Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q:
Is my business/organization too small for your company?
A:
Not at all! Sure, we work with Fortune 500 companies and some pretty big organizations, but we also work with a lot of small and medium sized businesses. Some of our best and most successful clients started out as one-person companies! Of course, one of the big advantages of partnering with VendorsBay.com while you are just starting off is that you won't have to shift companies as you get larger. We know what works and what doesn't, so we can help you grow according to YOUR schedule.
Q:
A:
No. While VendorsBay.com is headquartered in Chicago, we have several satellite offices located throughout the nation to help ease communications. But, whether you're near one of our offices or not, we are happy to be your Web development partner. Indeed, as evidenced by our international clients, being in the online industry makes it both possible and easy to work together regardless of physical location. Moreover, traveling is very common within our offices. At any point in time, there is usually one or more individuals from our company traveling to meet with clients.
Click here to see if we have an office near you; otherwise, contact our Chicago headquarters for more information.
Q:
After launch of my new site, how long will it take to obtain visibility in the search engines?
A:
Unfortunately, this is not an easy answer due to the unknowns associated with evolving search engine behavior. However, in our experience, new domains typically achieve search engine visibility approximately six to nine months after launch of the site. Your site may obtain visibility in Yahoo! and Bing prior to Google, due largely to initial aging delays that withhold new websites from Google for a length of time before indexing. While VendorsBay.com develops websites to be compatible with search engine indexing technology, there may be unavoidable delays in obtaining organic visibility. During this delay, focus on your offline and pay-per-click advertising to drive traffic to your site.
Q:
Why can't I find pricing on your site?
A:
VendorsBay.com builds a wide range of websites, and each site is custom built. That means custom graphics and custom functionality - specifically for your needs and built for your audience. So naturally, we need to sit down with you and truly think through your website (with you!) before we can deliver a proposal with a cost estimate. Contact us today and set up an in-person or phone meeting to learn how VendorsBay.com can help you with YOUR website. Besides, the initial meeting is free, so give us a call!
Q:
Can you provide bilingual website design?
A:
Yes, VendorsBay.com can develop sites in alternate languages. Any language is possible and you may choose to provide us with the translated content or let us translate your content for you. Indeed, our Content Management System can be built to easily accommodate updates to each version of your site.
Q:
How long does it take to build a website?
A:
Like anything, a good website takes time. Because VendorsBay.com focuses on custom solutions, we need to work with you to develop your site to meet your needs. It's a very interactive process that will evolve into a fantastic website for your organization. That being said, to build a website properly and thoroughly, it is important to determine a timeline from the beginning. Some project can take a matter of weeks and others can take many months. With solid communication from our clients, we meet each stage of the project and deliver our websites on time and within budget.
Q:
A:
For all intents and purposes, yes. We'll ask you to promise not to turn yourself into a web development company and compete with us, but yes, if you decided at some point to part ways with VendorsBay.com, you'll be able to take your website with you - graphics, programming, databases, etc
Q:
Where can I submit my Request For Proposal?
A:
All RFP's can be submitted via e-mail to
info@VendorsBay.com, via fax at (847)699-4207, through our
secure quote request form, or via postal mail to VendorsBay.com, 2600 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018. Once received, an account representative will follow up with you in response.
Q:
How many professionals do you have on staff?
A:
VendorsBay.com currently employs more than 200 professionals—the majority of which are located in the Chicago headquarters, where all our website development happens. With over 200 people on staff, our organization is able to serve you with dedicated departments and development teams to ensure your online success.
Q:
What makes your firm the best?
A:
Over the past 30 plus years, VendorsBay.com has grown from a software and networking company into one of the largest website design firms in the country. Despite our growth, VendorsBay.com remains a family-owned and operated company, focused on providing innovative and user-friendly website design, robust toolsets to manage your online application, and unsurpassed support and maintenance.
Since 1978, VendorsBay.com has grown from a small family business to a corporation with 180 full-time internet professionals. VendorsBay.com is a stable and debt-free organization that has grown at an average rate of approximately 20% each year. VendorsBay.com has expanded from its Chicago headquarters to a nationwide organization with offices in Washington DC, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Dallas and owns and operates two data centers in the Chicagoland area.
VendorsBay.com’s success is credited to high quality services, including:
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Designs that Focus on Usability and ROI
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Reliable Technology Platforms
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User-Friendly and Flexible Administrative Tools
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Reliable and Secure Hosting
With proven technology and administrative platforms in place, the information architecture, design, and programming of each website is tailored to meet the specific needs of each client and their unique services, products, and audiences. Indeed, VendorsBay.com is focused on delivering results-focused solutions and providing ongoing support and maintenance to meet the ever-changing demands of our clients and the web industry in general.
Processes
Q:
What can I expect when beginning initial discussions with your Web development firm?
A:
When beginning to investigate our Web development services, you will be paired up with one of our experienced account representatives. He/She will be matched with you according to your industry, the needs of your project, and your physical location, in an effort to make communication and understanding both easy and rewarding. The goal of the account representative is to work with your organization to develop a strategy for achieving a successful Web presence, and to provide you with detailed information about our services, pricing, and timeline, as it applies to your project. There is no cost for this initial consultation and we look forward to beginning discussions with you. Please contact us at (877)WEB-NOW-1 or by e-mail at
info@VendorsBay.com.
Q:
How does my project stay on task?
A:
When choosing to partner with VendorsBay.com, you will be paired up with a dedicated Project Manager who will oversee a team of developers until your Web site is launched. Here at VendorsBay.com we rely on our extensive Intranet system for the management of several areas of our business to facilitate internal communication and progress. One area of our Intranet is used by our Project Managers to ensure the proper management of a project—a step-by-step system, which has proven to keep projects running smoothly over the years. Of course, successful project management also relies on clear and continual communication between VendorsBay.com and the client. During initial meetings, your project manager will work with you to determine the best method of keeping you up-to-date as the project progresses and, shortly after the kick-off meeting, you will be provided with a detailed project plan that will outline the scope of the work and key milestones. As development progresses, you will be provided with graphic design previews and a beta site, which rely on your feedback, approval, and testing. Indeed, keeping your project on task is a mutual effort!
Q:
What happens after my site is launched?
A:
When applicable, our Content Management System (CMS) allows you to make changes to your site without any programming knowledge and reduces ongoing maintenance costs. However, for any issues that may arise, or for updates that are not covered through your CMS, we have dedicated Customer Service and Updates departments to handle issues and modifications in a reliable, timely fashion.
Q:
Can you work with my marketing department and/or advertising agency for graphic development?
A:
Yes, if desired, VendorsBay.com will gladly work with your marketing department or advertising agency for graphic development to ensure that your website is properly communicating your brand. However, this third-party involvement can influence the length of the graphic design process.
Q:
What do I need to provide to you in order to get my website up and running?
A:
While VendorsBay.com is a full-service website development company—offering design, development, hosting, and maintenance services—we do require that each client provide us with any desired content in an electronic format. In order to maintain a timely development schedule, content should be provided by the specified deadline.
Technology
Q:
Do you recommend using Flash for advertising and interactive pieces?
A:
Absolutely. Flash is one of the most versatile and capable platforms of content delivery on the web. It's by far one of the most browser compatible players, and we recommend that Flash is at least considered for interactive components, and even for certain dynamic content.
Q:
What is the difference between streaming and downloading video?
A:
Streaming is a protocol that enables the user to watch the video shortly after clicking the link. You are requesting pieces of video as you watch it, and nothing is saved to your hard drive. By downloading a video, you must wait until the whole file is copied locally before you can watch. And you will have to remove the file yourself once you are done watching. Each protocol has its pros and cons, so the best choice depends on the type of website or content you are offering.
Q:
Are there advantages to building a whole website in Flash?
A:
There are advantages in implementing Flash components into your website, but we do not recommend planning the whole architecture in Flash, as it's more difficult to expand and enhance functionality later. Additionally, there are some limitations in search engine visibility if a site is built entirely in Flash.
Q:
What kind of technology do you support?
A:
VendorsBay.com is experienced in the following programming languages and applications: HTML, Java, JavaScript, Active Server Pages (ASP), ASP.NET, Java Server Pages (JSP), DHTML, AJAX, XML, JQuery, CSS, Flash AutoScript, Oracle Database Server, Microsoft SQL Database Server, Flash, and others. All technologies will be non-proprietary, mainstream, and will rely on open architecture.
Hosting
Q:
What do your hosting packages include?
A:
VendorsBay.com offers flexible hosting packages that are geared towards each client’s storage, transfer, security and database requirements. Both shared and dedicated hosting environments are available. Additionally, hosting packages include maintenance time, traffic statistics, and 24x7 technical pager support in case of emergencies. Since maintenance time is worked into the hosting package, VendorsBay.com also takes the client’s internal business operations into account to determine accurate monthly maintenance hours. Your account representative will work with you to create a hosting package to fit your needs.
Q:
Do you host sites as well?
A:
Yes. While it is not a requirement, we do host about 90% of our clients in our multi-million dollar data centers, which ensure the reliability and security of our clients' websites. Our hosting facilities are structured to handle more than 1,000 servers and offer both shared and dedicated hosting environments. All servers are backed up nightly and, in case of any outages, we have battery-powered and natural gas generators to power the centers indefinitely.
Q:
Is VendorsBay.com PCI-Compliant?
A:
Yes, VendorsBay.com is compliant with PCI as a level one service provider, which is the highest level of compliance. To view VendorsBay.com on Visa’s list of compliant service providers,
click here.
Marketing
Q:
Do you provide search engine marketing services?
A:
Yes, VendorsBay.com does provide search engine marketing services. Any development work undertaken by VendorsBay.com will be built in accordance with current search engine indexing technology, in an effort to obtain the highest natural placement possible. Additionally, our search engine optimization services can extend to websites that we have not developed. Where organic results may be unpredictable, VendorsBay.com also offers pay-per-click services to manage your paid advertising campaigns through Google and Yahoo! Overture. Indeed, we are Google Adwords certified. If you are interested in our search engine optimization or pay-per-click services, please call us at (877)932-6691 or contact us via e-mail at
info@VendorsBay.com.
Q:
Do you provide marketing services for my new website?
A:
Definitely. VendorsBay.com is skilled in all types of online marketing, including pay-for-click advertising, link building, banner advertising, e-mail outreach, and guerrilla marketing. We also have experience and strategic partnerships for offline advertising!