FAQs

Do I Need to Update Content Regularly?

Regularly updating your content is important. Search engines love visiting websites that regularly offers fresh and engaging content. This is good for your business because it helps increase your search engine rankings. Similarly, regularly giving your customers informative content increases trust and shows how well you understand your industry.

Why Does My Business Need Content Marketing?

When people go to your website, they not only read how your business started or where to contact you. People tend to navigate other pages of your website to see if they’ll find anything more valuable. A blog section can be your medium to introduce new products, make announcements, and provide information about how your market can benefit from your offerings. Relevant, unique, and quality content helps build trust. It also helps make the job of selling easier.

What is Content Marketing?

Content marketing appears in several different formats, such as blog posts, articles, e-books, infographics, videos, press release, and audio recordings. Check out how we can help you stay up to date with your website content with our Packages.

Email Marketing Still Effective for Sales?

Email marketing remains effective despite the increasing presence of social media. With proper planning and execution, it can drive sales, acquire new customers, and retain existing clients.

How Many Changes Can I Make to My Website without Additional Costs?

Every project has an allotted number of hours to be spent on it. The number of hours allotted to your project is calculated through a number of factors: amount of web pages, amount of content provided vs. needs to be written, stock or custom graphics and any special features your project would like. You will be given the number of hours plus 2-3 revision rounds based on the size of the project. If your project allots this time due to indecisiveness on part of the client, additional billable hours will become necessary. If the project surpasses the timeline due to technical difficulties or unforeseen challenges, no additional charges will apply.

Can You Help Me with Photos for My Website?

Yes. We offer stock photography to all our clients. We can find pictures for you or you are welcome to pick them out to send us in the right direction. We also have a photographer on staff so custom graphics are available but will have to be discussed before the project to budget appropriate time for the project.

Can You Help Write Content for My Website?

Yes. We have professional copy writers to assist with writing content when it is needed.

What Platform Do You Build Your Websites On?

We almost work exclusively with WordPress to provide responsive and mobile-friendly websites. But depending on the scope of your project, we can also build websites without content management systems, build a custom content management system to fit your needs, or work with Joomla, Drupal, or Expression Engine.

Do I Own My Website?

Yes. Your website is 100% and you will have access to all information.

Will I Have Access to My Website?

Yes. You will have full access to your website and all media contained within it.

What if I Need Help with my Website After Its been Launched?

We do offer full WordPress training once sites are launched. Additionally, we offer Website Support and Maintenance Packages for those who would like to have us keep the site up-to-date.

How Does the Payment Process Work?

Our process is simple. First, a proposal will be discussed and agreed upon. At this point, 50% of the project fee is due. We will develop, design and finalize your site. When you are happy with the site and are ready to launch, the other 50% is due before we launch the site. Within 24 hours of receiving the last payment of the project fee, your website will be live.

How Long Does It Take to Create a Website?

It depends who you work with. Some designers can have it done in a few weeks; some can take up to six months. Our websites usually fall in the range of a 1-3 month turnaround time. In some cases, it may take shorter or longer. It depends on your project and details.

How Much Does a Website Cost?

The answer reflects the size of the website. While we sometimes take on smaller projects, our website projects are typically quoted between $3,000 and $20,000. Please don’t shy away if your budget is lower or higher, reach out to us and talk about your project. Every element of your project has a factor in the price.

Why Shouldn’t I Use a Company That Can Build Me a Website for $500?

You should use caution when dealing with a company that says they will build you a website for $500. If you’re paying for a $500 website it will look and perform like a $500 website. This means the website is most likely built with a template and therefore not unique to you and your brand. There will be nothing custom about your website. Additionally, it is likely that your website will not function as well as it could. It may not be mobile-friendly and if it runs slow, you will lose clients.
Understanding why a website costs as much as it does can cause a headache. That being said, keep in mind that a website represents you and your business. Our websites are built and made to fit your brand and business.

I am Unfamiliar with the Internet and Websites, Why do I Need a Website?

We are living in the digital age. Everyone goes online to find people to do business with. If you aren’t online, you are missing out on a very large amount of business. Your website will represent you and your business at all hours of the day and every day of the week. It’s vital for customers to have fast and easily accessible information about your business. Word of mouth is great, but without a website, your business will decline.

How Much Do You Charge for Social Media Services?

Our social media services are broken into monthly packages ranging from $195 to $2,400. You can check out all the details on our Social Media Packages page. We do make exceptions and customize packages when necessary.

What Social Media Networks Should I be On?

It depends on your industry and client base. B2Bs should be on LinkedIn. B2Cs should be on Facebook. There are a lot of factors that come into play when developing a social media strategy. Research of platforms and competitors is required as well as a clear vision for goals and objectives. We can help you put together a social media strategy, check our Social Media Packages.

How Many Social Media Networks Do I Need to be On?

This is up to you. You can be on one, you can be on 7. Our advice is to do research on your competitors and see where they are, or call us and we can do an analysis for you!

What Social Media Platforms Do You Manage?

We are experienced with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn. And Blogs...don't forget..Blogs were the first social media.

Do I Need Social Media Marketing for My Business?

Yes. Social media is one of the fastest growing forms of custom service and if you’re not there to answer your customers, they won’t be happy. Additionally, it helps with your reputation management. You need to be part of the conversation. And something that most don’t think about – it affects your search engine optimization efforts. Social media is a great way to build backlinks to your site and help your SEO.

OK I’m Sold What’s Next?

Let’s have coffee. Seriously. That’s the next step. We’d love to sit down with you and see what your company goals are and show you how we can help you. It’s a no-pressure meeting. Even if you don’t end up signing on with the Southern Tide Media team, we’ll hook you up with some great resources, tips, and tricks to help you on your way. We like meeting new people, and we’re good company. We’ll even buy the coffee.

Will I Be Locked Into a Contract for your Services?

We believe each client relationship should grow on trust and performance not a contract commitment. We only ask to allow us time to make thing work for you and the growth of your company.

How Involved Will I Be as the Client in the Project?

This is up to you. Some clients want us to work and design and see everything when it’s done. Other clients ask for check-ups along the way and still others are involved throughout the design process. We always encourage open communication between clients and our team to make sure all the clients need are being met.

Can You Help Me with My Branding and Manage all of Our Needs?

We can help our clients develop their brand based on their company’s already established brand guidelines or assist with launching a new brand strategy. Our complete Marketing and Management Package offers a number of services customized to fit your objectives.

One of the advantages of getting a team of experts to strategize on your company is that you can have more time to focus on the more important aspect of your business.

Southern Tide media can provide the following:

• Access to an entire team of highly-trained marketing specialists
• Team members who work well together
• Continuity of project work
• In-place structure to implement action items and measure return on investment
• Proven track record in the field
• No need to manage onboarding, HR, benefits, sick days, or vacation days
• Full knowledge of the latest platforms, strategies, and tools

How Do You Communicate with Clients?

During and after projects we are readily available to assist clients. We are of course available via phone or email but during projects we use a project management tool called Basecamp. This tool allows us to communicate about projects in one place so all parties involved in the project know what is going on at all time. It is a way to streamline communication so nothing falls through the cracks. Basecamp has improved our customer service efforts as well as increased productivity and organization of projects.

What Industries Are You Familiar With?

We have worked with almost every industry – hospitality, lawyers, healthcare, restaurants, financial, education, home maintenance, real estate, retail, nonprofits, environmental services, seasonal companies, consulting and training, e-commerce, health technology and everything in between.

How Many Clients Have You Worked With?

The simple answer is hundreds. Our work has included website development, email marketing, social media, digital and traditional marketing. You can check out our most recent work in our portfolio.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

Southern Tide Media was founded in 2012 by Brandon Evans and Mendel Bell. We don’t have a long history but we’re fueled with passion. Learn more on our about us page.