Website Design and Management
Whether you need a new website or you just need an old one updated or redesigned, I'd be happy to discuss those needs with you. I pride myself on my quick response to your needs, quick delivery, and speedy updates after publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the costs involved?
Your costs will consist of domain registration (if you have not already obtained one), web hosting, and creation and maintenance of the site. Please see the other FAQs below for descriptions of these items. My fees for site creation and maintenance vary based on the amount of work that's involved. I will quote your price after we are able to discuss your project.
Once we enter into an agreement for creation of the site, the following payment schedule will apply:
- 33% of the final price to be paid before work begins.
- 33% upon tentative completion of the site. The site will remain on my testing server.
- The final third will be due before the site goes live on your server.
Work done with third-party web sites and services will be charged accordingly, above the fees for completing the website itself.
How do I get a domain name?
A Domain Name, or the name of your site that people will type into the address bar of the browser, can be obtained through a Registrar, like GoDaddy. Domains are purchased by the year, and I usually recommend purchasing a name for at least three years. This helps with your search rankings, since a domain name purchased for just one year may be thought of as a risk for producing spam emails. You can usually get a domain name from GoDaddy for approximately $8.00/year.
The other important thing to know about getting your Domain name is that it is becoming more difficult to find the name you will want. Names are purchased every day, so you may have to be creative when deciding on a name that will be available. I can help you in your search.
Where do I keep my site?
Websites are hosted on web servers, which are essentially computers that contain the files of your site. Costs for hosting vary from company to company. There are many good hosting companies out there, and I will assist in finding the right one for you.
While the site is under development, I will keep the site on a testing server. You will be given the address so that you can monitor changes and updates. When the site is complete, and your final payment is made, the site will be moved to your server location, at which point the site will be live and public.
What's involved in creating my site?
I like to meet with each of my clients, if geographically feasible. I'll try to get an understanding of your business or organization, and what you want from your site. You will need to provide me with any information that will populate the site. I'll ask if you have any existing graphics or letterhead. If you don't, I'd be happy to assist you with logo design as well. I'll need to know about specific needs you may have, like whether you will require more than a simple contact form, or whether you will be doing e-commerce or accepting online payment for services.
While the site is under development, I will keep the site on a testing server. You will be given the address so that you can monitor changes and updates. When the site is complete, and your final payment is made, the site will be moved to your server location, at which point the site will be live and public.
After the site is public, I offer free minor changes and corrections for 30 days. After that time, the site will go into Maintenance mode, and will be charged as such.
How about maintenance?
I'm more than happy to arrange maintenance of your site. Unless your site is very basic and only has information about you, you'll want to make changes and updates. I can do the maintenance either on an as-needed basis (for occasional updates) for a fee every time I make a change, or I can charge a monthly fee for updates whenever they are needed. I require this if you ask me to do frequent and labor-intensive updates like photos, audio, etc. If you contract with me to perform monthly maintenance, you will have priority over someone who does the occasional update. You can, of course, opt to have your site created and published, and then you can make the changes by yourself as needed.
Who has ownership of the site, domain name, and server space?
You will have complete ownership of all that goes with the site. I do not maintain control of those items. If at a later date, you want someone else to redesign or maintain your site, you are entirely free to do so. Of course, you will also be responsible when it comes time to renew your domain name and your hosting contract. I will also completely share all server login information with you. You won't have to worry about losing control of the site in the future.
