Custom Sites
Vanishing Clouds offers a full range of web services. We've helped other clients implement the following to their (web) business:
We've expanded on these technologies below, but the real point is we offer a variety of services to help your business make money or your organization reach its goals. But we can't help if we don't
talk.
We specialize in adding interactivity through Active Server Pages (ASP) development. ASP, and especially the newer ASP.NET, is a technology that lets us develop
interactive and smart web applications very quickly. For example, remember a user's preferences, perform complex calculations, or support for workflow and calendar/scheduling. Interactivity is important on
sales, service and community-building sites.
Our graphics artists can design everything from simple web animations to a coordinated line of business cards, stationary and web graphics that reinforces your company image. Oftentimes the best "2nd investment" in your web site (after that first step getting online) is a site "makeover" with custom graphics.
Most of the sites we've developed use a database to make the site more expandable. For example, catalog sites that handles hundreds of products without having to keep dozens of pages up to date. Instead, our sites use a "mail merge" concept: one page displays all the information about numerous products by pulling the name, description, picture, price, etc. from a database. Or use a customer database for remembering their information and speed/simplify ordering. Database programming is a must for most sites larger than a few dozen pages or a few dozen products.
Early web pioneers could get away with having a web site that was "bolted onto" their business systems. But customers today "expect it all" from a
web site. If they can order at your site, they are
going to want to modify their order and check its progress as well. If they can read about a product's performance, they are going to want a dealer locator as well. Any company with competitors on the web should be looking for a "2nd generation" solution that
integrates with their existing business systems including inventory, product documentation, order processing/shipping, etc.
Combine interactivity, databases and business-systems integration and you have sites that are interactive and tailored to the individual viewer, can handle lots of products and dynamic pricing/promotions, and cut costs. Add SSL and Microsoft's Site Server and you have a powerful e-commerce solution for selling on the Internet.
We've helped a number of our clients with "non-web" requirements... like networking their systems together, setting up e-mail, installation of software (especially quick setup of several systems, called cloning), sharing modems and connections to the Internet so your staff can use its resources, etc. All these things use the technologies popularized by the Internet, which is why we say this service is another way for you to profit from Internet technologies.
An intranet is a web site designed for use by employees of your company. Often intranets are designed to automate administrative functions like HR or expense reporting. An extranet is a web site designed for use by your channel partners (suppliers or resellers). Extranets often focus on order entry, status, and similar supply chain issues. Designing for these different audiences is a very different process. We've done several of each and can help you to evaluate if a "more private" site is appropriate.
Already got Win2k running IIS5 & your own DNS? If you even know what these are, you may be a candidate for hosting your own web site ;-) For some companies, especially those lucky enough to be located where cable modems or DSL service is available, there are a number of advantages to hosting your own web site. Even if you don't want the 7/24 uptime requirements of hosting your own web, consider hosting your own e-mail. By doing so you'll enjoy easy configuration of e-mail addresses, no limits on the size of files you can receive and numerous other advantages.