steps we take are effective.

Usually searches for your small business will find you. For example, searches such as "John Roberts Attorney at Law" are generally successful. This is perfect for customers who already know about you and are trying to find your website. Potential customers who search on "Attorney" or similar may find your entry far down on results lists. The good news is search engine companies offer services to position you more prominently but the bad news is they charge for that service and the cost for each may be greater than Fast Presence charges for the website itself.

If you would like to buy premium placement, you can do so by directly contacting the search engine companies. Fast Presence can answer your questions and assist you with a list of their web addresses.

Domain

Who "owns" the domain name?

Fast Presence does not hold your domain name hostage. Should you decide for any reason to discontinue our service, we will unconditionally transfer your domain name to you and do so at no charge.

However, to provide the best possible service we normally register your domain name and maintain control of it. We pay all on-going fees related to it and handle all administrative requirements.

While we advise against it, we can also use a domain name that you keep direct control of. In that case you will need to set the DNS name server records to our specification. Of course it would be your responsibility to pay domain registration fees, respond to ICANN verification requests, secure it and resolve any domain name related problems. Please note that our service fee includes domain name services with their associated costs and is not discounted if you choose to provide one that you manage.

Can I use a domain name I already have?

Yes, in most cases. We can help you transfer your existing domain name to Fast Presence for use with your new website. If you are upgrading from an existing website, we can delay this transfer until your new website is ready. When the transfer is initiated, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a week depending on your domain registrar.

Most reputable domain registrars permit transfers without conditions and without charge. If your registrar charges a transfer fee, they will bill you and payment will be your responsibility. We will assist you in exploring options if your registrar prohibits transfers.

Steps

I have an existing website. Can you tell me how it could be improved?

We would love the opportunity to look at your website. You will not receive a canned response or brochure but a thoughtful, honest evaluation of its specific strengths and weaknesses. There is no charge or high-pressure sales pitch.

How much of my time will be needed?

About the same time you would spend on any quality marketing collateral. Specifically - you need only provide the raw content (text, pictures, videos, etc.) and we do the rest. We will collaborate with you closely and maintain a draft website for your review as the project develops.

How long will it take?

Fast Presence is very responsive and will focus on your business. We will always complete our action items quickly – often in a day or two. However, your new website will evolve through an iterative process and is ready when you say it is! We do not charge by the hour and do not pressure your signoff.

This sounds great, how do we get started?

Save $100, order online right now! It is fast, easy and secure. Why put it off any longer?

Is there a lot you are not saying?

You bet. We serve several dozen clients, are very proud to our service and love to discuss its benefits in great detail. The ball is in your court... call now!