Our designers and website maintainers have the following software available:
Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium (PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Professional, Designer, GoLive, ImageReady, Bridge, VersionCue), Adobe/Macromedia Studio 8 (DreamWeaver, Flash Professional 8, Flash Lite, Fireworks), Macromedia FreeHand 10, Microsoft Office 2003 Professional, Blender 3D, Poser, Bryce, and more...

Programming & Software Engineering:
Our programmers will work with a client to achieve the desired results. We have created popular, dynamic, and secure web sites with PHP, SSL, CSS, Flash, HTML, MySQL, and XHTML. Our varied experiences allow us to look at a problem from different angles, without overlooking a nonstandard, yet elegant, expandable solution.

How Much?
Prices for design and coding vary, but can start as low as $200 US dollars for a small basic new site and a client that already has most of their pictures or images, has almost all of their text written and proofread, and has a basic layout idea in mind. This does not include the web site hosting fees. We can assist with all of these tasks and services, but like any business, our time must be compensated. Usually we ask for half of the estimated design fees in advance, for a quoted price, with caveats regarding changes.

E-Commerce sites, and websites requiring a database will be substantially more, due to increased complexity, security precautions and extensive testing, but will be easily competitive. Would you rather stake your company's reputation on a site designed with proper security and periodic security reviews, or one that exposes it's customers to identity theft? Design and programming costs for websites that need online credit card sales can be between $500, using a standard shopping cart, and $20,000, for completely custom programming solutions.

The biggest cost variable is whether a client really knows what they want from the beginning, and how much time we have to spend. We can afford to be generous with a minute or two of free advice, but more than that must be billed as consulting. [An alternative for those wishing to “do it themselves,” may be to spend a few thousand dollars on software, books, and training...]

Clients can get an additional discount or referral bonuses by having links back to this web site. This is not a requirement, like some web site hosting companies.

Bundled Web Site Hosting and Monthly Maintenance Packages
start as low as $30 per month, and could include things like updating or replacing calendars, text, photos, PDF documents, and event information, with the client typically providing the text, files, and/or graphics via email. Ask for a quote!

Why:
The Internet means different things to people. Some people want text only, just basic, easy to find information for their research topic. Others want more of a modern, entertaining interface using the latest techniques. In either case, you want people to be able to find your web site easily, and to come back. We can give you a quote on analyzing your existing site. We can make recommendations for design changes that will make it be more accessible and user friendly, including faster page views, improved layout, usability, accessibility and Section 508 compliance (see "Accessibility" section, below), and search engine optimization. Over the years, we have spent thousands of dollars on professional software and books, and have spent lots of time researching and using techniques for great web sites, so you don't have to. Netizen Studios can create web pages and sites that go from conservative to cutting edge. It's your choice.

Web Page Design & Web Site Design:
The software package we use most often is Adobe's Dreamweaver. Although Dreamweaver is not recommended for amateurs, due to the steep learning curve and high cost, it is well suited for professionals (with 5 to 10 years of experience and continual training) that edit multiple web sites on a daily or regular basis. With the proper settings, web pages will be pleasing for as many browsers and various versions as possible, from Microsoft's Internet Explorer, to Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Lynx, Apple's Safari, and others. We feel that it is important to provide access to as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.

Accessibility:
We have studied and continue to research and implement techniques that make web pages accessible to those with vision and other disabilities. The internet holds a great deal of promise for these people, and many of them find internet shopping easier than normal shopping, (but only) when the site is designed correctly. It is the moral obligation and responsibility of web site owners and designers to make equal access web sites a reality. For those that already have a web site, it is not enough to provide alternative pages, which are often overlooked during updates, since separate does not mean equal. Commercial sites that are not accessible may also be missing millions of potential and eager customers and sales. According with “Section 508” and ADA laws, any website providing products used by the US government, or receiving federal funding must be accessible.

Who:
Netizen Studios can import, modify, or create from scratch just about any kind of graphic, animation, online video, database, text, e-book, pamphlet, printed advertising flyers, PDF documents, programming, or script that you may need. Our talent pool includes specialists with many skills. If a requested web site feature would best be implemented by an artist, programmer, or specialist that is not in our immediate group, we have a list of trusted individuals and associates that can subcontract for any portion of a project.

 

...more to come!