Service Offerings

WebStrands provides a wide range of Internet-related services for your convenience. We do not offer preconfigured 'packages' like so many other providers, because we customize your package to meet your needs. This approach allows you to purchase the features you want without wasting money on things you won't use. Many 'packages' offered by our competitors will be overstocked with things you wouldn't necessarily need (like 5000 FTP accounts), and lack certain key features many sites utilize (like subdomains) - unless you buy a more expensive package, that is...

We will work with you to identify exactly what services you require for your project and provide you with a suitable package - without making you pay for services you don't need. Please take your time examining our offerings below and then contact us to begin collaboration on your project.

Site Development

WebStrands hand codes all our work. That means we don't use WYSISWYGs or editors or development environments; we type in our code using a text editor - usually TextPad. This is a method rarely done these days, and has the advantage that we can do whatever we want programmatically. We are not constrained by our tools. Hand typing allows us to design our code to be efficient and flexible. We also have the ability to code to the project's needs. For example, in an intranet environment, you can usually expect all the web surfers to be using pretty much the same browser. You can then optimize your operate best in that browser.

WebStrands specializes in the following technologies, but can work with others:

Programming

HyperText Markup Language (HTML), JavaScript (JS), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Dynamic HTML (DHTML, which is really just a combination of the previous three), Visual Basic Script (VBS), Active Server Pages (ASP)

Database

Microsoft Access

Graphics

Standard Web graphic work utilizing leading software programs: Adobe PhotoShop & MacroMedia FireWorks

As we are first and foremost a web site development company, we tailor the rest of our service offerings around these core technologies.

Forms / Surveys

Almost anything you want to do with a user requires some type of form. Anything from signing-up for a mailing list to customizing a site to a user's preference to online shopping is usually achieved via a form of some kind. Many times a database is used to store the responses entered into the form by a user. We will work with you and help you determine exactly what you need for your project and provide you with data collection in whatever format you require, be that online and/or printable reports, data sent to email, or form results exported to a file.

Databases

Databases can be extremely useful and powerful tools. From image or product libraries to dynamically assembled content to data collection and storage, databases allow your site to be a highly functional and flexible entity. Databases are also often utilized in Web applications. Sophisticated tools built using Web technologies can be valuable additions to anything from a corporate intranet to a role-playing game group - or any site that has a need to consistently execute a certain task or procedure.

HTML of All Kinds

Besides Web pages, HTML is used in desktop as well as mobile help files and applications. It can be placed on a MS Windows Active Desktop. The design and functionality of MS Windows folders can be customized using HTML. Additionally, HTML pages can be run locally (that means right from your own machine) for a variety reasons. WebStrands can hand code very clean, customized, and optimized HTML for any use.

Web Hosting

We've found that there are thousands upon thousands of hosting providers out there - many of which charge a very high price for services that don't really cost them very much. Additionally, there are many scammers out there that pose as Web hosts. They provide terrible services or sometimes none at all and often trap you in costly contracts.

The point is, we thought that you shouldn't have to spend hours and hours researching a hosting company after spending hours selecting a company for design services. So, WebStrands offers Windows-based hosting at very competitive rates. Keeping with our philosophy, we customize the configuration of hosting features to your particular needs - with no service fees for altering your package in the future.

Domain Name Management

You can't have a site on the Internet without a domain name. New sites require new domain names and old sites may be paying to much for a domain name each year. Additionally, websites can utilize domain aliases (more than one domain pointing to one site, Ex: www.ewsmt.com and www.eastwestschool.com) and subdomains (replacing the www with something else, Ex: forum.webstrandsworkshop.com).

Communications Tools

All hosting plans come with some degree of email. Typically, at least info@yourDomain.com, although anything you like is fine by us. You may have as many boxes as you need, along with catch-alls, aliases, and auto-responders. You can download your POP3 mail to a client (like MS Outlook) or access it via your browser. If you need a mailing list, guest book, or forum for your site, we can do that for you as well.

Information Access

If you like to be in the trenches, you can edit you own sites, maintain your databases, and modify your accounts. However, if you are among the compuphobic or codephobic, we can handle everything for you. Additionally, you can have a privately accessible page on this website where you can see design proofs, work history, work pending, invoices, etc. All customers also have the option of a private forum on WebStrandsWorkshop.com where they can communicate privately with us. And, of course, you can always instant message or call us with questions or feedback.