Design Approach
At Astor Studio, 'The Team' is a collaboration of technology and 'Creatives' with multiple skill sets.
Our studio is a 'virtual' playground,
'thinking outside the box' !
Project to project, sharing, caring,
whoever takes the lead...
We are all great at what we do,
Though in or out of view,
The business we all care about is 'you'!
Astoria Webs combines over 10 years experience developing and maintaining web sites for small and medium size businesses and corporations.. Many have been with us since the beginning.
Astoria Webs has grown out of our core photography business,
Astor Studio. Digital Media has expanded so much in the past decade and the team at Astoria Webs, has grown along with the times. We have experienced many changes in the web world and there are more just through the next doorway.
In fact it reminds me of a story I heard recently about Albert Einstein when he was a professor. One of his student assistants who was preparing for an incoming class said, "Professor Einstein, what test are we giving them?" To which Einstein replied, "The same test we gave them last week." Bewildered, the assistant replied, "But Professor Einstein, we already gave that test." Einstein simply said, "Yes, but the answers are different this week."
That is the way it seems to be with designing web sites and keeping up with search engines, new software, progress in the industry, the desires and trends of actual people surfing the net.
We've learned a few things along the way, and one of them is that most of the time, you just have to keep your website honest and simple. Geared to what your offline business is all about. Obviously if your business is in the financial services industry it would have a polished look and feel, if you are in the craft industry, you may want a homey atmosphere to your site. Its all about your target market and who you want to appeal to.
People are smart, they see through the glitz and glam. Sure a few bells and whistles are important but when you are a busy person, as most are these days, they want the information they are looking for ...and they want it now! They don't want to wade through a lot of frill. You need to keep things short and to the point, and yet, when someone is really searching for answers, more is better. Search engine spiders are in the business of finding information that fits what surfers are looking for, so you need to keep things so they can find the answers in your site.
You need to be able to manage your website appropriately to the needs of your unique business. If this means, you want to make additions yourself, we can help you do that. If you are too busy, you just email us the changes to text and announcements periodically and we post them on your web site. As most websites for business also have dedicated email, you need to know that is working in an optimum way as well. Some companies depend on their email on time. It can make or break a sale.
You need to know things are being looked after while you are busy minding your Non Virtual World .
Our clients count on us to keep their web sites up and running, and inform them of updates and things they need to know. That is why our clients are with us after 10 years, and in this industry, that can be a lifetime! They know we are here to help as needed.
You are probably wondering about the difference in web developers. Without writing a book here are a few comparisons of web site developers.
Development Approach
Astoria Webs grew out practical steps we've taken in the growth of our business. Our core business of photography changed practically over night, just over 10 years ago, as we moved into the digital era. Astor Studio was one of the very first photography sites to appear in the Greater Toronto Area, we've changed it (redecorated our show window), many times since then.
We saw the potential of using our web site as a tool to direct, the then, mostly young people, who were our customers, to where they could find frequently asked questions. They could now look at our style of work, without taking the time to travel to us, and at any time of the day or night. Still an important thing for those in university to be able to do. They were busy people, and needed to find out if we were the business for them, and they needed to know right away. It worked well. We all saved time.
Our business grew because of our web site. Others in small businesses wanted us to help them. In those days, mostly young hot shots did websites. Some were great, some would disappear right when a business was launching a special promotion. There was also often a disconnect in the understanding of what it takes to run a business, and also how to connect things in the brick and mortar world to the virtual world.
We seemed to be able to fill this niche. We're not hot shots, though we now have some starting to work with us, so you will see some big changes in the near future.
Our specialty is working with other business people like ourselves who need us to demystify the process while at the same time not charging an arm and a leg.
Most enter the web arena cautiously. Some think it might harm their off line business. Actually now that the internet has come of age, it is going to be more difficult to operate without one.
If others are anything like us, and there are plenty, why even grandmothers, email, surf the web and do e-Bay now! It's a change of screen-ery. And it is happening rapidly. the next generation, the about 18 year olds, are now all about hand held devices. They are just about ready to enter university and the working world. Small businesses need to keep up with the skills of the customers. And we're trying our best and hope to share with you!