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Following
are are some extremely important questions that anyone
considering a website should ask. We hope we can help you answer these
questions and to find the right solution for you. We would love to have
you as a new client, but maybe you don't need us yet. In that case, maybe
the information below will help you. Whatever you do, we hope you will
come back to our site for ongoing answers.
How much does it cost?
Building a site on the web can be as
simple as a one or two page "billboard" to an e-commerce site
with thousands of products. The only differences are time, expertise and
cost. We build our sites from the ground up, small
to large. However, if
you are just getting your feet wet on the website idea, there are free
solutions we can recommend as well as a low-cost alternative that we've
just begun to offer.
What should I be looking for in a web designer?
It's the Web designer's job to work with you to determine what you want to accomplish,
the image you want the site to project, what your budget is, then
produce all the graphic and navigational elements that make a good site
work. They should also be willing to help you register your domain name (www.yourcompany.com)
(see below) and locate a host (see below) for the site. An
average cost is about $100-$200 per page, but this can vary if there are
complex scripts, custom-made graphics, animation, video, sound, etc.
We prefer to charge a flat fee and to describe in detail what we'll
do for that fee. You might find this preferable because you know in
advance what your costs will be and if they are like us, most web
designers will spend extra time to make the site just right, but might not
if they have to justify an hourly fee for it.
Can I do a website myself?
Yes, you can. Even if you aren't
particularly creative, today's software selections include some beginner
packages that will allow you to put together a basic site. Don't expect it
to win any prizes though, or even have some of the features you may think
of as typical. What you can do is easily create static pages that tell
your story. You might even want to start this way to get a feel for what
you want your site to offer. There's nothing like hands-on experience to
help you understand something. We don't recommend this approach if your
company image and credibility is on the line, though. It will be pretty
obvious that your site isn't a professional site if you do it yourself and
aren't a pro. You might want to construct a personal web site to get the
feel of it first. Here are some beginner software programs you should
consider:
Microsoft FrontPage
Used by professionals and amateurs alike, this basic program can
create some pretty impressive first efforts. It comes with Microsoft
Office Premium, so you might already have it. If not, you can order it
online for around $160. This is our first choice for beginners.
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Microsoft Word,
PowerPoint
Believe it or not, the Office 2000 editions of Microsoft Office's Word
and PowerPoint are capable of creating Web pages. Read the help sections
on these programs to find out how.
How
do you get a Web site on the Web?
Register your domain name
In order for people to see your site on the web, you need a website address (www.yourcompanyname.com).
For there to be a standard for names, there are companies, by agreement
with the government, that issue the names and keep track of them. The fee
is from $20 to $35 per year. You'll
find that most of the good names are already taken, so you should get some
advice about alternative type designations, like "yourcompanyname.net" or "yourcompanyname.org".
How do I come up
at the tip in search engines?
85% of all site visits originate
from someone typing in keywords in a search engine. This is one area of
Web site design that is the most important and the most overlooked. Remember that the domain name of a site is not the only way people
can find your site. It's most often the keywords and the way the designer
uses code that causes a site to be found by search engines. Make sure your
site is designed with the important elements built in or it might be a
very long wait for visitors. See
our optimization services.
Arrange for a Web Host:
The host is an internet
service provider (ISP). The content of your website needs to be located on
a computer server that's directly connected to the web, using high-speed
connections ( lots of bandwidth). Some companies are XO, Earthlink, and
many others.
Our personal favorite is XO, but there are lots of companies to
choose from. Costs usually include a setup fee of $25 to $150. After that,
you pay around $20-$100 per month, depending upon size of the size and
special features chosen. Different rates among web hosts for the same services
aren't uncommon, so be sure to shop around.
How
does a Web site work with my e-mail?
Web hosting accounts usually include e-mail accounts
with the service, so you can have e-mail that has your site name (me@mycompany.com).
How do I get started?
First of all, do your homework. Check out the opportunities by
using search engines on the Web, like Google. Type in keywords like "free websites" to see what
you come up with. Look up companies like ours that design web sites. Look
at their work online to see if their design and prices fit with your
needs. Most will be happy to provide you with their fee schedule and
contract, which should spell out exactly what they will (and won't) be
doing for the money. You can
start by looking at ours.
Question not
answered here? Ask us.
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