FastTrack Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you wanted to know about FastTrack

FastTrack Orientation Questions

What is FastTrack?

FastTrack is program designed to deliver a simple professional looking website quickly and affordably and to provide the training you need to independently maintain and update your website. Websites are built on the popular WordPress platform using a high quality commercial theme (template).

How does it work?

FastTrack uses a simple self-serve model and step by step guide that helps you to plan and prepare content which you submit to us through an online form. Our designers and developers then create your website from the material and direction you provide. You can review the site and make minor changes before it goes live. You will be taught how to manage and update your website in a scheduled WordPress tutorial.

How much does it cost?

FastTrack costs $499. Optional add-ons and additional customization are available for an extra cost. See the list of Standard FastTrack Add-ons for details.

What’s included with FastTrack?

FastTrack includes:

• A six page website built in WordPress for easy content management
• Banner design and colour treatment
• One year hosting and one year domain name registration
• One hour training in WordPress
• (Optional) Free stock image for banner from istock.com (up to 10 credits).

Is there a limit to the content on my page or website?

Within the cost of the FastTrack Program a page can include up 500 words of text and 2 images. Across the website (and included within the base cost of FastTrack) you can have an additional 3 images, 20 inline links, one table and 3 blank pages integrated into the menu, ready for your content input. We can create additional content but additional charges will apply. If you wish to add additional images and content yourself, you will learn to add images, links and other content during your tutorial. The total amount of content per page or across the site is only limited by disk space and what you feel is an acceptable page load time.

When will I be charged?

FastTrack projects are charged after you submit your website content through the FastTrack form and before design and development begins.

How do I know what my site will be like?

We have produced a number of FastTrack samples showing websites for different markets and illustrating some of the optional FastTrack Add-ons. Each sample breaks out the additional optional costs where applicable and provides an illustrative Content Template Sample that shows how the content would be submitted to us. A portfolio of completed FastTrack Projects is also available.

How is FastTrack Different from Essentials?

Essentials is our flagship website product. It operates on a consultation basis, delivers a custom website, involves considerably more design and development time and includes search engine optimization, social media and mechanisms for ongoing measurement. It is intended for companies whose website and online presence plays a significant role in their business model or lead generation. Read the detailed FastTrack vs Essentials Comparison for more information.

How does Webnames.ca achieve such great value with FastTrack?

FastTrack offers great value because we pack as much into it as we possibly can. We do this by designing the best possible core product, then getting very, very (very) good at delivering it efficiently. This lets us focus our time on creating an amazing website for you.

Customization Questions

Can FastTrack be customized?

Yes. FastTrack delivers a completed six page website, but you can request additional features and add-ons as part of your project. There is a list of Standard FastTrack Add-ons, most of which are priced between $30-$90. You will learn to do a lot of things yourself during your tutorial, but you can also request additional pages, images, graphic design and development either as part of the project or through one of our WordPress Support Plans.

Will I be able to get my FastTrack site to look exactly like I want it?

FastTrack makes use of great looking commercial themes that give a lot of added value. Modifying the themes to look a particular way can end up being more costly than starting from scratch. FastTrack is ideal if you want a great looking site but don’t have too many preconceived notions of exactly how it will look. If you require a specific look, we highly recommend a custom design, which is available through Essentials. Review the sample sites and portfolio of projects to get a sense of how your site might look.

FastTrack Limitations

Is there a limit to the number of pages I can have on my site?

FastTrack delivers a finished 6 page website but there is no theoretical limit to the number of pages you can add to a WordPress website. You can add pages and images, extend the menus and add more and more functionality as your website grows with your business. You can also call on us to help as and when you need us through one of our flexible WordPress Support Plans.

What if I need more images on a page?

A page in a FastTrack project includes up to 2 images. If you need more images for a particular page, they can be added for $10/image (excluding the cost of stock photography, if required). You will also learn to add images in your tutorial if you prefer to add them yourself. Additional graphic design is available at an hourly rate, if required. See the list of Standard FastTrack Add-ons for more details.

Is there a limit to the size of files/images I can upload to my site?

The total size of files you upload to your website is based on the disk space available with your hosting plan. The plan included for one year with FastTrack includes 1Gb of disk space. The largest individual file that can be uploaded to your website is 10Mb.

FastTrack Project Questions

Can I work with a consultant to help me plan my website?

FastTrack projects follow a simple self-serve model with a step by step guide for planning and submitting your content to us. We are able to answer specific questions if you get stuck with the FastTrack Guide or Form, but if you prefer to work with a website consultant you should opt for the Essentials program.

Can I get help with specific questions on the FastTrack form?

You can call (1.866.976.9835) or email us (FastTrack@webnames.ca) if you have any questions about completing the FastTrack form and a member of the FastTrack team will be happy to help.

Tutorial Questions

What’s involved in the WordPress tutorial?

The WordPress Tutorial has been created to teach you how to use WordPress to independently edit and maintain your website. It is a one hour telephone-based structured tutorial with a WordPress trainer and includes training materials you can keep for future reference.

What will I learn?

During your WordPress Tutorial you will become familiar with the WordPress Administration Panel, learn to edit and add pages, format text, add links and images and manage the menu system. You will also learn about version control, creating blog posts, managing administration settings and be introduced to the concept of plugins and widgets.

How many people are in a tutorial?

There may be up to three FastTrack customers in a tutorial, but the majority of tutorials are one on one.

How do schedule my tutorial?

After we complete your FastTrack website we will send you a link to a Change Request and Tutorial Booking form. You will be asked to provide three times that would be convenient for your tutorial and we will confirm one of the date/times with you.

Do I need to prepare anything for the tutorial or have anything ready?

Your tutorial is conducted by telephone and you need to have a computer, internet browser (preferably FireFox) and internet connection available. You will need to be able to open a PDF file to view the tutorial document, which may be printed and kept for future reference.

What if I need to cancel/reschedule?

If you need to reschedule your tutorial, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.

Revision Questions

Can I request revisions to my FastTrack project?

Once we finish your FastTrack website we will send you a private link so that you can review the site before we make it available to the public at your domain name. You may request minor revisions to the site within the context of FastTrack. If you need to make major revisions or would like us to undertake additional work on the site, you can arrange additional time on an hourly basis or through a WordPress Support Plan.

How do I submit my revisions?

When we send you the link to review your site we will include a link to an online Change Request form. You can use the Change Request form to submit your changes and to schedule your WordPress Tutorial.

How extensive can the revisions be?

There is limited time assigned to revisions within the basic cost of FastTrack, however we find that we can accommodate many of the changes we receive within the tutorial and use requested changes as an opportunity to help you learn to manage your site.
Some changes fall outside the time allocated for revisions and sometimes there may be several options for accommodating a requirement. In these cases we will present you with options during your tutorial and request your instruction before proceeding.

Satisfaction/Licensing Questions

How can I be sure I’ll be happy with my website?

We want you to be delighted with your new website and the best way ensure that is to have a clear picture of what to expect. We have several resources to help you understand what your FastTrack project will be like and encourage you to review them and to contact us if you still have any questions.

• FastTrack Overview
• Sample Sites
• FastTrack vs Essentials Comparison
• Getting the Most from your FastTrack Project

Can I get a refund if I don’t like my website?

We hope you’ll love your new website and to date all of our clients have been very satisfied with their FastTrack projects. In the unlikely event that you don’t like your site and no agreement can be reached, we will refund up to 50% of the purchase price in order to help cover our direct costs. We will not be able to include the tutorial or one year hosting/domain registration the case that a refund is made. If you require a copy of the work undertaken, we can provide a zip file of the site for $60 which will be deducted from the refunded amount.

Who “owns” the website?

You effectively own the website. There are various licenses involved with your website and you should review each in detail. The licenses involved with your website include but may not be limited to:

• Your use of the WordPress platform
• The terms of the Wordpress theme
• The terms of any stock imagery that may be used on your site
• The terms of hosting email and domain name registration
• The terms of the design and development of the site

Where can I find copies of terms and licenses?

FastTrack Terms & Conditions can be found at the bottom of the Online FastTrack Form.

 

Image and content terms and licenses are provided by the provider of your images and content. In cases where Webnames.ca provides images, such as the main banner, the image is licensed to Webnames.ca for use on your site. Such images can only be used on your site in the context they were provided. If you need to use the image for any other purpose, you must independently obtain a license directly from the provider.

 

Your WordPress license can be found in the httpdocs folder of your website.

 

Your Theme license can be found in the theme folder of your website.

 

Plugin licenses can be found in the plugin folders of your website. They can normally be viewed through the WordPress Administration panel under Plugins > Editor. Select the plugin and view the license.txt file.

How long is the warranty on my new website?

Your website has a 30 day warranty from the date it is deployed to the public.

WordPress Support Plan Questions

Will I be able to manage my website by myself?

Your WordPress tutorial will teach how to maintain and update your WordPress website (See “What will I learn?” in the Tutorial Questions section of the FastTrack FAQ). Depending on your level of expertise, there may be some things that you feel are beyond your experience. For these cases we have developed a range of WordPress Support Plans if you ever need some extra help.

Do I have to have a WordPress Support Plan?

No, our WordPress Support Plans are entirely optional and most plans can be purchased at any time. You can also opt for a no-contract hourly rate which you purchase as required.

Which is the best Support Plan for me?

We highly recommend the special Essentials support plan which we are offering to FastTrack customers for a limited time. This plan includes 3 hours that can be used anytime in the first 3 months after your website launches. We find this is the time when many clients need support the most. Ultimately it depends on how often you are updating your website, the complexity of your needs and your level of expertise.
Our WordPress Support Plans are very flexible and designed to be affordable. Please contact us if you have any questions about the right plan for you.

WordPress Questions

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an online content management software that is used to create, publish and manage blogs and websites. We install the WordPress software on your hosting account as part of the FastTrack project. You can then manage your website through any popular up to date web browser.
WordPress enjoys a vibrant user community which ensures that it is well supported and that there is plenty of information available online as well books and video. WordPress is also widely regarded as one of the best website platforms for search engine optimization.

What is a Theme?

A theme is a sophisticated template. It defines how your website will look and how your content will appear on the pages of your site. Themes are designed to be independent of content, so you can change themes without having to re-enter all of your content. Some themes have become very sophisticated and include additional functionality that enables advanced layouts, formatting, image galleries and integration of social media. You can switch from a sophisticated theme to a less sophisticated theme, but you will lose any features that are not supported by both themes.

What is a Plugin?

A plugin is a small program that extends the functionality of WordPress. They are analogous to apps on a smart phone and can be added to your website to perform a specific function, such as adding a form, displaying the weather, helping search engine optimization or integrating with social media and other online services. Anyone with programming knowledge can write a plugin, so there are some very good ones that are well supported and others that are not as good. Most are free but may invite you to make a donation if you find it useful.

How far can I take my site with WordPress?

WordPress continues to gain popularity and keeps getting better and better. For many small businesses it will be all they ever need. It is very extensible, easy to add functionality and has no theoretical limits to the size of site you can build. It is used by organizations such as People Magazine, Ford, Sony and the NY Times blog because of its stability and flexibility.

What about upgrades?

WordPress is continually improving and upgrades and bug fixes are regularly deployed. Most of the time, you can automatically upgrade simply by clicking a button in the Administration Panel. Because themes and plugins are written independently, upgrading WordPress can cause themes or plugins to stop working or behave unexpectedly. Well supported themes and plugins will be upgraded shortly after WordPress and may need to be upgraded as well. WordPress Support Plan subscribers receive notification of major updates and known issues and can receive help with upgrades on request.

Where can I learn more about WordPress?

You will learn all about using WordPress to maintain your website in your WordPress tutorial as part of your FastTrack project. If you would like to know more ahead of time, the official guide to WordPress can be found at http://codex.wordpress.org/ and a search engine query for WordPress will return thousands of great sites and resources.