Harmony Design - Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta Web Design and Graphic Design Firm

The F.A.Q. section is a collection of questions we often receive regarding the web development process, along with our standard answers. As every business is unique and each situation requires a different approach, please use this list as a starting point only.

Please contact the Harmony Design staff for answers to your particular questions, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

frequently asked questions

Why does my business need a website?
How can a website save my company time and money?
How long does it take to create a website?
How much should I expect to pay for my website?

Why does my business need a website?

There are dozens of reasons why a business might need a website, but here are a few of the more compelling:

Like your other advertising elements, a website will represent you when you are not there to represent yourself. A clean site design and a well-defined message will tell the consumer who you are and what you have to offer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A website is an additional sales tool. It is a point of contact for current and potential customers, where product, services and prices can be compared, and customer service and support can be offered. With an e-commerce site, sales can be processed at any time, without the need for additional sales staff.
Simply, your competition has a website; customers ask, why don’t you?

How can a website save my company time and money?

Savings can often be realized by replacing repetitive or common customer requests through a company website as opposed to live interaction with employees. Many times customers prefer being able to retrieve information themselves, researching projects or companies at times that are more convenient to them. This reality is becoming more common as customers demand expanded hours of operation from companies, needing to handle personal business at odd hours or days of the week.

A website can also help support the company sales effort by providing employees with instant and easy access to product or company information, demonstrations, schedules, brochures and printable handouts. An online portfolio can greatly reduce the need for expensive color brochures and catalogues, with advertisements and company staff instead offering customers the same or an expanded number of visuals by way of a website slide show or virtual tour.

How long does it take to create a website?

The web development process can take from a few days to several months depending upon the complexity and technical demands required of the site. The length of time is definitely impacted by the positive interaction of the customer in order to help facilitate the development effort. A key point is deciding on who will supply the conceptual and textual copy that is to become an integral part of the website. It is important, therefore, to develop a plan at the start, determine who is responsible for providing research, text, graphics and images, and then follow through by supplying the necessary components in a timely manner. Web development is a partnership between client and designer, and no job can be completed swiftly without prompt, effective communication.

How much should I expect to pay for my website?

The pricing for a website can vary greatly depending upon your technical demands, design issues and objectives. As with any professional you are contemplating hiring, you want to begin with a needs assessment meeting to determine your goals. Price ranges can be from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands or more depending upon the completeness of the web development effort.