• Getting online
• Selecting providers
• Website architecture

WEB SITE DESIGN BY Thunderbolt Designs

You don't have to pay thousands of dollars to be represented online, nor do you need to understand or use computers. Thunderbolt Designs believes web design can -- and should -- be affordable for even small businesses. We can build you a web site, or a simple web page so online users can seek you out and learn about your products and services.

Do I need a Website?

A mere handful of years ago websites were rare, but today a growing number of businesses are seeing the value in having a presence on the world wide web. How do you determine if a website will be beneficial for your company?

An online presence can:

• Provide information to customers anytime THEY are seeking information, 24/7, regardless of whether you are open for business or not.
• Provide your contact information to customers who live outside the distribution area of the local phone directories.
• Get word out to local customers who might live inside the shopping market area, but may not live within reach of the local radio stations or newspapers. Think in terms of a business located in The Dalles, with customers from Arlington, Condon, and Cascade Locks -- or vice versa.
• Expose your business to people who live elsewhere in the world.
• Give online shoppers more information about goods and services that cannot be conveyed in regular print or radio advertising.
• Educate your customers about the value of your products.
• Allow catalog updates as needed, without the expensive costs of reprinting.
• Encourage your customers to pass word about your business to others.
• Create loyalty and community through interactive experiences.

Can your business benefit from any of the above? If so, then you can benefit from having a web presence.

What kind of web presence do I need?

Not every business needs a full-blown web site. There are varying levels of online presence:

Internet Listings - much like the phone book, internet listings give very little information about your business, usually a name, street location, and phone number. Some sites also provide a map link.

Static web page - A static page goes a step beyond listing your contact information. It gives you the opportunity to show a few photos, and a description of your basic products and services. As the word "static" implies, this information rarely changes.
Thunderbolt Designs can create a single web page for you, hosted on our A2ZGorge.Info website.

Static website - A static website is similar to a static web page, but the content is broader. Instead of one page with a few details about your business, there are multiple pages, each describing a different facet of your business. As with the static web page, this information rarely changes.

Active website - An active website is one that is updated frequently with fresh information. New product photos, catalog changes, seasonal product offerings can all be reasons for customers to check back in frequently.

Interactive website - An interactive website is one that invites participation between you and your online visitors. Websites with shopping carts, online polls, forums, blogs that allow comments or customer reviews, RSS feeds, and video are all part of the interactive web experience.