Services
We've put our web-development skills into a lot of different projects over the years. Here's an idea of some of our experience and services. If you don't see exactly what you need, feel free to drop us a line and ask. We always like a new challenge!
Quick links:
- We're better than Dreamweaver (etc)
- Software
- Web-development
- E-Commerce
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- HTML Email Newsletters (Eshots)
- Domain name registrations
- Secure Certificates (SSL)
- Website hosting
- Email hosting
- Consultancy
We're better than Dreamweaver (etc)! Here's why:
- We produce accessible and W3C compliant XHTML code (See our Website Accessibility page for more information) as far as possible within the designs we're working with
- We test on all major browsers and platforms both in person and using a smart, state of the art automated system
- We can make you a user friendly Content Management System (CMS) for your content (see CMS)
- We can build you complex functionality, pretty much anything your heart (or business) desires
- We've got a wealth of experience and know browsers, email clients and their bugs. We can help you avoid common pitfalls and all the problems they can throw at you
- We provide solid, extensible, structured database design which can grow as your business develops and can more easily adapt if or when your needs change
We work with the best software such as:
- PHP - Server-side scripting language to build your web pages
- MySQL - Database software
- Apache - Web-Server software
- Postfix - To send your Email
- Dovecot - To check your Email
- Debian (GNU/Linux) - In our opinion, the best server Operating System available
- Javascript (including DHTML and AJAX) - Client-side scripting language
Web-development (Website and Web-application programming)
Some people call this web-design but really, what we do is web-development (the programming side of the bargain).
We have experience in building:
- Websites (obviously!)
- Intranet systems
- CMS - Content Management Systems (see CMS)
- Online shops (see E-commerce)
- Order processing and invoicing systems
- Booking/reservation systems
- Incentive schemes
- Pageflip brochures
- PDF generation software
- Adaptation of open-source or off-the-shelf software
- Data feeds – both providing and importing from data feeds
- RSS feed creation
We can create a custom built, highly-configurable online shopping system. Here are just a few options we can fit it out with:
- Unlimited number of products
- Unlimited number of categories
- Unlimited number and type of product options e.g. size, colour, style etc
- Product options can have price variations
- Products can belong to as many categories as you wish
- Discount codes
- Related products
- “People who bought this also bought”
- Dynamic page titling based on product information (helps search engines list your pages properly)
- Comprehensive reporting to show your customer trends and product popularity
- Data exports for warehousing/invoicing systems such as Sage
- Integration with a range of payment handlers
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Our CMS is mature, proven and rich in features to help take the pain out of managing the content on your website or web-application. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Our CMS is custom built by us and is highly-configurable to suit your needs
- Our proven base system means very few bugs, much shorter turn-around time and lower costs to you!
- Our CMS system has been proven over several years of use and development
- We can provide you with an unlimited number of access levels offering differing functionality, access rights and module availability
- Full-featured text editors to allow you to style the text on your pages
- Automatic image resizing so you don't have to mess around with image editors
- Automated data checking e.g. email address validity, so you don't get unexpected results
- Each admin section can have search functionality, vital if you've got a lot of items to look after
- Spreadsheet downloads where you need them - for example, newsletter subscribers.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Whilst we don't claim to be an out-and-out SEO specialists (that's a full-time occupation in itself!), we put significant time and effort into building your website in a way which will allow you to maximise your Search Engine exposure. We will make sure that your HTML code is structured properly with images used appropriately. As well as your content, we can provide you with access to edit your title tags and Meta elements.
If you need it, Weblator can give you advice on domain names to help people find your website. It's then down to your content being well-written (which we can provide you with pointers on), you getting links from relevant websites and allowing your website to mature. (See our Search Engine Optimisation page for more information and tips).
HTML Email Newsletters (Eshots)
If you need to let your customers know about your latest offers, Weblator can build you a bespoke Eshot system with many useful features such as:
- HTML preview (as a web page) of your Eshot before you send it
- Send a test Eshot to unlimited number of people to make sure it's spot on before it goes to your customers
- We can build you layout templates to reduce the cost of sending by allowing you to put the Eshot together yourself
- Full mailing list control for an unlimited number of mailing lists which may each feature as many contacts as you need
- If you need to know, we can provide you with statistics on how many of your Eshots were successfully sent along with details on which addresses failed so you can optimise your mailing list
If you don't need your own system for sending Eshots though, we can build and send them out for you. Eshots are far less expensive than printed mailshots. Why not get in contact with us and let us know your requirements, we're sure we can help!
If registering a domain can be a bit of a daunting prospect, managing the domain once you have registered it is a nightmare if you don't know exactly what you're doing. Weblator can remove the hassle and potential problems from mis-configured domains. For a small fee, we'll register, configure and manage your domains for you. We can provide you with correct reverse records for sending Email to the more demanding ISPs such as AOL and Hotmail.
Secure Certificates (SSL)
Let us take out the complication and hassle of applying for and installing Secure Certificates. To the non-techie, this whole process is pretty nasty. We know how to configure your domain and complete the application process with the least fuss and bother.
Back to the top
Website Hosting
Weblator has several servers which we can host your website on. We run Linux servers equipped with PHP, MySQL and Apache which are some of the most mature pieces of software available to run your website. If you need a dedicated server or a custom setup, that's no problem, just let us know what you need.
We've got a fantastic Email server which can do a great job of running Email for you. It's easy to set up pretty much any Email client to access your Email, even Smartphones and the ubiquitous IPhone work just fine. If you're on the move, you can use our excellent Webmail system which is very nearly as good as a "real" Email client.
Consultancy
If you need some advice on which direction to take with your project we can help! Our experience means even if we don't know the answers straight away we can research the options and use our knowledge to build a clear picture. Whatever the project, speak with us and we'll do everything we can to help it run smoothly.
