Questions & answers

1. What is involved in getting a Web site?
2. Do I have to have my own Internet connection?
3. Do I need my own server?
4. Where on the Internet would my site be?
5. How will customers find my Web site?
6. What information do I need to provide for the Web designer?
7. What happens when I choose you to design my Web page?
8. How much does it cost to get a domain name and Web space?
9. How can I track the progress of the site design during the development process?
10. How is the cost determined?
11. Do we need our own server?
12. Can we choose our own Web site address?
13. How often do pages need to be updated?
14. What should/shouldn't we include on our page?
15. Who owns the copyright of the Web site?
16. Can we get statistics about who is visiting us?

1. What is involved in getting a Web site?

   Contact a Web designer (like myself) and set up an informal meeting to discuss your requirements. I explain the process in detail under the section "Design process" and you should read this to get a good idea of what is involved.

2. Do I have to have my own Internet connection?

   No. Your site will still be available to anyone who has access to the Internet, regardless of whether you're connected or not.

3. Do I need my own server?

   No. Not unless you decide to host your own Web site yourself, but you can leave that responsibility up to someone else for free or for a small cost (depending on what you want to do).

4. Where on the Internet would my site be?

   You choose the address and, so long as the address is not already taken, that's where people will find your Web site.

5. How will customers find my Web site?

   Search engines such as Google and Yahoo are probably the most common ways that your customers will find you. Other common ways to drive traffic to your Web site are to advertise your address on business cards, stationery, your shop front, yearly calendars and of course, word-of-mouth.

6. What information do I need to provide for the Web designer?

   Everything that you want your publics to know, preferably in plain text, via e-mail or on cd.

7. What happens when I choose you to design my Web page?

   Email or call me to set up a free consultation. At the meeting, I will discuss your business and the ideas you have for your Web site. Together we'll brainstorm a set of specifications and I will contact you later that same day with a quote for my services. If you are satisfied with the price, I will then sketch some ideas of the general page design and ask you to think in more detail about what information you want to make available and get you to provide me with a copy.

8. How much does it cost to get a domain name and Web space?

   Prices vary widely. If you're not picky about the domain name, there are very reliable free Web site hosts out there which will host your Web site with an address such as "http://www.aWebHostCompany.com/YourBusinessName." If this meets your needs then I can recommend a selection of good companies on request. If you'd prefer to have a domain name (e.g. http://www.BusinessName.com) then I can set you up with the same company that I use. Their current price is $US8.88/year (approx £4/year). You pay via credit card and can choose to buy the address from 1 year to 10 years. It's up to you.

9. How can I track the progress of the site design during the development process?

   Through regular meetings, I will work hard to ensure optimal communication and value for money. As well as this, the Web site will be edited online at a private address which you will have access to view anytime you wish.

10. How is the cost determined?

    Web pages do tend to seem expensive at first glance. However, you pay for knowledge as well as time, just like paying an accountant or a lawyer. Hours of work go into putting a Web site together, from sketching out ideas, to designing artwork, to programming the functions that your page will perform. Also, meetings with your business and constant support from your designer are included in these prices. Infact, it is very hard to count the hours spent on a page, and it is often more than the time which is accounted for.

11. Do we need our own server?

    If you do have your own server already, then this will save you extra expense, however if you don't it doesn't matter, you can find servers with any ISP (Internet Service Provider) in the phone book. These are generally paid for on a monthly basis, and prices range from free, to very expensive, as with anything. It's generally advised however, that you get a domain name, in order to be found easier by your target markets. It is definitely worth the extra cost.

12. Can we choose our own Web site address?

    Yes absolutely. It is a matter of finding a server, who will then give you some choices for a domain name (Web site address) it is best to go with addresses like: www.businessname.com so that people can find you easily.

13. How often do pages need to be updated?

    It's best to keep your page as up-to-date as possible, in order to keep people coming back to your site and to keep your page ranking on search engines high. Remember, an up-to-date Web site is crucial to the success of your online business as your competitors are just a click away.

14. What should/shouldn't we include on our page?

    Include information about who your company is, what it does, and also to use your Web site as a way to give your customers more. Give them services on-line and information you think they should know.

    Giving plenty of information is important, but so too is giving them something to look at. Careful use of images of your company, animations to catch the reader's attention, and perhaps even sound or an on-line movie, can give your page dynamics that a newsletter can never match. But try not to include too many, and discuss this with your designer, to make sure they put these in strategic positions.

15. Who owns the copyright of the Web site?

    Copyright of your Web site belongs to both you and the designer. The items supplied by yourself, belong to you, and the design and art supplied by the designer belong to them. This protects you as well as the designer. The designer cannot use items supplied by you, as their own. And designers reserve the right to advertise your page as an example of their design ability, and for this reason, among others such as intellectual property, you cannot change the design.

16. Can we get statistics about who is visiting us?

    Yes. Please contact me for more information on the options available.

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