Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the many services we offer.

Quick Search

Advanced Search

FAQs

Below are some of the more commonly asked questions about our many creative services. If you have a question that is not listed, please feel free to call us at 678-969-0448 or e-mail us.

General FAQs and Answers

How do you charge for your services?
For most web sites and print projects, we will quote a project price. We always provide a detailed project proposal. We believe in staying within our quoted price so you can budget for your marketing needs without worrying about unexpected charges. Occasionally, we will take on a project which is better suited as a time and materials project, however, we would provide an estimate so you would know what to expect.

Back to FAQ List

Do you charge for an initial consultation?
No. We believe that it is important to get to know a new potential client and to learn more about your particular marketing needs. We will be happy to provide you a marketing questionnaire which you can complete and email back to us before or after our initial meeting so we have as much information as possible about your company and the project at hand.

In the case of very large and complex projects, where research is needed to determine the exact scope of the project or where technical specifications may be lacking, there may be a few hours of consultation needed.

Back to FAQ List

Do you work with companies that are located outside of the Atlanta, Georgia area?
Yes. When possible, we like to meet with clients face to face. Since so much of the work we do is visual in nature, and with all projects being documented, whether a client is across town or across the country, we can easily communicate and meet online throughout the project.

Back to FAQ List

Can you help us with creating a marketing budget and a realistic marketing plan? We don't have a marketing director or marketing staff.
Sure—we can help you. We have over 20 years of experience working with large and small companies with a wide range of marketing budgets and challenges. Once we understand your overall business and marketing goals, we can put together a marketing plan that will help you reach or exceed your marketing goals.

Back to FAQ List

I see you are an Interspire Partner. Do you provide software integration for applications by companies with whom you are not a partner?
Yes. We realize that every client's goals and needs are different, and while Interspire makes great web software, there may be other specialized software solutions that are more appropriate. Most projects have a discovery and requirements documentation phase where we work closely with clients to determine what is needed and what is an appropriate software solution.

Back to FAQ List

Website FAQs and Answers

We have an outdated web site—do I have to provide you a new site map and detailed specifications before we can talk about re-designing the site?
A brief outline of what pages you wish to keep and what new pages you are adding is enough to get the dialogue started. As part of our initial design meeting, we will work with you to deterime all your project requirements and to create detailed website specifications as needed.

Back to FAQ List

Do you provide web site hosting?
We work with several website hosting companies and we can refer you to the right company for your website needs. We only work with hosting companies we have direct experience with, and, depending upon the complexity of your website, we match your website needs with the right company. We can also assist with moving your web site from your current hosting company if needed.

Back to FAQ List

How can I tell how many people are visiting my web site and which pages are being viewed the most?
Our web hosting accounts include a web site analysis feature which allows you to view your web site statistics anytime. From the number of unique visitors to most popular pages, it's easy to learn how your web site is being used. We can also assist you with integrating Google Analytics, which is a great tool for understanding how your website is used by visitors, and can also offer web site strategy and periodic review of your web site statistics to make sure your web site is performing as expected.

Back to FAQ List

Can you register a domain name for me?
Yes, we can assist you with registering a domain name. It only takes a few minutes.

Back to FAQ List

Do you make updates to web sites?
Yes. We provide web site maintenance for several clients. Routine web site updates can be done in a few days, but if you have an emergency and need updates made quickly, we are very responsive to clients' needs. Depending upon your maintenance needs, we can set up a plan to give as much or as little time as needed.

Back to FAQ List

How much does a web site cost?
There are several factors involved. One is the total number of pages. Another major factor is the number of website features such as databases, photography, whether a client provides copy or not, if a content management system is needed, and other factors. Smaller web sites with static content are the least expensive to create. More complicated web sites with e-commerce or databases and administration capability will take more time to develop and test, thereby making them more costly. Design-First will provide you a written proposal based on your web site needs.

Back to FAQ List

Can you update an older web site and give it a more contemporary look?
Yes. Your existing content can be combined with a brand new look and feel. In addition, we can help you analyze how your web is currently being used so the redesigned web site will be much more functional.

Back to FAQ List

My website has been up for a while, but I'm not listed on most of the search engines. Can you get us listed?
Yes. While we cannot guarantee top placement in all of the search engines, we can definitely take steps to make sure your website has the programming necessary for search engines to find and properly catalog your website.

Back to FAQ List

Can we add an Email Newsletter system to our website?
Yes. This is a very cost-effective marketing tool and a great way to leverage your website traffic. Many of our clients are also using email newsletters to keep in touch with existing clients in addition to providing information and news to potential customers. Design-First can provide a system which will give you unlimited lists, and unlimited emails per month as well as a custom email template.

Back to FAQ List

What is involved in selling products through our website?
We start with a "discovery" process, which helps us to understand the scope of work and your short-term and long-term goals. Once we have a thorough understanding of the ecommerce project needs, we will provide you a detailed proposal with application recommendations and all costs for implementing e-commerce through your website or through a catalog store website.

Back to FAQ List

Graphic Design FAQs and Answers

I will need product shots for my catalog. Can you provide photography?
Design-First works with photographers and can provide photography services as needed. Depending on the project and where you are located, we can usually locate a photographer who is convenient to your office. Design-First can also provide art direction if needed.

Back to FAQ List

We have a customer mailing list but we need help with postcard mailings—can you help us?
Absolutely. Design-First can create all your postcard artwork, help with the printing and work with a mailing service so you can have cost-effective mailings using pre-sorting.

Back to FAQ List

Can you help us with branding a new product we have developed?
Yes. We can help you to create a logo and develop a strategy for branding which will make you product stand out from the competition.

Back to FAQ List

I need a brochure for mass mailings—can you recommend a printer?
Even better, we can assist with getting you printing quotations and making sure that a cost-effective and quality conscious printer prints your project. We can even handle press proofs with you to make sure that color fidelity is perfect.

Back to FAQ List

We have some basic marketing materials, but we need a catalog and a new look. How do we get started?
Design-First can review your current marketing materials and discuss with you what you have in mind in terms of a catalog. The more we know about your marketing goals and your target audience, the better able we will be to make recommendations that both fit your budget and your goals.

Back to FAQ List

I need a PowerPoint presentation for my sales presentations. Can you create PowerPoint slide shows?
Yes, we can help you with the design and copy editing. We can also assist with animations within the presentation to keep the viewer interested throughout the presentation.

Back to FAQ List

Printing FAQs and Answers

We have some existing marketing materials which need to be reprinted. Can you handle the printing for us if we provide you the pre-press files?

Yes, in most cases. We will need to check your files to make sure bleeds have been accounted for, and that there are no issues with the support files. On typical projects we do all the design work and all the pre-press work so we know the project files are compatible with the printing process, but from time to time, a client will have project files that were created by other pre-press sources.

What exactly does "Pre-Press" mean?

Pre-press refers to all work that is done to digital files prior to the printing project being put into production and actually printed. Pre-press is a catch all phrase that can include the design, typesetting, photograph retouching and conversion to CMYK, illustration, color correction, proofing and revision work.

Projects typically go through a design stage where concepts are presented to clients, and after approval, actual production work begins. Pre-press work for Design-First, is an extension of the design work already completed, but includes some final file preparation to make sure all image files used are converted to CMYK from RGB, that all image files are of the correct resolution for offset lithography printing, bleeds are correct and that all text is converted to outlines so there will be no font issues when the pre-press file is received and processed by the printer.

My web designer did some print graphics for us, but the text and overall quality of the work was horrible. How can I fix the image resolution problems?

Website designers tend to work with low resolutions, either 72 or 96 dpi, and with files that are optimized for fast downloading over the Internet. Print designers work with graphic files that typically are 300 dpi. Very low resolution photograph files will result in very poor quality printing results.

The best solution is go back to the source photographs, which ideally are 300 dpi or higher, and to avoid scaling up very small images which can also lead to poor image reproduction.

I have some marketing materials that need minor corrections before they are printed. Can you help us with this?

Yes. In most cases we can work from your files, provided you have adequate support files such as fonts. If the files provided to us are "flattened" or were created with an application we do not have, making text changes may be challenging, but not impossible.

We need a very unusual marketing piece created—it's an odd size and it has some diecutting and special folding requirements. Can you design and print this for us?

Yes! Design-First can help with both the design and the printing. The founder of Design-First has an extensive background in printing so we are quite adept in designing work that is both creative and cost-effective to print.