10 Things to Look for in a Web Hosting Service

Posted in: Blog

Gone are the days when having a website for your business was optional. In fact, many businesses these days can’t afford even a few minutes of downtime where their customers can’t access their site. That means that choosing a reliable web hosting service has become mission critical for most business owners. But that can be easier said than done given the hundreds of options out there that range from local (like XMG) to national providers like Go Daddy and Rackspace, all of which range in terms of their price and service offerings. But how do you know whether you need to spend $10 a month versus $100? What follows are 10 tips, from business owners and experts alike, about the kinds of questions and issues you want to think about before deciding where to host your website.

Read More Here.

Business Success with Online Coupons

Posted in: Blog

With shows like “Extreme Couponing” becoming the latest cultural phenomenon, everyone is getting on board with saving money! Have you ever thought of providing online coupons to your future and current customers? There are many ways to provide coupons to your customers through your website. One option is to go through a company like “CouponTank”.  They provide the ability to easily integrate coupons for a monthly fee. If signing up for a monthly subscription fee isn’t in your budget; then you can use Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and just plain graphics on your website to provide a coupon. The key is to ensure that the coupons are easy to add, easy to share, and easy to use.

Read this great article describing the success of online coupons and think about adding online coupons to your website!

If you have any questions about adding coupons or anything web related, remember:  “XMG Online, from concept to creation let us to be your guide”.

So, I Am Going to Meet my Web Designer, Now What?

Posted in: Blog

If you have decided on your web designer and signed your contract outlining they will do for you, what do you need to know before your first design meeting?

It is your web designer’s job to take your thoughts and create them into a website you will love, but they cannot do this unless you provide them good direction. Before your first meeting with a designer, write down what your website needs to accomplish. Jot down any design cues, visit websites you like, reference the sites and make notes about what you like on the site. If you like the feel of a site, the layout of another website site, the colors of yet another site, all of this information will help guide the designer to deliver the best product for you.

Never assume, never be afraid to ask. Make sure you know what you are getting, if you tell a designer you like the functionality of Amazon with the depth of eBay, ask your designer if they can accomplish this on your budget. Almost everything is possible on the web, but do you want to invest in it? The worst thing you can do is assume the designers know what you want. Have conversations, be honest, and get the best site for your needs and budget. Make sure you do not have caviar taste on fish egg budget.

The more information that is shared and clarified at the beginning of the project will help the rest of the project run more smoothly. Typically, the more the designer has to go back and redo work later on in the project will eat away at the hours they built into the agreement. The fewer hours they have remaining could mean less quality work later or an increased bill at the end of the project.
The morale of the article is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” keep this in mind throughout your project, especially in first meetings, and your site will meet your desires and your project will run smoothly.

From Concept to Creation,
Let XMG Online be your Guide.

TR