Digital Marketing
worry free
We’re here to help.
Having a website crisis or an email emergency? Don’t panic, we have your back. Even when our office is closed, we are available via email and also have an online support portal available to you.
From your desktop or phone, you can easily:
- Request changes to your website
- Submit a new project request (e.g. a new logo. Or maybe help setting up a complex Web Application)
- Ask for help troubleshooting an issue
- Inquire about something in general
Just visit our Client Care Portal by clicking below. We highly recommend setting up an account so you can access all of your current and past tickets as well as their on-going status.
FAQs
Accounts and Billing
Is there a cost to get an estimate on my project?
Most all of our estimates are done without charge to the customer. However, with larger scale web projects which require additional planning and consultation with the client we do bill out for our research and preparation time. The advantage to paying for consulting on a large estimate is that all the planning specifications and research is yours to keep, even if you ultimately go with another web developer.
Can I pay my invoice or project prepayment online?
Yes, you most certainly can. All of our invoices and estimates include a link to our payment page. If you cannot locate it, go here: Submit a Payment. From there you may pay your invoice/bill or make a project prepayment. We accept all major credit cards and PayPal.
Web Design
How much do websites cost?
The cost of a website can vary greatly based on a variety of factors such as site size, complexity, features, and time constraints. A small site can be built for as little as $500 while a larger site could start in the thousands of dollars.
Maintenance is another consideration for cost. Content management system (CMS) sites, such as those built using WordPress, require regular maintenance to keep them running properly and secure. Some clients can handle these updates but most will need someone to take care of them. These can run up to several hundreds of dollars a year depending on the website’s complexity and size.
We recommend our Managed WordPress hosting for these clients.
How long does it take to build a website?
The time it takes to design and develop a website can vary greatly based on a variety of factors such as site size, complexity, features, and client involvement. Small or simple websites can take as little as 4-8 hours to complete, while larger ones can be weeks or even months of production time.
It is important to note that the work can span multiple departments and/or individuals. So, while the total project hours may be small in some cases, it does take time to schedule back and forth between departments and review. Client interaction also plays a role and can introduce changes and new work into the production flow.
Can I start with a smaller site and add to it as time goes on?
You sure can! Oftentimes this is the best approach if you aren’t sure what direction you want to go with your website or if your budget is limited. Another option is to build the website using a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress so you can add content and pages yourself over time.
Does Zee Creative work with non-profits?
Absolutely! Giving back is a vital part of our community’s success and our own well-being. So much of our success is centered on the personal gains one makes by working harder and achieving more. The very nature of goodwill that so many of us have learned since the early days of grade school is to “treat others as you yourself would like to be treated”. In so many ways, this golden rule is forgotten in the busy and stressful life of today.
A vision for the future must be carved from the efforts of those who can provide help and assistance. Enriching the community we all live in only brings to light the beauty of true friendships and a better tomorrow.
Zee Creative donates a portion of their labor and services each year to a Giving Back fund for the greater Billings, Montana Community. Since 1998, Zee Creative has sponsored and donated our time and services to numerous causes, non-profits and events.
Giving Back is a positive way to impact the community through goodwill and volunteer services. Zee Creative is privileged to assist a greater cause or sponsor an up and coming team!
Zee Creative’s success is due to the help and goodwill of others, and we think it best to do our part to pay it forward.
Do you work with out of state clients?
Yes, we work with clients remotely all the time via phone, email, Skype, chat, etc. Our client base stretches from California to Florida and Canada to South America. We always enjoy the old face-to-face in our Billings, Montana office, but we are comfortable working via other means as necessary.
What do you need from me to start the website estimate process?
To get started, please provide us with an overview of your web site in bullet outline form with as much detail on the pages and sections of the site as possible. Include any specifics on functionality that you are expecting for both administrative and public facing parts of your site. These would be details like e-commerce, forms, search functionality, secure areas, logins, etc. Also, provide a few examples website designs that you like, your project timeline/deadline and any budget constraints.
If you’d like to get started on a new project, please give us a call or request a quote online.
Can you help us with a website that was programmed or designed by someone else?
Yes, in most cases. We do work with the major programming languages, databases and content management platforms such as WordPress.
Can you edit a website builder site that’s on another host?
Probably, but it will depend largely on the web builder service you used. We can sometimes get a copy of the site files via ftp or collect them via a browsing tool. However, some web builders don’t allow you to copy or move your website at all. In either case, working with a website builder site outside their system may not be the best option moving forward. Please contact us and we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons.
Will you work with my current web designer?
Yes, we work with all types of clients and businesses, including their designers. So if you would like to keep your current designer and have us fill in the gaps, we are happy to do so.
Can I edit my own site without knowing code?
Yes, a content management system (CMS) like WordPress is exactly what you are looking for. We can help you assess your web project and find the best fit. We will even show you how to use it.
Do you have any options for an e-commerce website on a budget?
Yes, we have a variety of solutions for e-commerce websites including some very cost effective ones. Please contact us for more details.
Do you offer maintenance contracts?
Yes we do. Please let us know if this your preferred approach to managing ongoing updates and maintenance costs.
Web Development
Do you build custom web applications?
We build custom web applications as well as custom WordPress plugins. Please send us your project requirements to get a quote today.
I want to use WordPress for my website but I need features that require custom programming. Can you help?
We can create custom PHP applications that run alongside your WordPress website or create custom plugins that extend it. If you can dream it up, we most likely can build it.
I need help upgrading my WordPress website. Can you help?
Yes, we can assist you with your WordPress upgrade on a case-by-case basis. We can also move your site to our fully Managed WordPress hosting that covers security and major updates and more. Please contact us for details.
Can you help me cut down the amount of SPAM I get from my website contact form?
Yes. In most cases you just need to have a captcha added to your contact form which is an easy, cost-effective fix. Give us a call and we’ll get it taken care of for you.
What is PCI compliance and does it apply to my website?
The Payment Card Industry (PCI), which includes MasterCard and Visa, requires banks, online merchants and Member Service Providers (MSPs) to protect cardholder information. This is done by adhering to a set of agreed-upon security standards. The Payment Card Industry security standard includes MasterCard’s Site Data Protection (SDP) program and Visa’s Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP). This applies to in-house handling of credit card data as well as online.
Many sites use solutions that do not comply with these standards. If you have questions on how this may apply to your website, please contact us. We are happy to assist you.
Can you set up a merchant account to process online payments for my e-commerce store?
Sure thing! We can set up a direct line into your account with a secure payment solution so clients can pay for merchandise and services right on your website. Then your online store can be linked to a payment gateway with around the clock availability to local and out of state customers. With easy to use functions and affordable pricing, launching a website with a merchant account is much like opening a new store – that’s available to everyone. Accepting payments or donations online can increase revenue and accessibility to clients from afar.
We have expertise with all the popular payment systems and gateways including PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.net, and we’ll even help you set up your account. We’ll also ensure your payment system is secure and safe for your clients.
Questions? Ask us, we have extensive knowledge working with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, applications for shopping carts, payment systems, and virtual terminals.
Web Hosting
What is web hosting and why do I need it?
Web hosting is a type of internet service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible on the World Wide Web. Websites are stored, more widely referred to as ‘hosted’, on purpose-built computers called servers.
Zee Creative offers web hosting (storage space) on our web servers for use by our clients and provides Internet connectivity to that server via a data center. Without these pieces your website would not be accessible to internet users.
I don’t know who hosts my website. Can you help me find out who has it?
Yes, usually it can be tracked down through a WHOIS search on your domain records.
If you would like to try to search yourself, you can use the search feature below. The registrar is most likely your website host.
Do you offer dedicated hosting solutions?
For clients with specific hosting requirements – heavy traffic, large storage requirements, or application loads – a dedicated web hosting solution may be the right choice. Each web server is built to suit the needs of the client. Let us know what you need and we’ll put together a quote.
Are your web servers backed up?
Absolutely. Our semi-dedicated and dedicated servers are backed up daily to tape with weekly rotations. Our cloud-based servers are backed up using a daily snapshot approach. Our Managed WordPress Hosting provides additional website backup options such as off-site and incremental.
Contact us if you need us to restore a file for you. If you have increased or additional backup needs we can setup a custom solution for you.
Do your web hosting plans include any email accounts?
We no longer offer this with our hosting. Many of our clients have other solutions for email, such as Gmail, Office365 or internal Exchange servers, that negate the need for packaged web hosting and email plans.
Do your web hosting plans include web statistics?
Because Google Analytics is a free and complete statistical solution, we do not offer any server-based stats other than raw log files upon request. If you need help setting up Google Analytics, please let us know.
Can I setup subdomains?
Yes, our web hosting plans do support subdomains. Please contact us for details and plan details.
Can I host my website elsewhere?
Yes you can, but be sure to check what requirements your site needs to run properly. Static HTML sites can be hosted almost anywhere but websites that use PHP and MYSQL, including WordPress websites, have specific requirements. There are benefits to hosting with your web developer so be sure to weigh the pros and cons before making the move.
I accidentally overwrote a file on my website. Is there a way to restore the file?
Most likely – but it will depend on the interval between when the file was deleted and the last backup. If it existed when the last backup ran we can retrieve it for you. Also, if your website uses WordPress you may be able to restore the page to a prior version. Additional costs can be involved depending on your hosting plan and the age of the file needing to be retrieved.
Domains
How do I reset my domain password?
1. Point your web browser to https://zeecreative.shopco.com/site/login and click the link “Forgot log in information?“.
2. Select ‘Domain’ or “Username’ depending on which one you remember, and click the “Send Password” button.
3. Please note that the email will be sent to the email address that is associated with the domain account.
If you don’t have access to that account, or don’t know what it is, please contact support for further assistance.
How do I merge domains into one account?
If you reserved your domain through Zee Creative, you can use the following steps to merge your domain names into one account.
1. Go to https://zeecreative.shopco.com/site/login
2. Pick which account you would like to have the other domain names moved to.
3. Log in to the account that contains the domains you want to move.
4. Click “Account Information” on the left hand side of the screen.
5. Under “Merge Accounts”, which is located on the bottom right, click on “Move domains into another user account”.
6. Click the little box on the left of the domain name that you want to move.
7. Click “Continue”.
8. Select “Existing Account” and enter the username and password for the account you wish to move the domain into.
9. Click “Continue”.
10. A little gray box will pop up. When it says “Done”, click continue.
How do I renew my domain name?
If you reserved your domain through Zee Creative, you can use the following steps to renew your domain name.
1. Go to https://zeecreative.shopco.com/site/login
2. Enter your username and password. (If you don’t have that information, click “Forgot your password or account information” and it will be emailed to you).
3. Click “Log In”.
4. Find the domain name you wish to renew.
5. Check the little box under “Renew” on the left hand side of your domain name.
6. Click “Set checked domains for renewal” on the bottom.
7. A little grey box will pop up. When it says “All Done” click “Continue”.
8. Select the amount of years you would like to renew for.
9. If you wish to auto renew in the future, check the little box that says “Turn on Auto Renew to automatically renew your domain every year”. The box is directly under the options for the amount of years you can choose to renew for.
Note: You will need to make sure your credit card information stays up to date. If you credit card expires before it renews, it will not automatically renew and you will need to do it manually.
10. After the Auto Renew box is checked click “Done”.
11. Then it will take you through the payment process. Enter in your payment information.
12. Check the little box under the payment information that says “I agree to the terms and conditions”. This must be checked or it won’t process.
13. Click “Buy Now”.
How do I update the WHOIS information on my domain?
If you reserved your domain name through Zee Creative, you can use the following steps to update your WHOIS information on your domain.
1. Go to https://zeecreative.shopco.com/site/login
2. Log in to your account. (If you don’t have that information click “Forgot your password or account information” and it will be emailed to you).
3. Under “Your Domains” click on “Contacts”.
4. Check the box next to the domain name you wish to update.
5. Click “Continue”.
6. Change the desired information.
7. Click “Continue”.
I have multiple domain names I want pointing to my main domain. Can you set this up?
Yes, there are multiple ways this can be done, such as domain pointing and aliasing. Depending on your particular setup, this often can be done in the domain control panel. Please contact us so we can assist you in finding the best solution.
My previous web designer reserved my domain name under their name. Am I stuck finding a new domain name?
Fortunately, the answer is “probably not.” Very rarely will you be forced to find a new domain name. Please reach out to us if you find yourself in this situation and we will help you determine what is the best course of action.
My domain name has expired. What can I do?
If it hasn’t been too long since it expired it can be relatively simple and inexpensive to retrieve. If weeks have passed, it may have been purchased by another individual or be in a locked stage by the domain registrant. Contact us if you need help with your domain and we can help you track down the status & review your options.
I lost my domain information and login. Can you help me?
Yes, we can help. If you know the email address or username associated with the domain you can request a password reset. If you don’t know the username or password, you may need to fill out a bit of paperwork to satisfy the domain registrant but it is rarely a difficult process. Let us know if we can help.
How long does it take for my domain name to come up once the DNS has been updated?
Once DNS settings have been updated it can take up to 24- 72 hours for DNS propagation to complete, but it can often be as quick as a few hours. In some cases you may need to restart your computer to force your PC to see the updates. Other devices such as routers and firewall may also need to be rebooted to clear cached settings.
Let us know if you are having trouble during, or after, a site/domain move.
How do I find out what domain names are available?
Check out our user friendly domain name finder and get the URL you’ve been hoping for, or pick from a list of suggested options created by your search.
Zee Creative is an OpenSRS retailer with a surplus of top-level, mobile, and premium domains to choose from as well as domains focused to specific regions and 80 different countries. Somalia, Australia, Italy, Guatemala, oh my! It’s like Christmas. Yes, they have the Christmas Islands too.
It’s easy, user friendly, and searching is free. Type in your business name or preferred website URL and find out what’s available. From there click ‘register’ and you are set.
Digital Marketing
Can I redesign my website without losing search engine rankings?
We have several techniques that help prevent permanent search ranking drops due to a redesign. Give us a call for more information and an estimate.
Can you help me add Google Analytics to my website?
Yes. Adding Google Analytics is a simple process that just requires adding a bit of code to your website pages. We can add this directly into the code for you or, if you are using WordPress, it can be done via a plugin. Please note that you will need to have a Google account in order to access your Analytics data.
Do I need to add social media to my website?
In most cases it is a very good idea. That being said, social media isn’t right for everyone – particularly those that don’t have much time to work on their websites or dislike interacting with social media.
Learn more about our social media marketing.
Can you help me set up a Facebook page for my business?
Yes, we can. Facebook is quite easy to use but can be initially intimidating for those that aren’t familiar with social media or those that just don’t have the time. Let us know if you would like some help setting up your business page or posting updates.
Can you help me setup a WordPress blog?
We certainly can. Installing WordPress on your domain just takes a few minutes, and you’ll be up and running right away since blogging functionality is an integral part of WordPress. If you sign up for our Managed WordPress Hosting it comes preinstalled, and, even better, we maintain it for you. If you would like us to customize the features or look of your blog, just let us know.
Signs
My sign broke or is worn out. Do I have to get a new one?
When your once-stunning signage loses its shine, suffers damage in a storm, or falls off the wall, you might assume the only option is to replace it. While we are always thrilled to take on new projects, sign repair and refurbishment are also within our realm of expertise.
We create exterior signs of all kinds, and we repair all kinds too. From indoor to outdoor and simple to complex, we can diagnose and repair your signage.
Having trouble with a sign from another vendor? We may be able to help.
How do I prevent my sign from wearing down quickly?
After years of steadfast service, your signage can get a bit run down. Colors start to fade, fasteners wear out, electrical components for your sign lighting go bad, and so on. The good news? We’re here to help!
Proper maintenance can stop that wear & tear in its tracks and prevent a costly repair (or total replacement) down the road.
Having trouble with a sign from another vendor? We may be able to help.
What options do I have for business signage?
Our portfolio includes all varieties of exterior & interior signs plus vehicle wraps, banners, and more in an array of materials, sizes, and unique custom shapes. See our portfolio for all our sign projects.
Knowledge Base
We carefully curated research articles and quick reads delivering you relevant topics to help you achieve a deeper understanding of the tools we use to help your business succeed.
