FAQs

What kind of sites can i make with Shroggle?
How do i get started?
Can I move an existing site to Shroggle?
Can I import a database into Shroggle?
What can't shroggle do?
Can I create a Shroggle site and host it elsewhere?
Can I use content like a blog or forum on more than one of my Shroggle sites?
Can I use Shroggle as a private media library or offsite backup?
How do I create an e-commerce site with Shroggle?
How do I create an e-commerce site with Shroggle?
Can I download / backup my content or data to my own computer?
Where are Shroggle's servers hosted?
Do I need to know any html?
Do i have to know how to program?
Can I use my own domain?
What sort of support does Shroggle offer? (SLA).
Once i have created my site, how do i make it public?
Does Shroggle help me to get Internet traffic?
Can i invite someone else to help me manage my Shroggle site?
I have a site that I built in Dream weaver / iWeb, what would Shroggle do better?

What is the advantage of using Shroggle rather than a Web Developer?

What kind of sites can i make with Shroggle?

• You can create an online product gallery or portfolio site
  
• A searchable directory of people, places, products, publications, companies, events, etc
  
• You can create an online school
  
• A corporate or family archive of documents and media
  
• You can create an online competition
  
• You can use Shroggle to create an online exhibit or gallery
  
• Use it to create an online resume
  
• A collaborative work space for a team or family.
  
  

How do i get started?

• Click the 'Start' button or click the 'Create Account' menu option.
  
• Enter your account / contact info.
  
• First you will be asked to name your site, and select a domain name.
  
• You will be asked to select a layout / look and feel and a color scheme,
  and you will be given the option to create and name any number of pages.
  
• The next step is to decide on a basic structure for the site (of course you can change this later)
  
• and you will need to begin by compiling and pulling together some content for your site,
  (eg. text, images, video etc).
  
  

Can I move an existing site to Shroggle?

Although you can move the content from your existing site, you can not reuse the code from the existing site.
But don't worry, we will probably be able to give you the same or better functionality instantly.
If you are particularly attached to your look and feel, you can ask us to create that design for you within Shroggle for a small fee.

Can I import a database into Shroggle?

At this time data import is not a publically available feature of Shroggle, however for a small fee we would be happy to do this for you.
For more information please call services@shroggle.com

What can't shroggle do?

Shroggle does not give you a code base that you can take to another host.

Shroggle does not allow you to integrate other code bases or software.

At this time Shroggle has not e-commerce functionality, you can not make an online retail store.

Can I create a Shroggle site and host it elsewhere?

Shroggle does not give you a code base that you can take to another host.

You will NOT be provided with a group of files that constitute the entirety of your site.

Can I use content like a blog or forum on more than one of my Shroggle sites?

Yes you have the option to share your content modules with any other Shroggle site that requests that content.

Can I use Shroggle as a private media library or offsite backup?

Yes you may create password protected sites with as much media and content as you wish to include.
However Shroggle's hosting fees do increase the more media storage you use.

How do I create an e-commerce site with Shroggle?

This functionality is a work in progress and is expected to be available later this year 2009.

Can I download / backup my content or data to my own computer?

Data entered into shroggle forms can be downloaded to your own computer, as a comma delimited file.

Where are Shroggle's servers hosted?

Shroggle's hosting facility is in Las Vegas. It is a secure, fully manned, high-end corporate media hosting facility, shared with lots of big name media companies.
The advantage of hosting in Las Vegas is that the city of Las Vegas has heavily invested in its Internet infrastructure, providing one of the worlds more reliable
and highest volume Internet backbones with exceptional levels of redundancy. The facility in question has everything a superior host should have: Large generators
and enormous on sight fuel storage to power them, haelon fire exterminators, secure server cages, finger print access to the facility as well as 24 / 7 security
personnel. This part of Nevada has no earthquakes, or tornados and is one of the country's safest locations with regard to natural disasters etc.

Do I need to know any html?

You do NOT need to know any programing languages. Those with css or html skills, will have additional editing interfaces but it is in no way necessary to do so.

Do i have to know how to program?

You do NOT need to have any programing skills. Those with css or html skills, will have additional editing interfaces but it is in no way necessary to do so.

Can I use my own domain?

Yes you may use your own domain if you are registering for a site directly with Shroggle. Shroggle networks sites generally do not offer this facility.

What sort of support does Shroggle offer? (SLA).

Shroggle is a young and energetic company. At this time we have one full time customer service / support person to help you find your way around Shroggle. However we do
offer excellent online help. If you are unfamiliar with computers, we strongly suggest however that you employ an account manager or web developer to give you that extra
level of attention.

Once i have created my site, how do i make it public?

• Go to your 'Account information' and click on the payment details link.


• Add your credit card or paypal info.


• Return to the Site Editing page, select the page you wish to publish and click the 'post live' button.


• These pages will now be live and accessible publicly on the Internet (unless password protected).

Does Shroggle help me to get Internet traffic?

There are three aspects to Internet visibility.

1. Optimization of your site: - the site's structure and use of title and meta tags etc.
   Shroggle will give you easy, form based access to edit these very necessary keywords, however you will have to research what your keywords should be.
   Or hire our marketing department to do this research for you.



2. Site content: - Also based on the above mentioned 'keywords' - search engines award higher levels of visibility to those
   sites that have large quantities of high quality relevant content. They determine quality and relevancy according to the presence of these 'keywords' and the frequency / density
   with which they appear in an article and on a site.



3. Relevant in-bound links: - Search engines award high levels of Internet visibility to those sites with more 'relevant inbound links'. Relevancy is determined by the presence
   of the same keywords or family of keywords, on the site that is linking to you, and on your own site. Links should appear to be 'unpaid' eg blog rather than banner ads, and they
   should appear to be 'one way' ie in bound only and not reciprocated / bartered for a return link.
   Shroggle and its community of sites will eventually be able to assist in this area also: Any member of the shroggle community can request to 'share' your site content.
   You will be able to give other Shroggle site owners the ability to publish your content on their site, of course you can require them to post attributions and links to your site.
   This is exactly the type of inbound link that the Search Engines award you for - because they perceive them to be a validation of your site and its content.

Can i invite someone else to help me manage my Shroggle site?

Yes indeed. By going to your Account Details and selecting the 'permissions' option you can invite an additional site administrator.
You have the option to give them full editing access or limit that access to some degree.

I have a site that I built in HTML, what would Shroggle do better?

Although it can be a fun creative project to create an html site, I'm sure you are well aware that it is much less fun to update and manage that site ongoing.
Of course a site that is not updated regularly ceases to appeal to either its online audience, or to the search engines.

Shroggle allows you to edit your content without having to remember your file structure, or the details of html code.
Also an html web site does not give you the tremendous advantages of a searchable database, and html can not be used to create blogs or forums.
Shroggle gives you all of this and much more, making it free and easy to quickly update your site anytime, anywhere, from any computer with Internet access.
You don't have to have all of your files with you, and you don't have to have FTP software.

I have a site that I built in Dream weaver / iWeb, what would Shroggle do better?

It can be a fun creative project to build a site in dream weaver, front page or iWeb, but I'm sure you are well aware that it is much less fun to update and manage that site ongoing.
Of course a site that is not updated regularly ceases to appeal to either its online audience, or to the search engines.
Shroggle allows you to edit your content without having to remember your file structure, or how the software works.

Furthermore dream weaver only produces html web sites, and html does not give you the tremendous advantages of a searchable database.
Nor can html be used to create blogs or forums, product catalogs or directories.

Shroggle gives you all of this and much more, making it free and easy to quickly update your site anytime, anywhere, from any computer with Internet access.
You don't have to have all of your files with you, you don't have to have FTP software or a dream weaver installed.

What is the advantage of using Shroggle rather than a Web Developer?

Web development is a time consuming and laborious task. Creating and maintaining a site, whether its in html, css or php has a great deal of uncertainty and complexity.

A web developer therefor has two options:

• The first is uncertain but more flexibile: They can create custom sites for their clients - and take the risk that it will cost them more to create the site than they can charge you fairly.
  


• They can create a template site and modify it for each client - giving you and them more reliable results, but with a level of inflexibility.
  Web developers often try to hide this fact from their client's by agreeing to deviate from the template where the client requires it... but then the risk and uncertainty once again become a factor.
  Clients generally experience web developers as 'unreliable' taking longer than their own estimates and costing more than their original quote but some large order of magnitude.
  Of course this tends to strain the relationship between client and developer.

Shroggle offers the reliability and predictability of a template, but with a great deal more flexibility.

If you are uncomfortable using a computer - you can still have the best of both worlds: Shroggle's reliability and flexibility, and a web designer / developer's experience and design skills.
Use your existing web developer if you have one you like, or alternatively contact services@shroggle.com and we will assign you one of our professional web developers.