FAQ's

( Frequently Asked Questions )

Q:    I have already spent money on promotional materials (headshots, resumes, business cards, postcards, audio reels, video reels), do I need a website?

A:    In today’s world, the answer is YES. Many agents, casting directors and clients are beginning to do a lot of their business online. The biggest advantage of having an online presence is that the Internet saves time and money when it comes to submissions. Did you ever get a call and need to overnight your photos or demo reel to a client for a specific job? Wouldn’t it be nice to give a web address where they can view your entire portfolio online instead of having to pay mailing, packaging and/or overnight fees? With our help, your resume, headshot, photo gallery or demo can be just a mouse click away from anybody’s PC anywhere in the world, and the person who benefits most is you.

Q:    Why should I pay for a website when there are several industry sites out there who will let me post my headshot and resume/portfolio for free?

 A:    While these sites may be a good outlet for someone who has absolutely no experience, it can be a hindrance for a working professional. Some free sites are better than others at keeping their sites clean, but a lot of them showcase amateur talent and post headshots in an open database. This can look unprofessional if you are actively using your site for submissions to serious clients. Another hindrance is the set up of free site web addresses (or URL's), which are often impractical, confusing and difficult to access, and almost impossible to print on a business card, letterhead, or comp card. For example, your URL under a free site listing could look something like this: www.theirsitename.com/category/actors/pages/actorpage1784. Another factor is the use of pop-up advertisement at free sites, which may drive away a client who doesn't have the time to sort through pop-up ads to get to your information. At Onlinestarshine, all of our clients receive name based URL's, making their pages easy to access and remember, and we do not advertise with any pop-up services.

Q:    What about the legitimate talent database sites that offer web page packages to talent at low-cost prices where casting directors can find you on the Internet?

A:    The biggest misconception about the Internet is the cost, and the second biggest is that casting directors surf the Internet scouting for stars. What talent databases often advertise as low-cost web pages (some at $250-$450 for a database listing) are actually more expensive than the cost of purchasing your own domain name and having your site designed and hosted. Many of these sites are nicely constructed, but they limit the size of your photos, reduce the quality of your photos, or charge hidden fees for site space and updates to your page. If you are a working professional, updates to your resume and photos can get expensive at their average fee of $20 per change, and some of these sites also have disclaimers in the small print which give them a percentage of any jobs you book through someone accessing your site. And again, you are looking at a long, confusing URL and giving your clients access to a talent database of your competition. With the multitude of internet exchanges currently available (.com, .net, .info, .name, etc.), you can easily create your own unique web address using your own name, and in the long run, more cost-effectively than purchasing a web page package from a talent database site, some of which also make false claims as to their ability to get you work. The reality is that your website is another of your marketing tools, and not only will we design a custom site that's right for you, we will help you learn how to use it effectively.

Q:    I really want a website, but I don't think I can afford it right now. What should I do?

A:    Based on what we found available on the Internet, we have created cost-effective plans for website design, webpage design and Internet hosting for the working entertainment professional.  Our only rule is that we do not allow pornographic materials on any of our host servers. Onlinestarshine is currently offering the best price available for a one-page website with your own domain name (www.yourname.com). For more information visit our Services page or Contact us for a free quote.