Welcome!
We are excited to work with you to get your site launched! We have a number of online tools, including this web site, to help improve communications, define the process, and get you launched quickly.
To launch your site in a timely manner we need to work as a team. Any delays in providing requested items can delay the launch of your site. If you have any questions about our requests, give us a call!
To get started, we need to know about your company. Please fill in the Your Information form (see below).
Client information
The first step towards your site launch is filling out the:
"Your Information" Form
Planning your Site (Features & Design)
The sky is the limit when it comes to building web sites. Want something special? We can make it happen. However, the array of options available can be dizzying. We recommend starting with one of our standard packages. We've worked with dozens of clients, and our packages represent the best value, a nice balance between cost, usability, features, and implementation speed.
See our Publishing Packages.
Deliverables
To get started, the first thing is to identify the criteria of success. Our standard packages deliver a laundry list of features and capabilities, but we want to know from you why you want a new web site, so we can make sure we deliver!
What are your goals for the new web site? What sections, subsections, and extra features do you need? Do you have a new logo, color scheme, masthead graphics, or personnel photos?
Filling out our intake form gives you a chance to address these concerns, and gives us a great starting point to help organize your site and recommend options.
The more we can identify up front, the quicker your site can get launched.
Online Forms - Credit Card Transactions
Freelock.com enforces a policy to comply with the PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance standard. The PCI Compliance imposes rules on how credit card information is used over the internet which includes that such information is encrypted during transit.
For more info on PCI compliance: www.pcicomplianceguide.org
To comply with these new rules we will require that any form that collects credit card information uses some sort of encryption.
There are basically 3 options:
- Real Time credit card processing via VeriSign, Authorize.net, etc
- Email and file encryption software - also known as PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software. This software must be installed on the computer of each email recipient. Costs can vary depending on the email client used, there are some free email encryption programs available.
- We can create forms without credit card information and just gather their name, address, phone and email, etc. Then your circulation and/or classified staff can contact the customers to gather payment information over the phone. (This option would require no extra costs)
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this please contact your regional sales representative.
Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
Terms of Use for Websites are legal agreements where a member and the owner of a website establish the use of their website via the internet.
The Web Site Terms of Use protect you from liability associated with claims of loss or damage from web site visitors. It states that you do not warrant the accuracy of any information on the site and that you cannot be held liable for any damages incurred by relying on or in association with the web site content. The Agreement also provides copyright and trademark protection for the web site content and disavows any responsibility for the content of any other web site linked to this site.
We suggest that you check with your corporate office to find out if you have a Terms of Use agreement that should be displayed on your site. If you do not, standard Terms of Use agreements can be purchased at locations or websites where legal forms can be purchased.
Privacy Policies outline the terms by which a company or website handles personal information from its visitors. A privacy policy is also known as a policy statement and usually found as a link on the bottom of a websites homepage.
Once your privacy statement is posted, you are legally liable if you fail to abide by your privacy policy statement or if the statement does not comply with local and national laws. We recommend that you seek legal advice if you have any questions or concerns about your policy before it’s posted.
We suggest that you check with your corporate office to find out if you have a Privacy Policy that should be displayed on your site. If you do not, several interactive, web-based tools have been developed to help organizations create a privacy policy step-by-step. For more information, see The Better Business Bureau's web site.
Timeline
Timelines depend on which package has been chosen. If you've chosen a Silver or Gold package, your Project Manager will establish a timeline with you once all deliverables are received. A typical timeline for silver and gold packages is based on a 30-45 day launch time beginning from the date that the deliverables are received. Platinum timelines typically start at 75 days and extend based on the complexity of the site's functionality.
If you've chosen the Platinum package, you will receive a custom timeline from your Project Manager within one week of signing your contract.
In order to keep your site project on track, it is imperative that you work closely with your Project Manager. Communication should be steady and regular during the design/set-up phase of your site.
YPEngine (Yellow Pages/Business Directory)
Your complete local search, mapping and business directory solution. Our database of more than 20 million local businesses provides the information your consumers need to make decisions and find advertisers. YPEngine gives your site the local information and depth it needs, while providing you with a new revenue stream. Bring in new advertisers with affordable Web packages and helpful merchandising tools. YPEngine helps you bring local search and more revenue to your online business.
If you've purchased the YPEngine as part of your package: Download our Excel File and fill out the form
Submit it through our "YPEngine" Form
Archives
We can add your current archives to the new site at no additional cost (if applicable).
If your site is currently hosted with TownNews.com we will move your archives into your redesigned site automatically (this includes migrations from the Zwire! platform). Typically, this is done as, or soon after, your new site launches so as not to have any missing articles. For Zwire! migrations, please allow 1-2 weeks.
If your site is not currently hosted with TownNews.com, you’ll need to contact your current provider and ask them to burn your files and/or database to a CD. They may or may not charge you a fee for this. You should contact your current provider as soon as you can, but you should not have them provide your archives to you until your new site has launched. Please allow 2-3 weeks for us to import these into your current site. In many cases we need to write parsers that will import the data into the format needed for your new site.
CD's should be sent to the attention of your Project Manager:
TownNews.com, 1510 47th Avenue, Moline, IL, 61265
(please include your paper name and Web site address with any correspondence).
For questions regarding this, please talk with your Project Manager or Sales Representative.
Launch
Training
Sites are generally in training for two weeks before going live. This allows time for the actual training, as well as for your staff to practice and get comfortable with the upload process before the live date. Functionality changes can be made during this time as well, to make sure you are completely satisfied with how your site works.
Build a team to decide who in your organization will fill the following roles. Make sure that you have a backup person to cover when employees take vacation or call in sick.
Editorial – This person will put up the new stories and photos. This person and their backup should go through all site and product training.
Classifieds – This person upload the classified ad file to Ad-Market. This person and their backup should go through classified ad training.
Ad Creation - This person will use your image editing program (Photo Shop, Pain Shop, etc.) to create online ads for your advertising sales representatives. They will use Adsys to load these ads onto the Web site. They and the sales representatives should be involved in Adsys training, where ad statistics will also be discussed.
Set the Date
Once you/your staff is comfortable with training, you can decide on a live date. This means making sure your staff has had ample time to practice uploading stories and ads to the site. Please note we do not allow live dates to be set on Fridays, weekends, or before holidays, as we want to make sure staff is available to answer questions or concerns you may have during those first few days of being live. We require at least 24 hour notice in order to co-ordinate DNS, domain names, and mail moves.
It will take 24 – 48 hours for your site to fully propagate once we switch it to live.
Please allow for this in any promotions you may have for the web site.
Once You Are Live
*Our Customer Support staff is available at 1-800-293-9576 or through requests@townnews.com. Even after hours you will always be able to reach a member of our staff at 1-800-293-9576 in case of emergencies.
Web Stats
*You will be able to check your stats once your site is live by going to http://www.DOMAIN.com/?admin and clicking on the “Stats” icon.