Internet Technologies

Website Development – Transforming a website from a complex idea into a productive online presence.

About Web sites

Web sites are servers connected to the Internet. On Web sites, you can publish Web pages in a format called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). Anyone with a computer connected to the Internet can view Web pages using programs called a browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or AOL/Netscape Navigator. You can also use Web sites to send and receive email over the Internet.

In the age of information, a strong online presence is essential to establishing your credibility. Most consumers are familiar with the Internet and want to know more about the companies or individuals they do business with. The most convenient way for them to do this is to visit your website. There, they can read up on your services and products, learn a bit more about your industry, and feel more secure in their decision to obtain your services. Without a strong online presence, your company just doesn't command the respect it once did.

AMI Studios is prepared to handle all aspects of your website development. From registering your domain name and hosting your website, to building a custom designed website that enhances your exposure, as well as promoting your online presence.

In the interest of better customer service, we offer the following services to help you achieve your goals. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact AMI Studios.

Web Design – At AMI Studios the root of our passion is custom design, layout, management and implementation of your website.

Custom website design is our specialty. We incorporate custom graphics & flash animations into almost every website we design and our websites are designed for optimal performance. Our philosophy is that a fast loading, eye catching website encourages return visits from potential customers. We also know that search engines are the primary medium for visitors to find your website. We apply these principles to every website we design.

Our goal is not merely to design eye-catching websites, but to provide coaching and assistance in every facet of creating a successful online presence. This not only drives new business, but provides numerous value added resources for existing customers, and keeps them coming back for years to come. It's much easier to cultivate an existing customer, whom you've provided quality service for and built a lasting, trusting relationship with, then it is to find new customers month after month. This philosophy is a driving factor in our personal business principles and we share it with our clients, because it has proven true for us, and we are confident that it will be an effective principle in your business plan as well.

Project upgrades – When a website doesn't fulfill the needs of the company it represents, it's time for an upgrade. A lot of times some minor additions or upgrades to a website can increase its value significantly for visitors and bring them back multiple times. Don't give up on your website, if it's not working for you… invest more energy into it so it can do the things you need it to do.

Website Hosting – Storage of your website and all of its components. Also called your "domain".

AMI Studios has researched the industries leaders in website hosting and worked with the industries best service providers available. Now AMI Studios is using the knowledge and experience gained from years of outsourcing to other providers and we have established our own in-house hosting server. To learn more visit Vegas Web Host

AMI Studios will host your website through WebhostStudio, a division of AMIStudios delivering business-class Web hosting solutions to small and medium businesses. Hosting your site through WebhostStudio saves trouble, time and money for you. Our knowledge of servers, systems and services is available to you, when you become our customer.

If you chose to host your website yourself, we are, willing to work with a third party hosting service provider, additional fees will apply.

Premium Web site hosting exclusively for clients of AMIStudios.com. WebhostStudio provides our clients with blazing fast servers, and plenty of bandwidth for any website configuration, and a feature rich configuration for any website needs. - Vegas Web Host

Website Administration – Establishing a hosting service for your website, registering your domain name, setting up email accounts, publishing website content, DNS transfer, search engine optimization. (This service is provided as a separate service only if you choose to host your site through a third party hosting company.)

Take the frustration out of setting up your website. AMI Studios will handle all of your website administration nightmares, by providing services and consultation in the following areas.

Vegas Domain Registration – A domain name is your address on the Internet, the URL that visitors enter to go to your website.

There are many registrars to choose from, so AMI Studios has taken the guess work out of it for you and offers domain name registrations as an add on service to each of our customers. Whether transferring a domain name, managing DNS issues, or simply registering a domain, we have a solution to fit every need. We will register your domain for you, and for a limited time, we are offering free domain name registration with purchase of any one year hosting plan.

For those interested in registering a domain name for themselves, we recommend this accredited domain name registrar for your convenience.

Preferred Domain Name Registrar:
- Vegas Domains

Email account setup: Reputable hosting service providers offer multiple email accounts with your service. Customizing these accounts can be confusing and time consuming, especially if you are unfamiliar with your servers system. Most hosting service providers will offer to setup these accounts for a fee, if you choose to have them do it for you. If you prefer, AMI Studios can provide this service for you, either as part of our Website Administration package, if you are using a third party hosting provider, or FREE as a value added service, when you host your site on our server at WebhostStudio.

Website Publishing: Creating and publishing Web pages

The easiest way to create a Web page is to use a Web authoring-tool, also called an HTML-authoring tool. Some of the more common authoring tools are Composer, which is free and available from Netscape, FrontPage, which is available for purchase from Microsoft, and Dreamweaver, which is available for purchase from Macromedia. These tools write the HTML code for you as you compose your page. Using them is similar to using a word processor such as Microsoft Word.

As an alternative, you can create Web pages by writing the HTML code yourself in a text editor program such as Notepad. Pointers to learning HTML include Writing HTML: A tutorial for creating Web pages, Web Monkey, CNET Web Builder, HTML Goodies, Yale Web Style Guide, and W3C HTML Homepage.

Once your site has been created it must now be Published, which requires knowledge of FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software. To access this ftp area for your website you will need to acquire your username and password from your hosting service provider. Whether you host your site on our servers at WebhostStudio, or choose to host your site through a third party hosting service, as your website administrator, AMI Studios will handle all aspects of this complicated process and save you the headache of sifting through the volumes of information on this topic.

When you choose AMI Studios as your website developer, we will save you both time and money by providing these services under one roof. Our expertise is at your disposal when you obtain our services.

Project Maintenance – A static website is frustrating for internet users, as well as website owners. Any effective online presence is updated regularly with new photos and text, and maintained for enhancement of the visitors' experience. Outdated material should be removed regularly, broken links fixed or removed, contact information must always be current.

Ecommerce Solutions – Transforming your website into an online retail store.

Setting up an e-commerce site can be expensive and frustrating, or it can be inexpensive and relatively simple. AMI Studios can install e-commerce capability on your site, to your specifications. If you are interested in "doing it yourself", we are providing the following informational resources to help you learn more about internet based sales and ecommerce web sites.

Whether you want "pay per service" capability or a full-blown online catalog with photos and item descriptions, these are the necessary components:

• SSL (Secured Socket Layer) provides a secure section on your website. Confidential Data is encrypted to protect it from being intercepted or stolen; allows you to provide a secure environment for credit card transactions on your website. Learn more about website security .
• Gateway - Enables you to process, authorize and manage credit card and "e-check" transactions from your online store. Usually involves a setup fee and a monthly fee. Pricing varies.
• Shopping Cart - Provides you with the capability to organize and display products on your website. Visitors can browse through your catalog and add items to their purchase.
• Merchant Account - A bank that accepts credit card payments for you. Pricing varies depending on merchant account provider.
• The cost of these features along with your Domain name, hosting service and website development fees, can add up very fast. All of these costs, plus the expense of stockpiling your inventory, are out of pocket before you can sell your products online.

Alternate methods -

PayPal - enabling your website with a PayPal payment solution will allow your customers to view your products online, add items to their online shopping cart and make secure online purchases from your website, without the cost of having your own merchant account, SSL, gateway or shopping cart.

AMI Studios can integrate your PayPal solution, seamlessly, with your website and maintain the same feel as your site, for a much smaller fee then you would pay for a fully independent e-commerce solution.

This is a much more cost effective solution on the front end; however, there is a drawback. In order to use PayPal, your customers must setup their own PayPal account, which requires a credit card for verification. Some customers are not comfortable with leaving their credit card on file. Also, with PayPal, your e-commerce solution is maintained on PayPal's server, not your own independent server.

The cost to profit ratio far outweighs these issues. Eventually, a store may grow to a point that will warrant a high end e-commerce solution, but until then this is a simpler, more cost effective solution for small businesses to start out.

Visit PayPal.com now and sign up for a FREE account, or to learn more about how this valuable solution can save you money and help you get started in the world of eCommerce.

Online auctions - If you are just starting out and not sure what to do, you can sell your products using an online auction service like eBay or the Internet's leading fixed-price, person-to-person marketplace, Amazon.com is another alternative for selling your merchandise online without an ecommerce website.

Website Promotion – A website can be used as a powerful marketing tool in a virtually unlimited number of ways, including:
-Online portfolio - artists, singer/songwriters, models, actors
-Extended informational services - Doctors, Lawyers, Realtors and other professionals
-Online resume - Temporary workers, independent businesses
-Extension of your business card or an online brochure

Building your website or online store is only part of the process. In order to be successful you need customers. If you have an existing customer base you are already on your way. But, if you are like most people starting out on the Internet, you will need to draw in customers. To do this you need a marketing plan.

There are many strategies to aid in the promotion of your website. These are but a few offered by AMI Studios

• Search Engine Optimization – The key ingredient to any successful online marketing plan
• Search Engine Submission – Reach over 80% of internet visitors through search engine placement
• Keyword Placement with Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Keyword placement through sites like overture and Google.
• Buying ad space on high traffic websites – Very effective method of advertising to a specific market.
• Link Exchange Programs – Increase your link popularity and increase your search engine placement.
• Banner Ads – Not as popular as it once was, but still an effective way to increase your link popularity and to drive unique visitors to your website.

Using your website as an advertising tool can be very expensive to get high rankings with search engines. Likewise it is very costly to promote your site through pay per click programs. To learn more about these strategies, you can visit the links above or contact our Website Marketing Department.

When properly promoted a website can be a powerful marketing tool, it can also be effectively used as an extension of your service. Through your site you can inform the public about yourself, your products and services, increase trust among your current clientele, and build new business relationships.

Using your website as an informational resource will make it more attractive to visitors. You will experience an increase in new visitors and your visitors will stay longer. It is highly productive for small and medium sized businesses to use their website as an extension of their services and there are several methods of doing this.

• Online Tutorials - You are an expert in your field. Share your knowledge with your clients. They will respect you for it and trust you more.
• Newsletters - Keep your clientele updated on the latest trends, technology and discoveries related to your services. Be the first to inform them about your industry's newest capabilities.
• Message Boards - Give your clients an opportunity to interact with you and your other clients. Provide a question and answer resource that they can access at any time.

The more services you offer your clients the more they will appreciate and trust you and the more likely they are to refer their friends and family to you.

AMI Studios has compiled this information to assist you in developing a profitable marketing tool: your website.