This page is provided to answer frequently asked questions
about web site design. It is updated often so come back for new "Q
and A".
- Why do I need a web site?
- Any time you want to advertise, promote, announce, broadcast, or otherwise let the world know you
exist and have something to say or offer, you need a web site. Period. Businesses, especially, need a
web site just to be competitive. Even if you don't sell anything online, you need a web site for
contact information and product(s) and/or service(s) details.
- What can a web site do for me?
- There are many reasons for creating your own web site. Here are a few benefits. Compared to
other forms of advertising the costs are minuscule. It can promote your business or personal objective
on a global scale. It gives you the flexibility of changing your promotional strategy and updating
your objective and content within minutes compared to days or weeks for other types of promotional
media. It allows your products, services, or message to be accessible 24 hours a day, every day of
the year. It allows you to stay competitive.
- How much does a web site cost?
- Asking how much a web site costs is like asking how much it costs to build a home. A custom
home could cost just a few thousand dollars for a one-room cabin to over $128 million (US) for a London
mansion.
The same holds true for a web site design. The price depends on the features and complexity you want
included and the size of the site. If someone quotes you a price to build a web site without knowing
what you want, you're not going to get your money's worth, regardless of the price. A few factors that
determine the cost of a web site build include: time frame (urgency), project size, copy-writing,
SEO, photo/video/audio editing, graphic design,
animation, use of a database, shopping cart, SSL, and bandwidth.
Contact us for a good-faith estimate.
- Can I build a web site myself?
- Anyone can create their own web site. All you need is something to say and a place to put it. With
just a few internet search queries you can even find free web space, a
DIY design template, and how to upload your site on the web.
However, it's not quite that simple. Besides the time you'll spend learning the fundamentals of web page
coding and the time wasted the in trail-and-error process, you may not even get the site that you really
want. We can use the home building analogy again. As you wouldn't build your own home, you wouldn't want
to build your own site for something as important as your professional presence on the Web. If you want to
have a web site that can be found on the internet and that will actually benefit and support your business
or endeavor you should get the help of a professional.
- Why should I use a professional web designer?
- Web designers and professional web development companies specialize in designing websites and
launching them on the Internet. A good web development company will ensure that your website design
is fresh and innovative, and sends the professional image that your company or association wants to
convey. Ultimately, a good web development company has the depth of knowledge and Internet expertise
to ensure that your website not only looks great, functions as expected, is easily found through
search engine queries, and is built to be effortlessly maintained.
- What do I need to start a web site?
- We've dedicated a separate page to respond to this frequently asked
question.
- What is a domain name?
- It is the "address" or URL of a
particular web site. It is also how you describe the name that is to the right of the @ sign in an
Internet address. The domain name is registered and listed with the controlling organization,
InterNIC.
- How do I register a domain name?
- After deciding on a name for your site, check with
WHOIS
or any other domain checker to make sure that the name you want is available; then, go through an
accredited TLD
registrar
to register the name. Fees vary by registrar. That's it. We can register your domain name for you if
you prefer.
- What is hosting?
- Web hosting it is the process of using the resources—hard disk space, memory, etc.—of a
computer (server) that has a continuous high-speed internet connection to serve up stored files
—WWW pages, images, movies, PDFs, etc.—
when called upon. Hosting can be done through in-house servers or through a third-party web hosting
company. Each form of hosting has it's advantages and disadvantages; however, it is generally advised
to go through a third-party company and pay a monthly fee unless you require specialized equipment
and/or need a 24/7 staff of IT professionals to manage your web hosting servers.
- How much "space" do I need?
- It depends (don't you hate that answer!). But in truth, it does. It is best to have a web site
built, or close to being built, so you'll better understand what you need, such as: server space,
bandwidth, number of e-mail accounts, databases, SSL, etc.
Most small- to medium-size businesses only need a small "space" so the costs are
minimal.
- What is HTML?
- HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the markup (structural) langauge used to
create and design web pages. It is gradually being replaced by a more standardized version called,
"XHTML". XHTML is a
stricter form of HTML. XHTML allows for better non-computer browsing of content and allows for
new technologies to be incorporated into web sites. Although a bit more complex, we design using
XHTML as it has greater benefits especially looking ahead at the advancement of the internet.
- What is CSS?
- CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. It is a declaration form(s) to describe the presention of
elements in a web document. Using CSS allows the "look" of a web site to be stored on one or
a few pages which can be referenced by all other web pages. Using CSS allows a web site to have a
different "look" for different communication devices. A site can have different CSS for
screen readers, computers, web-enabled mobile devices, etc.
- What is bandwidth?
- Bandwidth is the amount of traffic that is allowed to occur between your web site and the rest of
the internet. Most hosting companies offer a variety of plans depending on dedicated bandwidth and
traffic allotment. We can arrange hosting for you.
- What is SSL and why would I need it?
- SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It provides added security for internet transactions. It's use
is recommended to safeguard information if you plan on collecting sensitive user data and for
high-risk transactions like transmitting credit card numbers, PIN, passwords, and other sensitive
personal information. SSL provides added security to those web pages that need it.
- How long will it take to develop a web site?
- Aside from the content gathering process which is determined by the client, our web site
development process generally takes three to ten weeks depending on the size of the project, the
complexity of the functional components to be included, and any post-production work. The time frame
includes preliminary work such as wireframing,
Information Architecture—"I.A.", page layout.
- What is web site wireframe?
- It is a a basic visual guide used to suggest the layout and placement of fundamental design
elements in the interface design. Because of this, they must be completed before any artwork is
developed. When completed correctly they will provide a visual reference upon which to structure each
page. They also allow for the development of variations of a layout to maintain design consistency
throughout the web site. This is an important part of the initial development stage because it creates
user expectations and helps to develop an awareness and familiarity throughout the site. When creating
your wireframes it is critical to ensure that branding is central to the identity of a site so as to
communicate the vision, personality and philosophy of the site.
- What is Information Architecture?
- Information Architecture (often abbreviated "I.A.") is the practice of structuring information
(knowledge or data) for the purpose of web site development. It is the devolpement of a web site so
as to have it's content relate to each other and to how it can be applied to achieve a meaningful
goal, such as, to increase site traffic, increase sales, disseminate information, etc.
- What is Page Layout?
- Page layout is the geometry of a page. It will help us to define how many regions will appear on
the site and how they are visually organized.
Contact us for more detailed answers.