When will my site be up and running?
Upon sign-up, it’s virtually instant. With our simple, web-based approach, all you need is a web browser and an Internet connection. NOTE: For greatest results, we recommend using either Safari and Firefox 3 as your Internet browser, as it has the best compatibility with the formatting controls.
Can I try it before I buy it?
You sure can. We know you’ll be hooked once you’ve given it a try. Our FREE trial allows you to create a website with a maximum of 30 images in your galleries—try it as long as you like. When you’re ready to upgrade, we’ll be here.
Is there support?
We offer online support and a browsable FAQ knowledge base.
Is there a contract to sign?
Nope. We keep things as hassle-free as possible. Parade is pay-as-you-go, with a low month-by-month fee. No long-term contracts to sign. No termination fee. Switch plans or cancel at any time.
Can I use my own domain name?
Yes, with any paid plan, you can use your custom domain name by simply pointing the record for your domain name to your Parade account. (This is easily done at your domain registrar’s panel.) We don’t register domain names because we want you to retain control of your own domain name as long as you choose to use it. The average cost to register a domain name is about $9/year. You can register domain names with Go Daddy.
What are the system requirements?
Parade is completely web-based, so there is nothing to install and no server/platform requirements for you to be concerned with. A web browser and Internet connection is all you need. For greatest results, we recommend using Firefox 3 or Safari as your Internet browser, as they have the best compatibility with the formatting controls.
NOTE: These browsers are only required to support the admin panel for Parade. Your clients and potential clients will be able to view your Parade site, no matter what browser they use.
Will my clients be able to view my site, no matter what browser they use?
Yes.
Can I switch plans or designs?
Absolutely, you can switch your plan or your design at any time.
Are your sites “Search Engine Optimized”?
Yes. Parade sites are actually more search engine friendly than traditional portfolio websites. Most photography-based portfolio sites are built in Flash and are not able to be optimized for, or often even made visible to, the search engines. We design CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) – based sites with code that is perfectly constructed, allowing for all elements of information to be properly structured hierarchically, providing appropriate semantic meaning – ultimately providing content that is more easily indexed by search engines and more easily used by a variety of browser types and devices.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Parade is a month-to-month service, meaning there’s no long term contract. You can cancel at any time and there’s no termination fees.
Is there a set-up fee?
No!
What about security?
As outlined in our Privacy Statement, we take great care in safeguarding our customers’ information. The Parade server is safely housed in a state-of-the-art secure facility with power and internet backup. Your access is password protected and we will NEVER sell or share your information. As an added measure, we advise our customers to take appropriate measures with your own user account.
What is your refund policy?
Parade is a month-to-month, pay-as-you-go service so we don’t provide refunds. You are billed every 30 days. You can cancel the service at any time and you won’t be charged again. You won’t, however, be refunded for any charges already incurred during the month. For example, if your billing cycle is on the 18th of every month, and you cancel on the 24th, you’ll still have to pay for the current month, but you won’t be charged again after that.
Is my privacy guaranteed?
Yes. We value your privacy. We will never give, lease, sell or otherwise disclose your personal information. Any information you give to Parade Portfolio Management Tools will be held with the utmost care, and will not be used in ways to which you have not consented. See our Privacy Statement for more.
Can I use my own hosting company?
No, the standard designs must be hosted at Parade because they are tightly integrated into the Parade admin system. However, custom projects can be hosted at your preferred host (custom project rates will apply).
How will my email work?
Parade uses Google Apps for email. Gmail is Google’s innovative webmail service. With Google Apps, Google offers Gmail to entire organizations, with personalized addresses like jsmith@example.com. Each account comes with plenty of storage space for saved messages (up to 25 GB per account with Google Apps Premier Edition, with more on the way) and built-in Google search technology to quickly navigate through all of your mail, just as Google helps you make sense of the entire internet. Gmail also helps users manage large quantities of mail by automatically grouping related messages, so you automatically see a whole series of related replies all at once.
Can I pay a full year up-front?
Currently, we only offer recurring monthly billing.
How does recurring billing work?
You will be billed for your first month on the day you set up your Parade account with us. Your monthly billing cycle will then begin on that date and will happen on that date each subsequent month. (For example: If you sign up on Feb. 19, your first invoice would be on that date and you would be billed again on the 19th of each month for as long as you choose to subscribe). Billing happens at the start of each month of service (For example: Your invoice on Feb. 19 would cover your service from Feb. 19 to Mar. 19). Invoices are automatically emailed to the account owner every time you are charged.
What will show up on my credit card statement?
Your credit card statement and your email transaction receipt will reflect a charge from “Parade Portfolio Management Tools”.
Can I be sent an invoice each time I’m billed?
The account owner (the person with the credit card who set up the Parade account) is automatically sent an email transaction receipt every time their card is charged.
Do you support video files?
Yes, but not in galleries. Video files can be inserted into the pages. We recommend uploading your videos to Vimeo.