In its simplest form the website acts as a digital brochure ­ establishes professional credibility, presents an overview of company history and services, and allows the opportunity for communication. An Internet presence is currently the least expensive means of establishing a business image, enhancing client services, and broadening merchandising parameters. As a work tool, the website can:

• provide e-mails for departments/employees
• reduce customer and technical support costs
• provide customers with information about products and services when they need it
• provide inter-business information exchange
• equip sales staff with current information and even online ordering tools

You can include text, photos (scanned or digital), music/voice backgrounds, graphics, animation. Any combination of these is possible. A company’s marketing and operation requirements will govern website content while its strategic branding will greatly influence the final ‘look’.

Ultek Systems works with businesses of all sizes, and in any industry, who require online solutions. Our‘Buck-A-Day’ website is a brochure-like offering ideal for the smallest of companies. We also offer full databasedriven, ecommerce enabled, retail websites to mid-sized companies. Our ‘i want more!’ option with its emphasis on graphic design, Flash imaging and optimized search engine links, is well suited to medium sized companies operating in highly competitive markets.

The answer to that would greatly depend on the nature of a client’s business.  Increased profits are generally derived from establishing and adhering to effective business strategies. The website is not intended to replace existing marketing or advertising programs but instead to embellish them. Concise media advertising can direct customers to your site for additional details and to complete the sale. Increased exposure to a target market, as through a visually-compelling website, can have a profound effect on profits by way of consumer recognition and confidence. More tangible results will be evident for database ecommerce sites.

Even if your company does not employ front-line staff that would benefit from dedicated e-mail there are other valid uses for multiple e-mail addresses. Incoming messages can be sorted into prioritized categories such as Sales, Service, Comments or Career Opportunities. In this way less important e-mail can be processed at a later date or filtered out. Departmentalized addresses project a level of professionalism and can increase the perceived scale of a small operation.

The terms ‘building a website’ and ‘designing a website’ have become interchangeable although they each imply a slightly different part of the process. The creation of a website includes a creative design element and a functional building element. For example, Ultek Systems uses prebuilt modules as the basis for our ‘Buck-A-Day!’ and ‘2 Bucks-A-Day!’ sites, but it is the conceptualized design process that makes each site unique. On the other hand, without the building process (text, navigation, program codes, etc.) the conceptual design would remain an inert idea - a thing of beauty without function. It is their co-dependent relationship that makes these terms interchangeable.

A simplification of the website process is as follows: An initial meeting determines the requirements and ‘look’ of the site; a quotation and overview of the project is presented to the client for approval; domain registration is completed; the client supplies necessary logos, images and text; a preliminary website with operational navigation is presented for client feedback; website construction continues with ongoing client input; the approved website is published which initiates web hosting.

Our advertised website packages only apply to Ultek Systems building and hosting your website. There is no charge for bringing over an existing domain name.

Yes, we certainly can. Usually by default we use MS Access databases, but there could be a requirement to use a more robust database, due to data volume.  In such cases Ultek Systems uses MS SQL 2005 with all its features. There would be an additional charge of $50 Can./year for every 50 megs.