How big is the internet?

According to Google, the world's largest internet search engine, there are over 3 billion web pages currently in existence. The number of individual Internet users is estimated to be 300 million. The number of both internet pages and internet users is growing rapidly.

In Australia, over 600,000 Australian specific '.au' domain names have been registered. Over 70% of Australians (and over 9 million per month) use the internet regularly, and most are letting their mouse 'do the walking', and often the buying as well. The average Australian internet user averages 25+ sessions per month.

As the internet emerges as the world's Information Super Library and the penetration of broadband internet takes hold (with a 39% annual growth rate in Australia), consumer expectations are burgeoning. As a result, businesses are recognising the importance and value of managing their online presence to enhance their visibility, interactivity and trading prospects.

Sources:  www.abs.gov.au     www.ausregistry.com.au

What are your online visitors looking for?

First and foremost, browsers are looking for you. Over 70% of consumers seek out new merchants via internet search engines. For this reason we jokingly say that "if you're not online, you don't exist" because so many of your potential customers are unlikely to find you without a convincing web presence.

Some of the key ways in which consumers seek you out online include internet search engines (like Google, NineMSN and Yahoo), by typing your website address into their internet browsers, by finding published articles you have posted online, via email campaigns, your own blog, online ads and online directories such as White Pages and Yellow Pages.

Your online visitors crave information above all else - this is why they have sought you out - to find out more about you, your products & services, your activities & procedures, your knowledge of the market and a myriad of other potential reasons. Research shows that online visitors also thrive on interactivity, communication and the opportunity to buy online.

Sources:    www.smallbiztrends.com    www.cchsmallbusiness.com.au



How do I stand out from the crowd?

Design. Design. Design. Ultimately, your website is no different from your corporate ID, window display or brochure/ catalogue - it's a key part of your marketing strategy and how you present yourself to your customers. For that reason good design and presentation are absolutely pivotal to making a good first impression and providing a user-friendly forum for your online visitors to find out about you. We've all been turned away from websites by bad design and poor formatting - for this reason aesthetic design and layout need to be at the forefront of the planning process.



Do people really buy online?

Yes they do, and they're doing it more and more often. Online sales made by Australian businesses are growing by approximately 30% year-on-year and are currently generating over $40 billion worth of revenues each year. Have you ever heard of eBay, Amazon or RSVP?

Sources:   www.ecommerce.treasury.gov.au    www.dcita.gov.au   

www.emarketer.com

Which websites work, and why?

With your website, when visitors only promise you a few seconds in which to make a lasting impression, your website demands a clear focus. Websites that look boring will too often be overlooked. Dare to be exciting, visually stimulating and memorable. Supply helpful, user-friendly, easy-to-digest information that your visitors want and need, then offer them the chance to interact in the experience. And above all be consistent and engaging, these key attributes will serve you as well on the world wide web as they do in the whole wide world.

Sources:   www.lib.berkeley.edu   

How are RedRock sites different to others?

RedRock Hosting is a one-stop website design, website support and online business company. We simplify the process of making our customer's businesses and organisations shine online by using easy, uncomplicated and cost effective systems to deliver the highest quality productive websites. Don't let our simple site fool you ... we hold several Page One spots on Google and Yahoo and because we run this only as an information site we have foregone the bells & whistles we could use.



Do I need to have my own Website Host?

Everything to do with keeping your website live and visible on the world wide web is handled by RedRock on your behalf. This service is involved as part of all RedRock packages.

Do I need to change my existing Domain Name and Hosting setup?

If you are happy with your current Domain there is no need to change. You will simply need to point your www 'A' record to the RedRock server or supply us with your Domain Name Management details and we'll organise it all for you.

I already have a website - will it stay online while you build my new site?

Yes, RedRock will build your new site on a temporary web address while your current site stays active.

Will I be able to update parts of my site regularly myself?

With the RedRock Website Manager, you can get into required pages to update photos and change text as often as you want. It's a simple, easy to use tool that's quick and user friendly.

How do I find out how many people have visited my site, and what they looked at?

RedRock offers site tracking and browser statistics that give detailed statistical tracking information about the visitors that are browsing the site. These reports are usually run quarterly however they are often used monthly in the beginning to find out more about the people who are looking at you and what they are looking for.

After my site is built, what sort of ongoing support does RedRock Hosting offer to customers?

Depending on which package you purchase, there will be a support structure in place for you. Existing customers will be able to access site maintenance facilities by either submitting a RedRock pro-forma maintenance request online (through the RedRock 'Website Manager') or by ringing a RedRock Customer Service representative.

• Email Support: 24/7

• Help Desk: 24/7 ( lodging a job ticket )

• Telephone Support: 10am – 7pm, ( Mon – Fri ) 0416.740.489

Will my website come up if people enter it in a Search Engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN?

Absolutely ... even without our targeted SEO service we build your site so Google will love it. Once you have the web address your business will show up in Google within days but we can't say what page it might be on.

RedRock Hosting offers Search Engine Optimisation* for all our clients as an affordable package that guarantees your Page One listing in any category you choose to target for your business. Think NICHE and succeed where others only dare to dream.

The importance of search engines can't be understated when it comes to your customers finding you quickly and easily online. Your RedRock Hosting SEO account ensures that your website will be optimised and made visible to the world's key search engines on an ongoing basis.

*Without Search Engine Optimization as few as one website in 100 will ever be found even when you know the name of the site you are looking for