General Solution Questions

What does the VistaSolution include?
The necessary steps and know-how to get online with a professional Web presence. The SiteStarter™ package includes customization of three (3) pages for you: Home, About Us, and Contact Us. Need more? Simply upgrade to one of our Custom Design Web Packages ( eBusiness Essentials, eBusiness Pro, eCommerce Essentials or eCommerce Pro) or we can tailor a solution for you. All additional non-commerce  features  are automatically included with the Solution (These features will be available to you to use but they will not be customized for you by bSYSTEMS. For example, the appointments feature will be available for you to set up on your site but it will be up to you to set up the resource types, appointment types and availabilities.)

What if I want a more robust site than the basic Vista SiteStarter™ package?
Four additional Web packages are available based on your business and Web site requirements. See the Custom Design information for all package upgrade details. If you have an existing site but need to add on commerce capabilities, a Bolt-on Store package is available. Click here for more details of the Bolt-on Store package.

Why do you need my email and other company information to get me started?
The company information and email you supply at the time of sign up helps us give you a head start on your site. Once we know your company name and type we can provide you with a personalized structure for your e-business.
The  Vista Web Site we set up for you will use your personal information for the purposes of generating your e-business. Additionally, from time to time we need to tell all our customers via email about service enhancements and other information that affects your online business.

I'm not a technical person. What if I need help once my site is turned over to me?
The Online Professor will come to your rescue! The Online Professor is available any time from the Management Console to:

• Assist you to create and make changes to your site
• Teach by showing you what to do on a practice site

Additionally, you can access the text-based Help function from any area of the Management Console or contact bSYSTEMS for support at support@bsystemsuk.com .

What are the system requirements for using Vista?
You need:

• A PC running Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 or XP, or a Macintosh running MacOS 7.0 or newer
• Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator version 4.x or higher.
• An email account from any provider you choose, including free services like Hotmail.
• An Internet connection (modem, cable or other) capable of a minimum speed of 28.8 kbps.
• A monitor resolution of at least 800x600

I would like to sign up with a free ISP (Internet Service Provider). Will this work with the service?
Absolutely. You may use any ISP you choose with this solution.

Can I sell products with Vista?
Yes - if you choose one of our commerce design packages. You may not need a store initially, in which case you neeed to choose one of the non-commerce packages eg. The SiteStarter, eBusiness essential or eBusiness Pro packages. You can upgrade at any time.
Included in the eCommerce Essentials and eCommerce Pro packages is full-service shopping cart capability and, if you choose, the ability to accept and process credit card orders online. If you select the merchant account feature, we will provide you with a discounted online merchant account and very low merchant account rates. We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) software to protect your transactions, data and your customers' data from fraud. Of course, you can sell products via your site without a merchant account by taking orders over the phone, mail or fax and collecting payment in the form of checks or money orders.

I'd like to accept appointments and reservations online at my site. Is this possible?
Yes! This solution has a powerful, easy to use Reservations feature. From the Management Console, located under the Admin tab, go to "Working With My Site", click "Add A Page" and choose the Reservations function. Then click on your newly created Reservations page to personalize it.

I already have a site. Will you host it for me?
To ensure we have ample storage space for sites, we do not host sites that are not utilizing our service.

How long does it take to personalize my site?
This depends on the custom design package you choose. The more complex your site and the more features bSYSTEMS tailor for you, the more time will be required to customize your site. For the the non-commerce packages (Site Starter, eBusiness Essential and eBusiness Pro) bSYSTEMS will aim to customize your site and turn it over to you for a final review within ten business days from the time we receive your completed Workbook.
For the Commerce Packages (eCommerce Essentials and eCommerce Pro) bSYSTEMS will aim to customize your site and turn it over to you for a final review within fifteen business days from the time we receive your completed Workbook.
For the Bolt-on Store Package it is ten days. For any website design tailored for you by bSYSTEMS, we will give you an estimate of the  design time required.

Who makes changes to my site once it's turned over to me?
You do, which means you have complete control over your online business. The easy to use Management Console (located under the Admin tab) is where you will add, delete and edit pages on your site. You can access this feature by selecting "edit my website" at the home page. You have password-protected access to the Management Console 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once you make a change on your site, it's live on the Internet.

bSYSTEMS will of course be there to help you should you need it. An email support service is provided for all Vista websites and any further features you need bSYSTEMS to add can be provided by bSYSTEMS if you prefer. Click here to find out more details of the help, support and training offered by bSYSTEMS.

How do I access the Management Console of my site?
When bSYSTEMS completes the customization of your site they will contact you for a review and will supply you with your User Name and Password giving you access to the Management Console for your site. Click on the ADMIN button on your site, enter your User Name and Password and you will see the Management Console.

Can I pay to have changes made to my site for me?
Yes. You can upgrade your package at any time. For simple changes, we offer Web Site Maintenance in 30-minute increments. Contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com for pricing and details.

How do I delete my site?
Simply email Support at support@bsystemsuk.com or call 425-558-9119 and let us know you would like to have your site de-activated.

Can I have files for my visitors to download on my site (e.g., Real Audio or Video, Adobe Acrobat PDF's, etc.)?
Yes

Can I get more space than 20 megabytes?
Yes, for an additional fee of $9.95 per 5MB of additional space. Contact support@bsystemsuk.com  with your request.

Can I use my own domain name (or the domain I am planning to get soon)?
Yes. Through Domain Bank you have the option of purchasing your own domain name. Or you can assign an existing domain to your site. Both can be accomplished through the bSYSTEMS SiteStarter™ program.

I live outside the United States. Can I still use your service?
Our services are available in UK and Canada.

How will I get people to come to my site?
Marketing functions help you attract first-time visitors and encourage repeat visits. Through the "Marketing Tools" function of the Management Console you can submit your site to search engines and directories, create and exchange banner ads and even create email newsletters (e-newsletters) using our message templates and send them to your customers.
Once you have visitors coming to your site, use Polls and Surveys or track what they purchase to deliver information to them that's specific to their interests. For instance, if you are a specialty cheese store, you can send an email to all of your customers who purchased Brie in the last six months and let them know about a sale you are having on Brie de Meaux.

I want to list my site with Search Engines and Directories. Can you help?
Yes! One of the Marketing Tools included with your Web site is a Search Engine and Directory Placement tool.
After entering your description and keywords, your site will be automatically listed with these Search Engines: Google,  AllTheWeb, AltaVista, and Lycos. You may also submit your site to the following Search Engines for a fee: Excite, Overture, FindWhat, Google AdWords and Inktome. The directories you may automatically submit to include Yahoo, LookSmart and Open Directory Project.

Most search engines take between two to five weeks to process your registration. Some, like Google, are much quicker, perhaps two to five days.

An initial Search Engine submission is done for you with any of our Custom Design Packages .

How can I tell who visits my site?
Site Analysis includes sales reports, lead tracking, ROI reports and site traffic reports. A visitor registration field is standard on site as an avenue for you to gather customer emails and other information. Visitor data available includes: name, user name, password and email address.

How safe is my information online?
We currently meet the industry standards for information security. Your site is password protected (with a password that you create) so that only those who know your password can edit your site. All credit card transactions made on member sites are protected using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) software. Once a credit card has been accepted on a site, the credit card information moves through our processing network to the merchant account-processing network. These transactions are also encrypted to protect them from fraud.

Additionally, your personal privacy is of utmost importance to us. We will not share your personal information (or your Web site visitors' personal information) with third parties without your permission.

I've heard about sites being "down" for technical reasons. Will this happen to my site?
There will be short periods of scheduled "down" time when the servers will be undergoing updates and maintenance. We will make every effort to schedule these during non-peak traffic times. You will be notified in advance via email of these planned updates. Additionally, as with any ISP (Internet Service Provider) we may experience random "down" time.

Have a question not answered here?
Contact us at Support@bsystemsuk.com or 01353 699005.

Custom Design Questions General Custom Design Information Updating My Website Login: User ID & Password Billing Information Next Steps Making Changes Other GENERAL CUSTOM DESIGN INFORMATION What happens once I sign up? Upon registering for the program you will have the option to instantly receive your Workbook via download or email. Included in the Workbook are step-by-step instructions guiding you through the information we need to customize your site. Upon receipt of your completed workbook(s), we will customize your site and contact you within ten (10) business days. Although a Web Specialist creates the site, you still maintain complete control over ongoing edits, additions, and deletions. If you would like help maintaining your site, we can also provide that help through our optional Site Maintenance program. For details contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . What do I get when I sign up for a Custom Design Services Package? You get all of the following items: A 5-page or 10-page professionally-designed Web site Includes your text, images and company logo Email marketing Maps, weather, polls, visitor tally and other marketing content Registration of your site with leading search engines Commerce capability (optional) You also have the option to sign up for ongoing Site Maintenance at any time. How do I submit information to be included on my site? Information is submitted via our Custom Design Services Workbooks sent to you at the time you register. Workbooks include step-by-step guidance to help you supply us with vital information to make your Web site a robust business avenue. Workbooks and accompanying images can be submitted to us in one of two ways: Mail: Bill Bateson Custom Design Services 11241 Willows Road Suite 100, Building C Redmond, WA 98052 Attn: Custom Design Services Email: support@bsystemsuk.com We do have the right to reject submissions. Can you create more than 10 pages for my site? Yes, through our Site Maintenance Program, we can build extra pages. For details contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . Of course, you may also create additional pages and add them to your site on your own for no additional charge. What if I don't have any custom pictures or images for my site? If you don't have custom pictures or images for your site our Web Specialist will pick images best suited for your type of business from our image library. There is no additional cost to you for using the images. Can you create a custom logo for my company that can be used on my site? Yes. For an additional charge, the design team can create a custom logo for your business. For details contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . How long does it take to build my site once you have my information? Do I get to review my Web site before the design team finalizes it? Once we receive your completed Workbooks it takes up to ten (10) business days to complete your site. Your Web Specialist will notify you via e-mail when your site is ready to review. You will then have two (2) business days to review your site and notify us of any changes you want. What kind of changes will the Web Specialist make to my site after I've reviewed the initial design? Your Web Specialist will correct typographical errors, make grammatical revisions, and add information that you submitted when you reviewed the site. They cannot however completely redesign the site or add information supplied after the two-day response period. UPDATING MY WEB SITE TOP Can my Web Specialist make changes for me on an ongoing basis? If you'd like, your Web Specialist can make changes to your site for you on an ongoing basis for an additional charge. For details contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . However, you can update the site yourself. All you need is a Web browser, an Internet connection, and access to the administrative section (Management Console) of your site. You do not need any special software or have to know any programming languages. Do I have to use a Web Specialist to make changes to my site? No, you can add pages, edit text, images, and add features at any time at no additional cost. You have complete control over your site. You don't need to know any programming languages. All you need is a Web browser, an Internet connection, and access to the administrative section of your site. LOGIN: USER ID & PASSWORD TOP I lost my login information to access the Management Console of my site. How do I retrieve this information? Contact support at support@bsystemsuk.com . BILLING INFORMATION TOP What credit cards do you accept? MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. Whom do I contact if I have a billing problem? You may contact the billing department at support@bsystemsuk.com . If I decide I don't want the Web address I signed up for, can I get a refund? Web address (domain name) sign-up fees are not refundable. However, when your registration period expires after one year, you can choose not to renew the address. NEXT STEPS TOP When will a Web Specialist contact me? Within ten (10) business days from receipt of your completed Workbooks. What type of information can appear on my Web site? The information that appears on your Web site is entirely up to you. Below are common types of information seen on business Web sites. Start with this list and add or delete information to create a site tailored to your unique business. Web site Contact Information Name Address City, State Postal code Phone number Fax number Email address Directions (if you have a business people can visit) Web site Company Information Products, services, and specialties Number of years in business Number of employees Location(s) or directions Hours of operation & service area Method of payment accepted Brief biography of owner(s) and/or staff Catalog Specials Logos or pictures Awards, memberships, affiliations, referrals What will my Web site look like? Based on the information you provide to your Web Specialist, we will design a site that complements your business. If your company has an existing logo or color palette we will be sure to incorporate them into your Web site. Some of the more time-consuming decisions can be made on your behalf. Of course, your input is strongly recommended. How long will it take to design my Web site? Ten (10) business days from the time we receive your completed Workbooks. How much time do I have to review the final version of my Web site before it is published? Once your site is completed, your Web Specialist will contact you to set up a time to review your site. After the review, you have two (2) business days to approve the site or submit changes. If you do not respond within two (2) business days the site will be published. MAKING CHANGES TOP Can I add additional pages to my custom-designed Web site? Your site will be pre-built with a set number of pages and features, based on the package you choose. Your Web site will support up to 56 pages. You can add more pages yourself or if you choose, you can have us add pages for you. More pages can be created for an additional fee. To order additional pages contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . How can I purchase additional Web pages or Web design time? Additional Web page design time is sold in 30-minute increments. For details contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . Can I use my own domain name (www.joesshoestore.com) with your services? Yes. We'll be glad to help you register a new domain name or transfer an existing one to your new Web site. Complete information can be found in the SiteStarter Workbook. Will you submit my site to Search Engines? Yes! An initial Search Engine submission is done for you with any of our Custom Design Packages . Your site will be automatically listed with these Search Engines: Hotbot, Google, MSN, AllTheWeb, AltaVista, Lycos and Northern Light. You may also submit your site to the following Search Engines for a fee: Excite, Overture, FindWhat, Google AdWords and Inktome. The directories you may automatically submit to include Yahoo, LookSmart and Open Directory Project. What about submitting my Web site to Yahoo? Because Yahoo handpicks which Web sites they will publish in their directory, we cannot ensure placement on their site. Nevertheless, you can quickly and easily register your site with them by going to the Yahoo site and following the instructions. OTHER TOP What about Web Hosting? Your Web site comes with reliable, secure web hosting, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So even while you sleep, your Web site will be working for you. There will be short periods of scheduled "down" time when the servers will be undergoing updates and maintenance. We will make every effort to schedule these during non-peak traffic times. You will be notified in advance via email of these planned updates. Additionally, as with any ISP (Internet Service Provider) we can experience random "down" time, however, our record-to-date for "up" time is competitive with the best available. How will my site look different from others in my industry? Each site is different based on content, logos, graphics and business "personality". All additional Web applications (e.g., chat, message boards, polls, events calendar, etc.) can be customized for you so your entire site is a professional extension of your business. Who will program my site? After deciding what you want your site to say and do - our Web Specialists will go to work to build a fully-functional site for your needs. When they are finished programming the site they turn it over to you - you need no technical knowledge to keep your Web site up and running. This is one of the key benefits of our solution - making changes and editing your site requires no HTML knowledge. If you do not want to maintain your site, for an additional fee, we can maintain it for you. For details regarding site maintenance contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com . What if my logo and graphics are in hardcopy? You can send us your logo and graphics via email or in hardcopy - our Web Specialists are able to scan in hard copy materials. You can also take advantage of our royalty free image library. It's all up to you. Which Custom Design Services Web Package is best for me? Refer to the Custom Design section for complete package details or simply contact us at support@bsystemsuk.com  and a Web Specialist will be happy to help you assess your needs and the packages available. Have a question not answered here? Contact us 6am-6pm PST, Monday through Friday at support@bsystemsuk.com .