Actorswebmaster, frequently asked questions

What I really want to know is HOW MUCH!

How much does a website cost?

ALL of our sites are custom designed – NO TEMPLATES! We believe that you are one-of-a-kind and so your website should be as well! Web design (up to 10 pages) is $495. Flat rate – no hidden fees.

Can you do FLASH?

We can do FLASH but any FLASH elements are NOT included in the $495 and are priced separately based on your needs.

How much will it cost if I register my domain with you?

$50/2 years to register your www.yourname.com

I already have my domain name through another company, do I have to pay you again for a domain name?

No, if you already own your domain name, there is no extra cost. Your domain will always remain yours and will remain with your current registrar. Your domain renewal fees come directly to you through that registrar.

What the heck is hosting and how much is it?

For a complete definition, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_hosting

Basically, hosting is parking your site on a server for the world to see. You have to have a “host” in order for your site to be viewed on the web. Our hosting includes unlimited MB storage (actors have a lot of video!) and FREE updates. Updates are guaranteed within 72 business hours Add pictures, video, change the colors… all included. Hosting is $21-28/month depending on if you pay yearly ($250/year) or quarterly ($28/month).

Okay, so what are the costs again?

$495 – 10-page Design ($245 deposit to get started)

$50/2 years – Domain Name (if you don’t already have yours)

$20-28/month hosting (includes all free updates)

$Varies – Any FLASH animation design

$Varies – Our $495 site does not include any special programming, user interface, or shopping carts.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, MC, VISA, and PayPal.

GETTING STARTED

I don’t have all my stuff organized – can I still get started?

Yes! We just need your headshot(s) for the home page to start designing!

How do I get started?

We meet with you via phone/Skype/in person and go over the marketing of your site. What makes you one-of-a-kind, what types of roles you go out on, and what you want to go out on… We go over your pictures, resume, bio, etc. 2 weeks from that date, we will give you 3 different drafts of the home page. You will pick one of those drafts and then we can further collaborate to make the best possible home page. The rest of the pages are not built until the home page is set. The #1 thing we need from you to get started is the headshot(s) you want on the home page. In the 2 week designing period, you will have plenty of time to get all your other materials together.

How do I send you all my stuff?

Email us. If the file is too big, use www.yousendit.com for FREE. You can also send us a flash drive or CD.

How long will it take to create my website?

The home page is 2 weeks. After that, it’s up to you… if you can make decisions quickly, the whole site can go up in 2 ½ weeks.

I need a website by tomorrow, can you help?

Well, that’s a little fast but if you need a “rush” site, we’ll do our best - there is an extra charge.

I want you to design my website designed but I want my husband’s company will host it for me.

Unfortunately, we do not design sites that we don’t host.

WEBSITE TRANSFERS

I already have a website!

My brother’s uncle’s neighbor was my web designer/updater and he moved to another planet – can you guys take over my site?

Yes! We do a “test transfer” for free to make sure your site will transfer to our servers. If everything transfers and you approve, we transfer your site for a $100 fee. At that time, your hosting starts (see hosting under PRICE) and we can do all your updates.

I paid for hosting through my brother’s uncle’s neighbor for 10 years, can’t you just update my site?

It is possible, we have to check to make sure we can get into the code, so CALL us on this one!

SUGGESTED PAGES

What do I even put on a website?

Your personal website is the last place YOU can control the content. The three most important items on your site are your headshot, your resume and a demo.

Home Page: Your headshot(s)

News: What’s happening now! Current castings, plays, short films, etc.

Resume Page: PDF of your resume for downloading and Resume Text

Bio Page: Bio telling the world who you are and what makes you so great!

Photo Gallery: Other headshots, set photos, print jobs. Rule of thumb here: less is more. You can get just as much across to the viewer with 10 pictures as you can with 30.

Demo Reel: Clips or full reels. If your reels are on youtube, we can capture that and embed on your site or you can give us your Quicktime, WMP, or Flash files. For Voice-Over, your MP3 or MP4.

Contact: Where to find you! Your agents, managers, voicemail, and we can create an email for you yourname@yourname.com

Other pages could be: Press, Reviews, Theater, Film Festivals, etc.

OTHER QUESTIONS WE HEAR A LOT

I really like the Dreamworks site and the Apple site, can you make one of those for me?

They are great sites – good design taste! Large companies have big IT departments where teams of people are hired just to design and maintain their sites. These kinds of sites are hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you like those sites because they are “simple”, “clean” or “easily navigable”, those are design elements we already incorporate!

I live outside of Los Angeles or I seriously don’t want to waste my time sitting in traffic to meet you guys, can we just do it over the phone?
Yes! We know actors have busy schedules and last-minute auditions. Let’s meet over the phone or via Skype. Everything we do can be accomplished via email and over the phone.

Can I sell stuff on my website?

Yes, included in the $495, we can set up PayPal buttons for you to sell your headshots, merchandise, etc.

My domain name is taken – what do I do now?

EVERYONE buys their domain names these days – not just actors and real estate agents. Whether or not you are going to build a website today or in 5 years, BUY YOUR NAME RIGHT THIS SECOND! Seriously, if you don’t, it could be gone. If www.yourname.com is taken, try www.yourname.net, www.your-name.com, www.yournameactor.com, www.theyourname.com Get creative! If your name is hard to spell, be sure to also buy a mis-spelled version. For example, if your name is www.nancyPHancy.com… you should also buy www.nancyFancy.com

How to I get Google to find me?

Google works on hierarchy… the more your website name is a link on other websites, your site is more likely to come up. Also, you can go to http://www.google.com/addurl/ to add your site to Google.

I have a small business, can you do a site for me?

Yes! Our prices vary depending on the complexity of your business, but, yes we love to do small business sites!

I have lots of reviews that are hard copies – can you scan them?

Yes, we scan for an extra fee. We can san up to 8 ½ x 14.

Do Casting Directors really look at personal actor sites?

Yes! Many of our actors have been booked on jobs DIRECTLY from their websites! You have to be online in order to compete, especially in the “independent” film market. If you don’t have an agent, use it as tool to follow up with agents. They have no excuse to not see your reel… it’s 2 clicks away. If you have agents, get them on board with your site when they are pitching to casting directors. “Remember, Joe Smith, he came in on your show last year? Just go to www.joesmith.com”.

How do I get free hosting?

Refer a friend and you get 3 months FREE hosting!