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FAQ Categories
Please select one of the categories below: Commonly asked questions about Website services from Corfun. - Am I tied to Corfun if you build my site?
No. Corfun believes in freedom of choice for our customers.
All of our customers have full control of their domain names, their hosting relationships, and complete access to their Joomla administration interfaces.
After Corfun builds your site, you are in total control. We can provide support and we can provide management services. However, if you choose to sever your relationship with Corfun, you can do so at any time. Your Website will be unaffected by that.
Since Joomla is a commonly used Web platform, you won't have a problem finding another firm (if you need it) to work with you. - Can I manage my own site?
Yes!
All of our sites come with training included. The Joomla Content Management System that we use is easy to update and manage. Non-technical staff can learn to publish articles, create pages, load pictures, write blogs, manage calendars, and a lot more.
To get more information about what Joomla can do, click here.
If you would prefer to get help in managing your Website, then click here to find out more.
- Do you do Webhosting?
No. For a couple of reasons. First, Webhosting is a commodity at this point. Rates for monthly hosting range from $4.95 to $12.95 depending on plan options. It just is not cost effective to try and compete with massive hosting companies with all their resources and capabilities. Second, we don’t like to tie down our customers. We build and support Websites. Since we don’t control the hosting of our customers’ sites, they are free to run their own sites, hire other services companies when needed, or upgrade to new services as they deem fit. We don’t come between them and their online business. We like it that way, so do our customers. Read more... - Does Corfun only build certain kinds of Websites?
No!
Corfun can build a wide variety of sites for all kinds of organizations. We can handle eCommerce, online brochures, communities, ministries, customer support portals, general business, and even more.
Check out our Webdesign Portfolio for examples of our work.
You can get more information about the types of Websites we build by click here. - How much does a Website cost from Corfun?
All projects are different, but we have some guidelines to give you an idea. Please visit our Guideline Pricing page to get more details. To get a concrete bid on a project with us, please send us an
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so that we can get in touch with you for a full consultation. - I want help managing my site - can you do that?
Yes!
Our Websites are easy to use and easy to keep updated for non-technical people. However, many businesses and non-profits want ongoing help. Corfun is happy to assist our customers in managing their Joomla installs.
To find out more, please click here. - What can a Website from Corfun do?
Almost anything, really. Here's a partial list:
- Dynamic form builders
- Photo Galleries
- Podcasts
- RSS Feeds
- Membership
- Business or organizational directories
- Document management
- image and multimedia galleries
- E-commerce and shopping cart engines
- Forums and chat software
- Calendars
- Blogging software
- Directory services
- Email newsletters
- Data collection and reporting tools
- Banner advertising systems
- Subscription services
And those are just for starters. Our Guideline Pricing Page has some suggested bundles, but there are so many possible combinations that it is impossible to catalog them all.
Joomla is a platform that you will never outgrow. The Website Corfun builds for your business or non-profit today can be easily expanded as your needs change. This is an investment in architecture that you will never outgrow.
- What do you need to build a Website?
To build a Website with CorFun, you will need a hosting account with a provider. The hosting account is space on a webserver for your files. We need the following things to build a Website:
If you are not sure if your Webhost provides these things, then contact CorFun and we can check on that for you. If you are thinking about a project, but don’t have hosting yet, then contact CorFun before signing any contracts. We have preferred vendors that we can recommend with whom we feel very secure. Read more... - What is FTP?
FTP stands for ‘file transfer protocol’ and is a way to move large files from your PC to the server. Joomla CMS has file upload tools built in, so for just upload pictures or normal files, you don’t need FTP. However, CorFun often needs FTP access for uploading large files or changing around the directory structure. FTP is done using an FTP program like AceFTP, Cyberduck (Mac), or Filezilla. These are all free, and CorFun can help you get oriented if you find yourself needing FTP access. Read more... Commonly asked questions about our online fundraising services.
- Does CorFun help market my store?
Absolutely.
First, we create a custom URL for your store so that you can easily publicize it. This will be a URL such as: www.corfun.com/yourorganization.htm
Second, CorFun offers newsletter mailing services to your organization. Give us a list of your members, supporters, or target market and we will format and send out a beautiful HTML newsletter announcement of your store.
On an ongoing basis, new supporters and boosters can sign up for your newsletter as they visit your store. Your newsletter can be sent as often as monthly, and can contain news, information, as well as reminders of your latest offerings in your online store.
Those who don't want to receive your newsletter anymore can easily cancel. This keeps your mailings in compliance with all U.S. and international laws prohibiting spamming.
- How do I sign-up?
Use the Email CorFun form below, or register for our site and indicate that your are interested in working with us.
Either way, please give us the name of your
organization or club, who the contact person is and how we can reach
you.
One of our associates will contact you and walk you through the process
of:
1) Selecting the merchandise.
2) Registering the owners.
3) Arranging for the distribution of proceed.
We can have your organization up and running in about a week. The
mini-site will provide your organization with a web-site address that
can be used on business cards and promotions. If your organization
wants a more robust website, CorFun can build it for you.
- How does my organization get paid when patrons order merchandise?
CorFun can mail your organization a check each month, or do a direct deposit into your organization's bank account.
- My organization already has local vendor can we stil use CorFun?
Absolutely. You can select your own vendor. You can order directly
from your local vendor for any special needs or promotions and use the
CorFun store for all patron online shopping. CorFun will handle
ordering items through your vendor of choice.
- What payment systems and vendors do you recommend?
The two easiest for any purpose are standard PayPal and Authorize.net. PayPal has no monthly fees, but does have a higher per-transaction cost. Plus, users have to leave your site to finish paying. You sign up for PayPal directly at paypal.com, no need to go through your bank.
Authorize.net is true credit card processing integration. Customers pay from your site and there is no need to log in anywhere else. Authorize.net is available from financial institutions on a reseller basis. We also like some online sites such as bestmerchantrates.com Among banks, we have had positive customer experiences with Bank of America.
Not all banks are easy to work with in setting up for online business. Talk to CorFun about your preferred vendor before you sign a contract. We don’t want to post negative information about banks or financial institutions, but if you check with us first, then we’ll give you the straight scoop on vendors that we know are below par.
Plus, not all software packages work with all payment systems! Don't sign a deal only to find out that your preferred vendor isn't supported by the software CorFun needs to use for your project.
Read more... - What will it cost my organization to register with CorFun?
Nothing!
Contact us, and we will work with you to establish your store
and a mini-site, if you need one.
We have a list of general merchandise and vendors that
will allow you to creat your own t-shirt design and logos. If what is
desired does require a set-up fee from a vendor, you will be
responsible for the one time fee.
Otherwise everything is taken care
of by CorFun.
Here are some frequently asked questions about our primary Website development tool - Joomla! - Can you import users into Joomla to build a membership base?
Sure. We need the list of members in a CSV file (a type of spreadsheet). Any database application can output your membership files into a CSV format. We can then import that list of members into the new Joomla website that we build. This lets you seamlessly transition from another Web application, or even move contact files/membership files kept in Access or some other package online. Read more... - How do you log in to the administrator area for Joomla?
The log in is always:
http://www.yoursitename.com/administrator
As part of a CorFun install, we always set up as many administrator accounts as requested. Many things for Joomla such as publishing photos, submitting articles, posting comments, etc. can be done by logging in to the frontend (public facing) area of the site. Only high-level admins should ever actually log in to the administrator area.
Read more... - Why would I let people register for my site?
For different reasons. If your site is an eCommerce site, then registration allows customers to save and reuse data like name and shipping preferences. If you have a site for an organization, then taking registrations allows you to have members’ only information available on the site that is protected from the general public. Members can see files, pages, and even communicate with each other through the site securely. For businesses, registration allows you to provide customers access to appointment scheduling, customer support systems, discussion forums, or other benefits. Read more...
Questions about selling products, memberships, tickets to events, or gathering donations/payments. - Are other payment options available besides PayPal standard and Authorize.net?
Sure, depends on the need. Subscription systems, donation systems, event registration systems, directory systems, and shopping carts all have different payment processors available. You will never go wrong with PayPal standard and Authorize.net
However, if you plan to use any other option, please contact CorFun before you sign a contract. If the intended solution for your needs does not support the payment gateway you have signed up for, then we could have a problem.
Read more... - Can I sell subscriptions to my site?
Absolutely. If you have a non-profit, for example, with annual dues, then collecting them through the Website is a great idea. In one place, you can easily collect payments, provide access to members’ only services online, and keep an accurate database of members in one spot that any administrator can access. For businesses looking to provide paid access to any number of services or content online, subscriptions can be a great proposition. Especially in place of charging on a per service basis! Read more... - Do I need an SSL certificate?
Not required for all payment processors, though some do. It is a great idea in any case, and not very expensive. You will only need one, and CorFun can assist you with getting it from your Webhost. Read more...
Questions about managing mailing lists and marketing on the Web. - Can I use my website to send eNewsletters?
Yes. There is a great newsletter component that bundles into Joomla called Acajoom. There is a free version which we bundle into our installations. The paid version offers more capabilities, but is not always necessary. Both free and paid versions allow you to create an unlimited number of newsletter mailing lists, and to accept subscriptions to them. People do not have to register with your site to join your mailing list. The two things can be separate to maximize your mailing list. Read more... - Do you have to register with my site to get on my mailing list?
The Acajoom mailing system for Joomla allows non-reigstered people to get a newsletter. If you are registered with the site, then you have access (potentially) to a different newsletter(s). The two processes (registration and getting on a mailing list) can work together, but also can be separate to encourage the building of a large mailing list. Read more... - How big can my mailing list be?
CorFun clients routinely send out newsletter mailings to 8,000 people (and growing). Regardless of how big your mailing list needs to be, the Joomla CMS combined with the Acajoom mailing system can handle it. Read more... - How can I have a custom thank-you page for people who register for my newsletter?
You would create a new article and have it as category unassigned (in J1.5) or build it as Static Content (J1.x). Then you publish that page to a menu, preferably a menu that only admins have access to. Bring up the page, and copy the link from the browser. You can then take the page off the menu. Then you go into the Acajoom module, and find the custom thank you page URL slot, and paste that in. CorFun normally does this for you as part of the Website build process. Read more... - How do people sign up for my mailing lists?
The system has a sign up module that is on your site. You can also integrate signing up for newsletters into your registration process for new members. Also, in the Pro version of Acajoom you can create sign up forms that can be posted on other Websites so that people can sign up remotely for your newsletter. This is great for co-operating with other sites, but also in the case that your organization or business has more than one site such as a Facebook group, mySpace group, blog, etc. that needs to feed subscriptions back to central mailing lists. Read more... - How many mailing lists can I have?
You can have an unlimited number of different mailing lists for different purposes. You can have a list that is only available for non-members to sign up by having that list be active in an Acajoom sign up module. You can also have one or more lists that is only for members by making it only available during the registration process. There is no limit really. Some of our customers also run mailing lists through their Websites for their own customers. Read more...
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