Frequently Asked Questions

Hosting

Do I have to host with you?
Autopilot is a proprietary, hosted application. In order for your site to run on Autopilot it will need to be on our servers. This allows us to handle technical issues quickly, push out upgrades to the system without you having to buy new software, and more.
Is my data safe?
Autopilot's servers are backed up every week, so your information won't get lost.
Do I have storage limits?
Nope, we're happy to host as many photos, as many pages, as many videos, etc. as you need. You also won't have to worry about bandwidth limits (within reason - just don't build the next YouTube.)

Design

How can you offer a custom design so inexpensively?
In other industries our minimum engagement has been $8000, but we know that innkeepers have special needs. We offer a monthly fee to make it managable for innkeepers to have top-notch design without breaking their budgets. We consider it an investment in a relationship, and hope our clients do as well.
Can I see examples of your work?
Fewer Empty Rooms prides itself on it's design chops, having created hundreds of sites for some of the largest organizations in the country. You can check out a demo of a bed and breakfast-specific design, or you can download a PDF of work we've done.
How long does it take to get a site?
If you don't have a world class web presence, every day that goes by could be costing you revenue. That's why we won't waste time putting together huge recommendation documents or padding our timelines with fluff that doesn't help your business. We'll get right to work building you a site that you and your customers will love.
Do you guys do Flash-based sites?
Considerable studies indicate that Flash-heavy sites are distracting to visitors. Flash-based sites also are more difficult and time-consuming to update (costing you more money,) and require additional technology for your users. We don't create Flash only sites - we can create Flash elements when necessary, but many effects in Flash can be accomplished using standards-based tools.
Do you do photography?
We strongly recommend professional photography for your site. You can work with someone local, and we're happy to make recommenations if we know folks in your area. We also have experienced photographers in-house and can make arrangements (typically the rate is around $500, plus airfare and a room.) If you have budget contraints and would like to try it yourself, you can check out our blog for some photography tips.

Coding

What are "web standards" and why should I care?
Web standards are tools that make your website faster loading, easier to update, and more search engine friendly. All our sites are hand-coded using web standards, so you know your site will be clean, error-free, and will work just as well now as it does in the future.
Why are sites built with web standards search engine-friendy?
Search engines love pages that are heavy on content and light on code. The sites we build more all of the "presentation" of your site (colors, font choices, the placement of elements on a page, etc.) into a seperate file. This means that every page on your site is all about content.
What kinds of features can we include in our site?
We're constantly building widgets that can be included in your site, including Google Maps modules, weather modules, slide shows and more. If there's something specific you'd like, let us know - in most cases we'll come up with a solution that works.

Content Management

What is content management?
Our content manager makes it extremely easy for you to add pages to your site, to edit your current pages, etc. without having to know HTML. Using simple codes (to make text *bold* or _italicized_ for example) you'll be able to instantly create standards-based HTML without a lick of coding knowledge. This means you'll never have to call (and pay for) your HTML guy to make simple changes.
What if I already know HTML?
Our content management tool isn't just for people without coding experience. It's the same system we use to maintain our sites because it creates fully standards-compliant code in seconds. It will make even the most expert HTML guru happy.
What if I need to make heavy changes to the site, or if I want a redesign down the road?
We'll take care of most changes to your site (tweaking colors, font styles, etc.) without charge, and in 24 months if you want a major refresh or redesign we'll be happy to create a new look. Redesigns or substantial site restructuring before that 24 month period will incur additional charges.
How will you handle reservations?
We'll either provide you with a contact form so potential guests can contact you, or we'll be happy to incorporate the necessary code from your reservation management system.

Email Marketing Campaigns

Why do I need an email campaign manager?
Follow-up is proven to close more business and encouraging repeat business. Guests who are thinking about staying with you or have stayed with you in the past are more likely to spend money with you and/or tell their friends. It pays to remind them about what makes you special.
Why not just use my regular email address?
A number of reasons. It's impossible to track, so you don't know who's reading what. It's a missed opportunity to reinforce your image with a beautiful design. And it's difficult to manage all your subscribers.
Do you create a template for me?
Clients who purchase the custom design package get a custom-designed email template as well, matching their site and reinforcing their brand.
How many emails can I send?
You can send an unlimited amount of email to an unlimited amount of people. However, we have very stringent spamming policies (we hate spam) - your campaigns should only go out to people who've requested to hear from you (no list-buying.) You should also use discretion when emailing, and send messages only when you really have something to say. More email isn't usually more effective email.
How can I measure email campaigns?
Every campaign is tracked, so you can measure and improve campaigns over time. We track how many people open your emails, what links are clicked on, etc.
What kinds of things would I test?
You can try different promotions and see what works. You can test different subject lines, calls to action, even the days most likely to generate a response.

SEO and Pay-Per-Click Management

What does this include?
SEO and Pay-Per-Click management is a time-intensive process. We'll start with creating an SEO analysis of your terms, your current site, and your competitors. We'll make recommendations and develop a plan of action for getting your site ranked organically, then implement the plan through content creation and outside publicity. We'll also create and manage your Pay-Per-Click campaigns, regularly testing and tweaking your offers, ads and landing pages to create a mix that produces the best results.
Can you guarantee results?
While we can make educated guesses, it's impossible for us (or anyone) to guarantee certain search positions or ROI on campaigns. These results depend on dozens of factors (including changing search engine formulas, your competition, etc.)
How long does a typical SEO campaign take to see results?
Again, this depends on a number of factors. However, we can generally see results from an organic SEO campaign within the first three months. Once a top position is acheived, active maintenance is often required to make sure the ranking stays high.

Our Team

What is your experience?
We've worked for clients who lead their respective industries, including clients like Honeywell, Newell-Rubbermaid, St. John's University, University of Alabama, Univeristy of Indiana and dozens more. We've presented at conferences on online marketing, have spoken at universities, written articles and white papers on utilizing the web effectively. You won't be getting a neighbor down the street who's just completed a web design course, nor will you get freelancers or work that's farmed out. You'll get our core team working on your project.
What makes you unique?
We won't try to impress you with terms that make us sound smart. We won't put up unnecessary barriers to keep you from reaching out to us. Instead, we'll give you clear, simple answers. We'll make sure we're available to address your questions. And we'll do whatever we can to make sure you're satisfied.