Frequently Asked Questions

Please click on any of the following topics to jump to the available information.

Website Design
Business Directory List
Social Media Management
Pay Per Click Management
Screen Alive
Google, Yahoo and Bing Local Map Listing Optimization
Classified Ad Submission
SEO Website Builder
Live Chat
SEO Content
Newsletter Writing
Press Release Writing and Distribution
Email Marketing Services
Blog Writing and Submission
Video Distribution

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Website Design

What is a CMS?

CMS is short for content management system; more information on the concept is available by clicking HERE. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system)

How long does it take to get a website developed?

Each project is unique, but it takes approximately 10 to 14 days to get a website completely up to our highest standards.

What makes you guys different than most website development companies?

We focus on the usability experience of a website, we are more concerned with how well your site performs and how easy it is to navigate for your visitors than any other web development company in this world.

Can you handle advanced tasks such as database integration, custom programming, etc.?

Absolutely, contact us for more details.

Business Directory List

What is a Business Directory Listing?

A Business Directory Listing allows you to enter your critical business information one time and have it posted to all the major Online Yellow Pages, Search Engines, industry directories and 411 directory assistance.

What Search Engines and Directories receive the data?

We send the business profiles to all the major Search Engines and Directories, such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, Superpages and Yellowpages.com. It also now includes 411 Directory Assistance and GPS navigation devices as well as OnStar.

What will happen if I have already claimed a listing on some sites?

UBL is not "claiming" listings in its process and, assuming the data matches, there should be no duplication; in fact when publishers see identical data coming from other reliable sources they can treat it as having more value. Publishers generally give precedence to information verified directly by a business owner, so if you are claiming listings, you should make sure it is kept up to date.

How soon will my information start appearing?

You should allow 60 days to start seeing results but it can take months beyond that to complete all the sites.

Are there limits on length of descriptions and what can go in them?

Yes, we use Google as the benchmark and they permit 200 characters (including the spaces) for descriptions. Anything longer than that would be cut off. Preferably this should be a clear description of what your business does and not advertising content.

How do you handle photos and videos, and what formats can they be?

In order to distribute these effectively we send these as links to existing images that you are responsible for maintaining. The advantage is that if you keep the same file name, you do not have to resubmit a changed logo or photo. Publishers may display the photos in their pages. Again we use Google as a benchmark for format:
. Each photo must be smaller than 1MB.
. Each photo must be under 1024 x 1024 pixels.
. Photos must be in one of these formats: JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP

Will old listings be removed or updated?

We cannot guarantee that a directory will be able to match an enhanced listing like this to their existing data, but we will provide every piece of information to ensure they can do so if at all possible. This includes a date stamp so they know that the information came directly from the business and is most likely fresher than their standard data sources.

Who will see this data and how can I be assured of my privacy?

You should ONLY provide information that you want the public to have in order to contact you. We will not share this information directly with marketers or non-directory entities, but we cannot guarantee that the information will not be read online and used for this purpose. Of course the credit card payment information will be held securely and not made public.

How often can I make changes?

As often as you wish through the account login. Remember though, that the directories will not update the information so regularly. This is not a venue for promoting "weekly specials" or other data that changes frequently. You may be able to do that via the Coupon Link or other links; this update method is primarily for basic business facts such as name, address and telephone number.

Why is there a renewal fee?

Many directories and data providers require re-listing, so we have to repeat at least part of the process. Some directories remove listings if they are not actively updated - it also helps keep data fresh and information about your business accurate.

What if I do not renew?

If you do not renew after the notices we send, your record will be removed from, our "active" file that we provide to the directories. Different sites and distribution partners will treat deactivated listings in different ways according to their policies. Some may keep the listings active and some may delete the record, and this is beyond our control. We will not actively ask the publishers to remove the listing unless you ask us to (if the business is closed or relocated, for example.)

Can I request a deletion?

Yes. You may request a deletion of a listing that may be for a closed business or branch.We will send the request to the data vendors.

What is your return policy?

Our return policy is that all sales are final.

Social Media Management

What days are you social buzzing on my behalf?

Monday through Friday works best for most of our business clients. We can schedule your social buzzing (tweets, Facebook updates, etc.) on any schedule that you think would work best for you. Our experience shows business hours Monday through Friday is a great way to get started.

Do you work with customary people or just business owners?

We work with normal everyday people all the time, if you simply want to build public awareness this is something we'd be happy to help you do.

Does your company monitor my brand on these networks?

Yes, by engaging your constituents each day, we pay attention to what is being said about your brand, and will promptly respond to anything we think would help further your brand online, as well as protect it.

What type of reporting do I get each month?

We typically send a summary report each month via email to a designated person in your company or organization. We offer all clients phone service during our business hours for immediate updates and reporting.

How will this help my company or organization make more money?

Social media management is more than just a buzzword, it is a strategy for gaining SEO rank (tweets & Facebook updates are now showing up in Google). This will also reach out to potential clients via these networks, establishing credibility, becoming a trusted leader of your industry, a go to source for information, and so forth. The list could go on for days but the truth is this service is probably the most important step you can take in bringing your business into the Web 2.0 era.

Who is actually writing my updates on these sites?

A trained social media expert. We are currently sharing the person that has helped me build a presence on these sites with our initial base of clients, as our client base grows one of the two of us will personally train the people that will work on your account to ensure your experience is nothing less than stellar.

What if you tweet or update something on Facebook I didn't want you to write?

For virtually all situations like this, we can quickly delete the comment without any proof that it ever existed. Our strategy is to uncover issues and information we should stay away from before it happens by getting to know you throughout new client conversations that you receive after ordering.

$497 per month is an incredible deal for this type of attention, and service, how can you do this?

Our business model for years has always been able to provide incredible value for an exceptionally low price. We make our money by working with larger groups of businesses. We would love to help out your friends and family as well. If you love our services, tell all!

Pay Per Click Management

What is the point of this service?

To help you sell more while spending less. In essence improving your return on investment from whatever advertising you are currently doing.

Is it true I can call anytime with questions?

We are available to answer any of your questions Monday through Friday from 7 am until 7 pm PST.

Is it true that you setup my account, write my ads, find and implement my keywords, and send me reports every week to let me know the performance level of my account?

Absolutely. We also work at eliminating underperforming keywords, which is the main reason you want a company like us working for you. Local Ads by Design can stop wasteful ad spending in its tracks with diligent and successful research.

What is the secret to a good PPC campaign?

Constant monitoring and tweaking of keyword phrases. Anyone can setup an account with Google or any of the other PPC sites. The real value of a service like ours is the elimination of negative keywords, the research of what ads work best, and the testing and changing of ad copy.

Screen Alive

How long are your videos?

They are approximately 60 to 75 seconds long. We feel that 60 seconds is enough time for you to clearly define your businesses purpose and keep the customer engaged.

Who writes the script that is acted on camera?

We do! A trained script writing professional will create a script we know you will love.

Can I provide my own script?

Yes as long as it is less than 75 seconds, that'd be about 220 words.

Do you really submit to over 20 video websites like YouTube?

Yes, we know, it's an awesome added bonus.

What if I don't want you to submit it anywhere, can you just make the video and give it to me?

Yes, just let us know, the cost is no more or no less, just let us know after purchasing.

How long does this video service take?

Typically from purchase to completely submitted video it is 7 to 10 days business days. The script is done within 2 business days, and then everything else is typically done in two to three day intervals after that.

Can we make videos longer than 75 seconds?

Yes, but per 75 second intervals is how you will be billed.

Google, Yahoo and Bing Local Map Listing Optimization

Where do optimized local maps appear?

on the first page of Google, Yahoo and Bing

Do you provide reporting to measure performance?

We provide statistics about who is searching your business and how often.

Who sets up this account?

We setup your account.

What information can be included in the ad?

With this incredible package we'll add pictures, set your hours, write your description, create your categories and list what types of payment you accept. An important feature of this service includes submitting you to over 150 business listing directories.

Will my ad be maintained?

We include ongoing optimization, content and back links as needed.

Are there other benefits to this service?

We will submit you to over 150 business listing directories.

Classified Ad Submission

How many classified ad sites do you submit my ad to?

While the exact number of sites might vary depending on your location, business niche, and ad content we guarantee you'll get at least 50 ad submissions per order.

How long does this service take from payment to completion?

We guarantee within 7 days of your approval of the ad text your entire order will be completed. That means your ad will be written, and once you approve it, we'll have it submitted to all classified ad sites listed on the homepage within 1 week.

Do you write my ad?

Yes, we'll write your ad for you and make it as persuasive as possible. We'll also optimize it for people to actually take action on it by including a URL, email address, and any other pertinent information you supply us with.

What if I don't like the ad you write for me, will you rewrite it?

Yes, we will rewrite the ad for you as many times as needed till you are 100% satisfied with it.

Is each ad to each site you submit different?

No, most likely we'll try to use the same ad for all the sites, as this is a budget service and it was tough enough to convince our 100% American base of contractors to do this for such a cheap price to begin with.

Do I get a report after my order?

Absolutely, after your ad has been submitted to the 50+ websites listed on the homepage we'll send you a detailed report of where it went, and any live ad links that are available at the time of drafting the report.

Can I use this service for multiple ads?

Yes, you can order as many packages as you need at one time. We ask that each package be dedicated for the same ad so that our writer can easily submit it without confusion. Other than that, you can order as many packages as needed.

Will this help with SEO rank for my website?

Yes, by submitting your ad to all these high PageRank highly trafficked classified ad sites you will gain both link value and residual search engine results as an added benefit of this package. For example, if your ad mentions Columbus, Ohio import auto repair don't be surprised if that ad shows up on page 1 in Google for those that search that exact term.

Do you submit to the big classified sites like Kijiji and Craigslist?

Yes, we submit to the entire top 20 by traffic volume classified ad sites in the world, we also submit to many local popular classified ad sites.

Will you submit to sites that I recommend that aren't listed on your submission list already?

Yes, as long as the site is free, or you've paid for a membership, we will be happy to submit the ad on your behalf to suggested websites.

SEO Website Builder

How many steps does it take to put you on line?

Four, they are: 1 Enroll / 2 Choose your template / 3 Add your content / 4 Publish the site.

Is this service really free?

A. There is no cost to build your site and publish it under our URL. If you want to publish under a different URL you will be charged with a low fee of $29.95 a month.

Do I need any programming skills to complete my web site?

No the step by step process using the templates and filling in fields will help you complete your own SEO web site.

Will I be able to guarantee front page placement on search engines using this process?

There is no guarantee but by following the instructions and spending the time to produce good quality content we provide the basics to give you that opportunity.

How do I get the basic web site structure?

We provide a large selection of basic templates in several categories to get you started and if you are wanting a customized template we can provide that for as little as $100.

Where do I go for help?

There is a comprehensive help system as part of the process and we will provide customer support and Webinar's to train you to use our system.

Are there sources to backlinks that enhance the search engine placement?

You can handle back links on your own or we have back link services that we provide for a minimal fee per back link.

Live Chat

How many hours per week do your live chat operators work on my website?

Monday through Friday 7 am to 7 pm PST.

Can I get a package for hours other than the ones listed above?

Absolutely, we can create a package or series of packages that will have people manning your website around the clock.

Who is manning my live chat?

Agents that are familiar with your product, our general best practices of live chat, and of course the live chat software itself.

What live chat software program do you currently use?

We use Plugoo live chat software for a number of reasons. It is free, easy to install, and happens to work well for multiple agents accessing it in case you wanted to go around the clock with your live chat agent service.

Do you install the Plugoo live chat application on my website or do I?

We install it for you with your permission of course, if on the other hand you prefer to install it that is OK too. It's as simple as pasting in some YouTube style code on your website.

Can I specify which pages I want live chat to be on?

Absolutely! We can put live chat on every page on your website, or just the pages you select. It's totally up to you. Our service is the same low flat rate whether you have it on one page or a dozen.

Do I pay any extra money if the number of people asking questions on my live chat is high?

Nope, essentially what you are paying for is a single dedicated agent to your website 40 hours a week. This means as many questions as a human can answer in that time period comes with the package. If you need two agents, for say a website with many live chat inquires, that would in fact cost double.

Can I create training materials for my live chat agent?

Yes, we encourage our clients to put together any and all information that is pertinent to their website in advance so our agents can use it to learn how to sell visitors on your website better than ever before.

SEO Content

How long is each article you produce?

Our articles are 300 to 500 words long. Upon request we can make them shorter for you. Speak to your sales representative if you need longer articles as there will be an additional fee.

How quickly can you get these articles out?

We attempt to return each order under 500 articles in 7 business days. Most orders are complete in that period of time. Once you sign up you will receive an email from us about getting keywords, and you can use that same email to reply to if you need to check on your order. In short, we get the articles done very quickly and efficiently without compromising quality.

Are all your writers based in the U.S. or do you outsource overseas?

100% of our writers are U.S. based. We only use U.S. English Speaking writers for our projects. You will never find a foreign dialect in our articles.

Who exactly writes these SEO articles?

Our team of professionals consists of law students, stay at home moms, MBA students, teachers, lawyers, researchers, academics, actors, freelance writers, and a variety of other professionals. All of whom have been trained to write SEO articles for both originality and fantastic readability.

Is the content you produce going to be reused after you send it to me in anyway?

No, 100% of the content we produce is exclusively done for you. You will have full rights to the content, and we will have none. We are simply ghostwriters; we have no interest in using your content for any reason.

Can you do e-books, special reports, and other freelance writing projects?

Yes, please visit the contact us page and send us an email for more details.

Newsletter Writing

Does the price ever change from $147 a month for my newsletter?

No, once you are locked in at the $97 price your monthly price will never increase. We reserve the right to raise our rates on the website if we feel the need, but this will NEVER effect your rate, you will always receive the same great service for the low price of just $97 by signing up today!

Can I suggest topics, story ideas, industry profiles to you each month?

Completely. We welcome your suggestions, and are willing to work them into the newsletter as you see fit. You can always email your ideas to us and we will be happy to incorporate them into the newsletter for you.

Do I own the rights to the writing in the monthly newsletter?

Yes, you will own the full rights to your newsletter, we are ghostwriters, and will retain no rights to your work once it is delivered to you. You are the sole copyright owner.

Can I reprint the newsletter as an advertisement, on my website, in the newspaper, and other places?

Yes, you can reprint your newsletter wherever you see fit. We deliver your newsletter in MS WORD DOC format for easy HTML conversion, email implementation, and print newsletter production. The sky is the limit with what you can do with this newsletter once it is in your hands.

Can I sell this newsletter to others?

Yes, we highly encourage you to consider selling your newsletter for a monthly fee. Newsletters can be a profitable revenue stream for many people, and our content will absolutely make the grade for a paid newsletter. Then again, some industries, like real estate, typically thrive off of free newsletters, and thus the choice is completely up to you.

Press Release Writing and Distribution

How many words are the press releases you write?

Typically a press release is 400 words or less, that is the industry standard. We can make them longer if you don't order online distribution, which requires the release be 400 words or less.

What is the typical turnaround time for press release writing?

We try our best to get you the release in 2 business days that means if you order on Monday we should have the release to you by Wednesday afternoon, but at times it can be up to 5 business days.

Do you offer revisions if I'm not happy with the release?

Yes, we offer unlimited revisions with every order, if you aren't happy with your release the first time; we'll rewrite it until you are.

Do you provide a list of contacts after the release is sent out?

Yes, we are one of the only firms to actually give you the media contact information after we send the release out. We've got nothing to hide, you can have the media contact's email, phone, fax, and so on free of charge in our complimentary release report that gets sent after every distribution.

Where do you send the release with the free distribution?

We send it to your local or nearest city or metro area, if you live in Atlanta for example, we'd send your release to every media member in Atlanta. That would be editors at the major radio stations, newspaper reporters and editors, TV reporters, magazine editors and writers, etc.

Email Marketing Services

How long is each autoresponder message?

While we do not like to generalize, typically the autoresponder messages will be between 250 and 500 words, as we find this range of length to be the most effective in getting the recipient to actually read the message.

Do you use any stock information or is all your writing made to order?

All our writing is 100% original made to order. We do not use any old or previously used content, we write our own content, period, end of story.

I want a 20 day autoresponder series, can you do that?

Sure, just sign up for our current package twice. If you want a 30 day series, sign up 3 times. We basically charge in 10 day allotments.

Will your messages work with my autoresponder software such as Aweber, Constant Contact, or iContact?

Yes, all our writing is saved in MS WORD format, which is easily transferable to your auto responder's software for delivery.

Do you have experience in a wide range of topics, or are you just a 1 pony show?

We have experience in a vast array of topics including health, business, spirituality, finance, self improvement, time management, diet, information product, internet marketing, business opportunities, fashion, apparel, manufacturing, and many more topics.

Blog Writing and Submission

How many writers do you have on staff?

We have over 400 writers with a diverse set of interests and expertise to meet almost every imaginable topic that a blogger would need to write about.

Are there any topics you do not do?

We will not do any content on illegal topics nor will we do any adult or pornographic content, everything else is fair game.

How long will it take to complete my order, for say 5 articles and 500 custom blog posts?

No matter the order size, it will take approximately 7 business days to get the total package complete. Blog submissions can be done in as few as 1 business day after the writing is complete.

What blog services will you be able to submit my order to?

We can submit blog posts to Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad and nearly any other blog service that allows a user to login online.

I have a bunch of blogs, and need a lot of blog posts, can you handle it?

Yes, with our large staff, most large orders can be produced without issue.