Sacramento's Finest Web Design and Development Firm - Trust your design to the area's best firm. WEBPRINTMULTIMEDIA

 

   

Home Services Portfolio About Us Client Testimony What's New? Help  |  Contact


HELP! for our most COMMON QUESTIONS  
(If you are really stuck give us a call)

Q: What happened to my email link?
A: If your email used to be hosted directly by Optical Fuel... the email server settings are now changed due to a server change.

Settings for your new email are:

incoming:  pop.secureserver.net or try: mail.(yourdomain).com
outgoing:  smtpout.secureserver.net

Username is now your WHOLE email address.

Example:

Old:   info
New: info@yourdomain.com

Use: [x] my server requires SMTP authentication

NOTE: (not secure password authentication... this is not used)

 

Other resources: (Optical Fuel is NOT the author and does NOT directly manage the following links)

http://products.secureserver.net/email/email_outlook.htm
http://products.secureserver.net/email/email_outlookexpress.htm

Please email me directly if you need your email setup: info@opticalfuel.com

 

Q: What if my Web email isn't accessed at Optical Fuel? I need to know how to login to it!
Where do I go?

A: If you're email is hosted at Godaddy.com (99% of email accounts set up by Optical Fuel are ...)

You would type into your browser:  http://email.      (+ add your domain.com)

Example: http://email.opticalfuel.com/

... Then login using your email username) and your password. This is usually the part that goes BEFORE the '@' Symbol on your email.

Other help from Godaddy:

Please note: Optical Fuel is only supplying the link, but not the content of this link.

http://products.secureserver.net/email/email_outlook.htm
http://products.secureserver.net/email/email_outlookexpress.htm

(Don't forget to bookmark it)

 

Other Questions:


Q: What’s the first step to creating a Web site?

Q: Domain name? What is a domain name and who need them?

Q: So what does it cost?

Q: Wait! I thought it was supposed to take only 10 to 20 hours?
Why do you need three weeks?

Q: OK, so how do I begin the process?

Q: How do I know a good Web site designer when I see one?


Q: What’s the first step to creating a Web site?

A: First of all, familiarize yourself with what makes up a Web site. A Web site is comprised of the following two main components:

  1. A Host Server or PC (server) that can respond to requests made by users over the Internet and deliver Web pages to a requesting PC.

  2. A group of Web pages that are designed and written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). A special program called an Internet browser, which is running on a PC, reads these pages. The browser can then create a visual result that communicates a message or some information to the user who requested it.

TOP

 

Q: Domain name? What is a domain name and who need them?

A: Domain names simplify the process of finding a particular place on the Internet. Typically, your domain name is the same name as your company. However, it doesn’t necessarily need to be the exact name of your company.

For example, let’s say your company name is Johnny's Rare Comic Books. You have several options in determining your domain name:

· A straightforward domain name: www.johnnyscomics.com

· A simpler domain name: www.jscomics.com

· A more specific domain name: www.johnnysrarecomicbooks.com

However, always remember: shorter is better, and your business name does not need to match. Sometimes it is  more important that a visitor can remember it, and get the spelling correct. Let us help you discover the perfect name for your domain. It is sometimes a creative process, and we have special tools to come up with something unique and perfect for your needs.

The choice is yours.

TOP

 

Q: So what does it cost?

A: The answer depends on several factors. Our basic rate is $85 per hour. However, since every job is different, we quote jobs based on the time we estimate it will take to create your logo, develop your Web site structure and design, or redesign your existing site. Below is an example of what you might expect.

Bright Pools, a pool cleaning company wants a Web site to do the following:

·         Communicate with existing customers and attract new customers

·         Inform existing customers about the latest pool care methods

·         Allow customers to set and cancel appointments

This is a basic Web site. Most Web sites of this size have between 6 and 10 pages, which typically requires 10 to 20 hours of design time. This example requires about 17.5 hours to produce, so the total invoice would be $1,875 at the most.

If Bright Pools wanted to make content changes or additions in the future, they can do it themselves or have Optical Fuel take care of it at a discounted rate. We perform updates at our standard hourly rate, but we also offer maintenance contracts. A predefined contract can save you money if you know you will have a lot of updates.

As for Web site hosting, Bright Pools has the option of hosting their site with Optical Fuel, under a custom domain name. The owner of a site like this might choose the 20/20 hosting plan -- $20 a month, plus a $125 setup fee for the domain.

When you choose to have your site built and hosted with us, your first month's hosting is always free of charge!

This is nice for the small business that needs to watch every penny until they get established.

Note: Our hosting plans range from simple ($20-30/mo) all the way up to $500-1000/mo (retainer style) -  depending on what level of maintenance is needed.

Minimum hosting for a site located on Optical Fuel's servers: $10/mo.

All said and done, Bright Pools would have a completely designed and developed Web site in less than three weeks, with the grand total expense of about $1,725.

TOP

 

Q: Wait! I thought it was supposed to take only 10 to 20 hours? Why do you need three weeks?

A: Content. Content is the most time-consuming portion of any project. We go into the importance of this and how to prepare ahead of time in our next question.

TOP

 

Q: OK, so how do I begin the process?

A: The most important thing to do as you begin your Web site is get your content together as much as you possibly can.

This is typically the most time consuming and difficult part of the process. Think about these things:

· Who am I trying to reach? Who is my customer?

· What are the most important things I need to tell them?

· What is the most logical and organized way to present the information?

From there, your Web designer can help you put the pieces together into a creative, interesting, and usable Web site.

TOP

 

Q: How do I know a good Web site designer when I see one?

A: Look for someone who listens to your ideas and accurately evaluates your needs.

Your Web site designer should be able to offer creative advice without limiting your ability to direct the outcome of the design. A clever designer allows you lots of room to explore possibilities while providing a solution that follows good design guidelines. And finally, a good designer should work efficiently and effectively, incorporating the functionality required to make your site useful.

Optical Fuel is a company where your ideas are respected. We give you the personal attention you need to get started and all the room you need to directly influence the outcome of your Web project.

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Sacramento  Roseville  Rocklin  Folsom  Granite Bay  Citrus Heights  West Sacramento

 
 
 
    HOME | SERVICES | PORTFOLIO | ABOUT US | CLIENT TESTIMONYGET STARTED | PAYMENTS | HOSTING Copyright © Optical Fuel 2002-2009

Quality Custom Work - Genuine Talent - Expert Web Design - Attention to Detail - Technical Experience

LOGOS:

 

99designs is #1 for custom Logo Design

 

LET US BUILD YOU A SITE TODAY!

Doing business as 'Optical Fuel' since June 27, 2000 -- Roseville, CA License #025360

View our:  Web Hosting Agreement    Privacy Policy & TERMS  ©