 |  | | |  | |  | Advertising Design, Graphic Design & Web Design Issues & Answers |
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• Why should I work with Coastal Graphics?
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Choosing Coastal Graphics represents a low risk/high yield investment. Our experienced associates deliver top quality products and services at low cost, and give all of our clients the individual attention that they need and deserve. We make every effort to educate our clients about available options and strategies with respect to the task at hand, and we disclose all fees up front, at which time we also disclose any foreseeable additional charges. A sizable percentage of our new business is referred via word-of-mouth. We also depend upon a considerable volume of repeat business from existing clients. Consequently, your continual satisfaction is crucial to us. We know that it's our responsibility to be flexible in order to accommodate you; not the other way around!
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• I have a small business. Can I afford Coastal Graphics?
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Absolutely. Coastal Graphics provides ideal solutions for small businesses and home-based businesses. We take particular pride in our ability to provide quality, experience and value and to clients of all shapes and sizes. We have limited overhead and minimal operating expenses, and pass those savings on to our clients. That's the reason for our dramatically lower fees. Also, because we too are a small business, we understand the how to get maximum results on a limited budget, so we'll work with you to determine the most cost-effective solution for your particular situation.
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• How much do the services of Coastal Graphics cost?
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All of our products and services are custom-quoted, and pricing is based upon estimated requirements of time and materials, project complexity, logistical considerations and requested turn-around time. It's kind of like asking "how much does a pizza cost?" That of course, depends upon many things. Do you want small, medium or large? Do you want thin crust (New York Style!) or deep dish (Chicago Style!)? What and how many toppings do you want on it? Do you want it half-baked or well-done? Will you pick it up or do you want it delivered? Do you need it in 30 minutes or less? Likewise, more often than not, the costs associated with creative and technical projects also depend upon a wide variety of variables. In most cases, Coastal Graphics offers free initial consultation and there's no charge for preliminary estimates, thus enabling you to better assess how and when to best proceed with your project.
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• Will Coastal Graphics prepare a formal contract for my project?
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New clients that have not worked with Coastal Graphics before will be provided with a formal services agreement in most cases. Also in most cases, both new and existing clients will be furnished with a formal agreement for service requests exceeding $500 in value. Our service agreements usually include an enumerated list outlining specifically what items, services, functional features etc. are to be included within the efforts represented by the agreement. For existing client requests under $500 in value (such as minor web site maintenance or small graphic design projects), we may opt to skip the preparation of a service agreement at our discretion, and simply bill in full at the time of project completion.
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• What are your fees and charges based upon?
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All project estimates are based upon an assessment of time and material requirements for each of the component efforts within the production cycle. Billable time expenditures may also include compensation for any substantial preliminary research, feasibility analysis or detailed technical consultation. Project conception, design and layout refinement also represent billable time, as does the actual production effort. Additionally, a billable time allowance is usually allotted for any necessary testing, debugging, and foreseeable post-production adjustments. Billable material items may include compensation for any required third-party products such as software, printed stock or display equipment. Additionally, logistical considerations, such as on-site consultation or any necessary postage or delivery expenses, may also be billable.
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• Are there any hidden fees that I need to worry about?
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Any required stock images, licensed material or other third-party content may have to be purchased separately and are subject to the fees and license terms of the provider. Additionally, itemized charges as specified in our service agreements are based upon the project scope and timeline as it is defined prior to project commencement. In the event that project parameters or expectations are altered or expanded outside of what has been outlined within the service agreement, Coastal Graphics reserves the right to bill for (but will not necessarily bill for) additional efforts. We will provide prior notification of any anticipated charges not provided for within the project service agreement, and may also issue an amendment to the service agreement if circumstances warrant.
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• What is your cancellation policy?
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In some cases, an initial deposit of 10% - 50% may be requested before project work commences. Unless otherwise specified within your service agreement, you will have 24 hours from the time you provided your deposit to cancel your order for a full refund. After 24 hours, work will begin on your project. If you wish to cancel your work order after that, we will usually be willing to bill only for the production time and materials that have already been consumed, and refund the remainder of your deposit. However, we reserve the right to retain whatever portion of the deposit we deem to be adequate compensation for our efforts and expenses up to that point in time.
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• What forms of payment does Coastal Graphics accept?
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Coastal Graphics accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, as well as personal and business checks. For established clients, current billing statements are usually available within the client account page, accessed through our web site's client login. Credit card payments can also be submitted and processed securely within the client account page.
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• I don't know exactly what I want. Can Coastal Graphics help me determine
the most appropriate solution to my problem?
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Certainly. In fact, usually the best way to formulate an effective business strategy is to start with the final goal, and plan backwards. It's kind of like knowing that you want to go to Hawaii for a 2 week vacation, but are unsure of the best way to get there (Boat? Plane?). For example, you may know that you want to provide better customer service through your present web site, but are unsure of how to go about doing so. There are many considerations that have to be taken into account before committing to any specific solution, such as your budget, your timeline, and your available human resources (to name but a few). Coastal Graphics can provide you with an objective, unbiased and realistic analysis of the possible courses of action, and then help you select the one best suited to address your needs and budget. We'll help you identify and understand your available choices, and assist you in selecting the best overall solution for your particular situation.
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• I already have a general idea of what I want. Can Coastal Graphics work
with me to fine-tune my concept?
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Definitely. We recognize that the clarity of your initial expectations will vary from project to project. Sometimes you start with a clear idea of what your project will look like, or precisely how it will function, but are unsure of what's required in order to make it a tangible reality. In that case, you'll need help selecting viable solutions for each of your project's component parts. You'll also need to know the strengths, limitations and associated costs of each of the individual pieces, both creative and technical. Conversely, you may have already decided to utilize a particular technology or creative medium, but require the assistance of a qualified developer or creative professional in order to refine your vision and bring it to fruition. Regardless of the degree of technical expertise or clarity of aesthetic goals that you begin with, Coastal Graphics will be a reliable partner in making your project a practical and profitable success.
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• How long will my project take to complete?
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Estimates of project schedules and completion dates directly correspond to project size, complexity, and material resource needs. For example, a medium sized web site with no unusual or highly customized capability requirements will typically take 4-8 weeks to complete. Smaller sites may be finished in as little as 3 weeks, and routine web site content updates can usually be delivered in 3 business days or less. Custom designed web applications may necessitate an 8-12 week development schedule (or longer). Design projects involving printed media, content development, and technical consultation typically take less time, although their timelines are also contingent upon the scope and sophistication of the task at hand. Additionally, time allotments must be granted for the acquisition of any necessary third-party components (i.e. licensed images, proprietary software, display apparatus) and/or third-party services (i.e. commercial printing, delivery provisions). Finally, the quality, quantity and punctuality of your participation may affect the degree to which initial project timelines are adhered. Dependable communication and decisive direction from you is ultimately the best way to ensure that your project development will stay on schedule. Coastal Graphics will make a good faith effort to account for all foreseeable project time requirements at the outset, and provide you with a project timetable that is as realistic as possible.
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• Are you able to rush projects?
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Usually. We understand that in the real world, unforeseen circumstances leading to tight deadlines sometimes occur. Consequently, Coastal Graphics will be willing to shuffle our operations schedule and move your service request to the front of our production queue if possible (of course, this is not always possible). Should we be able to accommodate your request for rushed service, a surcharge of 25%-50% (depending upon the extent to which the normal production cycle must be shortened) may be applied. Additionally, payment in full for all rushed service requests must be received beforehand, and is non-refundable. Finally, we will of course make every effort to meet your rushed deadline, but depending upon the particulars of the situation at hand, we reserve the right to withhold any guarantee of being able to do so.
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• Exactly how will my project's production cycle unfold?
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That, of course, depends greatly upon the size, type and complexity of the creative and/or technical efforts your project represents. Generally speaking though, Coastal Graphics utilizes five key steps in order to give you the most personalized service possible, and to ensure that what we ultimately deliver meets or exceeds your expectations.
- There is an initial creative and/or technical focus meeting, which may be by phone or in person. We define your project's overall business goals, as well as the technical, aesthetic and content objectives of your project's core components.
- We proceed with the layout and construction of non-functioning or semi-functioning design prototypes, demonstrating our plan for elements such as structure, color palette, content organization and eventual functionality.
- We present our preliminary design to you for your review and critique. If you hate what you see, we tear it up and start over. If you are pleased with what we propose, we proceed with project production. If you like the basic concepts, but would like changes to particular areas and details, we will refine the composition at your direction.
- Once you approve the preliminary design, we proceed with the actual creation and production of your project. Once finished, you will have one last opportunity to inspect the final product and request any minor revisions that you deem necessary.
- The final project will be delivered, activated online or provided to you by whatever means were originally stipulated in your service agreement.
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• How much participation am I obligated to provide during the project cycle?
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That's largely up to you. Needless to say, most creative and technical ventures require a considerable degree of planning at the outset. We typically factor in a substantial portion of the initial effort for brainstorming with you and your team, and we continue to welcome your input through all phases of project production. In some cases, we will require your approval with what we've done with a particular project component prior to moving on to the next task. At other times, you may explicitly request the opportunity to provide direction at a specific point within the production timeline. We welcome as much of your participation as can be practically accommodated, but don't mandate any specific degree of ongoing supervision from you beyond what is necessary for the approval of particular development stages.
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• What items should I prepare or have ready for my project?
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You should be prepared to provide us with whatever existing graphical elements you would like included in or integrated into your project. We usually don't charge any additional fees for a limited quantity of low-resolution scanning and processing of things like photos or logos. However, additional fees may be charged for high resolution scanning, or for the scanning and processing of large quantities of things like product illustrations or product photos. Also, you will be responsible for securing legal permission for the use of any trademarked or copyrighted labels, content or components that you provide us with.
Existing written material that you may wish to utilize should be provided to us in an electronic format. If that is not possible, we may have to charge additional data-entry fees for re-typing text or copy. Also, if you are requesting changes or additions to an existing web site, we will need the security credentials (FTP location, login and password). Finally, it's never a bad idea to specify in writing your core project goals, as well as any initial questions that you may have for us. That's usually saves considerable time and effort during the initial project planning phases.
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• Does Coastal Graphics do it's own printing?
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No. Coastal Graphics Is NOT a commercial printer. We are a design and technical services firm. While it is obviously a related industry, commercial printing is a distinct and separate field. Because commercial printing is fundamentally a volume business, it requires a considerable investment in the acquisition, maintenance, and replacement of industrial grade equipment and supplies. Additionally, commercial printing technicians must be continuously re-trained with highly specialized skills. This is especially true given the advent of digital printing, which can now process full color, high quality, short run jobs in less time than (and for a fraction of the cost of) traditional offset techniques. Also, modern commercial printing has become subdivided into several areas of specialty, so not every commercial printing establishment is going to be suited for every project type.
That being the case, the best (and most economical) way to ensure that your project will be processed with the highest quality materials and services available is to entrust it to an established and reputable commercial printer. That's why in addition to working closely with you to produce the perfect design and composition for your project, we'll also make sure that it's structured and formatted in a technically correct way, and optimized for it's intended printing venue. We'll then help you to select the best commercial printing resource, one that has experience with or specializes in your particular job type. We'll also continue to work with that resource on your behalf right up until the time that your finished project is delivered or distributed.
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• Does Coastal Graphics do it's own web hosting?
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No, Coastal Graphics is primarily a design firm, and is NOT an Internet Service Provider (ISP). As is the case with commercial printing, the internet service industry is related to the design field, but is nevertheless a distinct, separate and highly specialized business. Like a commercial printer, a profitable ISP depends upon it's ability to function as a volume business, and is therefore willing and able to making ongoing investments in the expansion and improvement of its physical infrastructure and technical capabilities. Obviously, internet hosting is an extremely technically-oriented endeavor, so a professional ISP must also maintain a full time staff of qualified systems technicians. All of this means that a professional ISP is able to offer a wide variety of high quality and dependable internet-related services at very affordable prices. Consequently, Coastal Graphics believes that we can best serve the interests of our clients by recommending industry standard web and domain hosting, furnished through qualified and professional internet service providers. Regardless of whether your web site or web application requires shared hosting, a virtual private server, a dedicated system, or something else, Coastal Graphics will research and recommend the internet service provider best suited for your business needs. We'll also continue to function as your representative to your ISP, thus ensuring clear, timely and technically correct communication between your organization and one of it's most important business resources.
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• I already have a web site, but I'd like it to look more professional,
change the content, or add additional functionality to it. Can you help?
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By all means YES. Almost all businesses and organizations that presently have some kind of web presence require qualified assistance with it on a regular basis. Obviously, the extent to which a particular commercial web site requires periodic alterations and expansions will depend upon the specific business needs of individual organization it represents. However, there are generally five types of changes that an actively deployed web site will require at some point within its life cycle.
- Basic content updates consist of routine text changes and image replacements to existing pages and sections. This may also entail the creation of new pages within existing web site sections, with formatting based upon that web site section's existing design and layout scheme. We can usually accommodate modest requests of this type within 3 business days or less.
- New pages and sections differ from basic content updates due to the fact that they require a new web site section to be added to the web site's overall navigation scheme (or to replace an existing section within the navigation scheme). This means that most (if not all) sections and pages of the web site will have to have the navigation menu adjusted accordingly. If the web site navigation menu is graphical, or is rendered through an interactive medium such as Adobe Flash™, there may be limitations as to how much adjustment can be practically accommodated, and the entire navigation scheme may have to be re-created.
- Additional interactive features, such as an online store, online catalog, message board, virtual customer service desk, private member section, etc., usually have the same initial structural requirements as new pages and sections (that is, the web site's overall navigation scheme must be adjusted to accommodate the new feature). However, the addition of interactive features usually also requires some degree of extended web application design, development, testing and implementation. Obviously, interactive features vary greatly in size and complexity, but almost always represent a larger effort and investment than the simple addition of static web site pages and sections. Also, it's important to keep in mind that certain interactive web site features require specific technical resources to be available and accessible from the host server (such as a DSN, or Data Source Name, which allows web applications to exchange information with a database). That means that the addition of some interactive web site features may require you to upgrade or transfer your present web hosting arrangement.
- Search engine optimization of your web site simply means that we streamline the structure and programming so as to make it easier for the content to be cataloged properly by the major search engines. The size and scope of this effort can also vary greatly, depending upon your budget, the competitiveness of your selected keywords and phrases, and how aggressively you wish to pursue top search engine placement and page ranking. Also, keep in mind that the degree to which you wish your web site's present design and layout to remain intact may have to be compromised to a certain extent in order for search engine optimization efforts to be worthwhile and effective. We may recommend changes in the programming structure only, which are completely invisible to your web site's visitors, and which will not alter your web site design. However, we may suggest that you completely discard your present web site layout in favor of a new, search engine friendly design scheme. Usually, though, we advise something in between, although we will almost always try to encourage you to improve and expand your web site content. Ultimately, the quality of your web site's content and your web site's link popularity are the most significant elements that search engines utilize when assigning your web site its page rank.
- Complete web site re-design changes the design, layout, navigation scheme and content structure entirely. Alternatively, you may wish to request a partial web site re-design, changing just one or more of the web site's individual sections. In either case, we formulate a completely new presentation; new imagery, new font and color palettes, new layout and navigation schemes, and new content organization systems, all the while utilizing search engine friendly tools and techniques. This obviously represents a significant effort, but being (and remaining) competitive periodically requires a complete overhaul of your public business image (which after all is what your web site first and foremost is).
Regardless of the size and scope of your current web presence, Coastal Graphics can help you keep your web site content fresh and relevant. If you're looking for a reliable and affordable professional resource to help you get the most out of your online investment, look no further.
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• What are the differences between web design, web site content development,
web maintenance, web application development and web site hosting?
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Establishing a proper web presence represents an ongoing investment, and thus requires periodic efforts in (and periodic reevaluations of) five key areas:
- Web design refers to the initial layout and development (or re-design and re-development) of individual pages, indivdual sections, or the entire web site as a whole. It is the process through which the visual composition is conceived and implemented, and the core information is organized. In essence, it is the formulation of the overall visual presentation, as well as the initial placement of prepared and pre-approved textual, graphical and interactive content.
- web site content development is the refinement of key concepts and related data into grammatically correct and aesthetically pleasing text and accompanying imagery. Its importance can't be overstated, for regardless of the subject matter, the quality of the message presentation ultimately determines the quality (and quantity) of the resulting response. This holds true for both written and visual elements. Remember too, that your web site content is a key component that search engines use when assigning your web site's page rank.
- Web site maintenance refers to the periodic "tweaking" required to keep web site information fresh and relevant. This is crucial in order to consistently generate repeat visits. Routine web site maintenance tasks include content updates and replacements, as well as the inevitable corrections to and refinements of core text, graphics and interactive features.
- Web application development is the design, development and deployment of special interactive features that dynamically generate content (such as retrieval of information stored in and served from a database). Web site programs vary greatly in size and complexity, and usually require the availability of server-side technologies (PHP/MySQL, Adobe Cold Fusion®, CGI/PERL, etc.).
- Web site hosting refers to the set-up and ongoing maintenance of the actual delivery mechanism through which your web site is made publicly available on the world wide web. Depending upon the specific needs of your web site (size, structure, special features), hosting accommodations can vary greatly in terms of both cost and capabilities. You should be aware of all of the technologies that your web site utilizes, as well as any platform-specific (i.e. Unix or Windows) issues prior to selecting a host. As your web presence grows and expands, it may be necessary to change or upgrade hosting arrangements from time to time.
Coastal Graphics offers a holistic approach to commercial web site assistance, and can provide you with qualified and economical help with any or all of these key components of successful web site deployment.
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• Can Coastal Graphics help me acquire merchant services for my e-commerce web site?
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Yes. If you would like to begin accepting credit card payments via your web site, or even if you are seeking payment processing services for conventional business operations, we can provide you with a qualified referral to a leading merchant services provider with which we enjoy a professional relationship. We can also help you acquire payment gateway services (we usually recommend AuthorizeNET®). Please note that we offer such referrals simply as a courtesy to our clients, and have no vested interest in your final selection of a merchant account provider. Also, please keep in mind that all gateway fees, transaction fees, discount fees, etc. are solely those of the merchant services provider, and we have no power to influence whether or not any application for merchant services that is submitted by way of referral from us is either accepted or rejected.
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• Can I see samples of your work?
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Yes. Several Samples of our work are showcased on our "About Us" page. Additional samples may be available upon request. However, tangible samples may not be readily available for all project types, such as those that are transitory in nature, private or password-protected, or are not visually discernible (such as programming architecture). Also, for inquiries involving larger and more substantial projects, we will be happy to provide client references and testimonials. You are, of course, free to review our work samples and consult our references to whatever extent you wish prior to making any commitment.
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• How and in what form will my final project be delivered to me?
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That of course, depends upon the type of product or service that your project represents. For comprehensive web site design or web application development, you will may request a CD-Rom containing all of the project's digital files, including graphics, html, media, text, database files and application code. We will provide this CD-Rom at no additional charge. We will also, of course, properly install the completed project/system on your active web site domain. For print advertising design projects (illustration and page layout, as well as content development), a CD-Rom containing the project's digital files will also be provided upon request and at no additional charge. When possible, the same holds true for material utilized in display projects (large format prints, trade show exhibits, retail displays, sales presentations, etc.). Please note that any included stock images, licensed material or other third-party content are subject to the fees and license terms of the provider, and thus may or may not be included with your completed project CD-Rom. Also, please keep in mind that if you require your final project files to be delivered in some specific format or unique configuration, an additional processing fee may be charged.
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• Who will own the legal rights to my project and included design elements?
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Unless otherwise stated within your project service agreement, you will own all of the legal rights and privileges associated with the project deliverables that you have contracted Coastal Graphics to provide. This, of course, excludes any included third-party licensed material or software (such as fonts). Also, in some cases, your service agreement may stipulate limitations on things like reverse-engineering of systems we create for you, or restrictions on the creation and redistribution of derivative works from our designs (specifically those designs that contain third-party licensed content or imagery). Finally, we may request your permission you utilize your project as an example of our work in our own promotional materials, but will do so only with your prior consent.
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Coastal Graphics Inc. ® |
| 79 Windjammer Rd • Berlin, MD 21811 |
| phone (302)-449-6764 • email
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