Frequently Asked Questions (and their answers)

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If your business isn't where you want it, or if you know there are always new things to learn about computers, office techniques, or customer service, you'll be interested in subscribing to the "Takin' Care of Business" newsletter. A new issue comes out every month, and always contains articles that will help you develop better business practices, whether you work in a large office or from home. It also contains "Quotes to Consider", quick tips, and a computer help section, "Ask Mrs. Computer".

Some of the questions I've encountered are listed below, along with answers. Please look over these questions, and if they aren't answered to your satisfaction, please contact me here. I also have a page of web terms with everyday explanations on this page.

What are the steps of having a website created and designed?
Once I get my website created, how do I get it on the internet?
Do you give free estimates?
What if you build a site for me, and I don't like the way it looks?
How will I know where to find a hosting company for my website?
What if you're maintaining my website, and it goes down? What do I do?
How often should my website be updated?
How big will my website be? Can I have e-mail with my site?
Can I have a merchant account on my website?

What are the steps of having a website created and designed?

After you've decided that you do need a website (click here to take the test), your next step is to meet with some designers to decide which person is the right designer for you.

My suggestion is to talk to more than one person. Ask friends and businesses who have websites about their designers. Look at the internet for websites that you like and check that designer's portfolio. After you've decided on some designers to talk to, set up an appointment, either in person or over the phone. Any reputable designer will be glad to meet with you for a no-strings-attached discussion about what you want in a website. They should be able to ask questions that will help you refine your ideas, and be able to help you decide what size and type site you'll need. You'll need to decide whether you're going to provide pictures or if the designer will be responsible for taking them. You'll also need to discuss copy for the site. Will you write everything, have someone at your business do it, or will the designer be responsible for that as well? Also, your logo will need to be provided. If you don't have one, will your web designer need to have one created for you? After you've discussed these matters, and likely some others as well, you'll want to get an estimate from the designer.

After you've decided on a designer, you'll need to meet with them again. Colors, images and other information will need to be discussed in more detail. Your designer should be able to give you some ideas about how long the design will take. I publish sites that are in progress on a "hidden" section of this website. Clients are provided with the address and can give feedback as the site progresses. This prevents unwanted visitors to the site until it is ready to go "live".

One of the final things to do before publishing is to decide on which keywords should be listed. This is vital to make sure your site is placed correctly on search engines and indexes.

Once I get my website created, how do I get it on the internet?

After your website has been created, you and the designer have checked all the pages, links and images and they are ready to go, you have several ways to "publish" your site. One way to do this is using an FTP (file transfer protocol) program. A second way to transfer the files is using an SSH program. A third way, if Front Page was used, is to use the "publish" tool that is in included in Front Page. Your designer will know which is the best choice for your site.

Do you give free estimates?

Yes. Contact me to set up a time to get together and find out what you need in a website. I'll work up an estimate and get it to you as quickly as possible.

What if you build a site for me, and I don't like the way it looks?

As soon as you let me know, I'll make whatever changes are necessary to make you happy. Of course, I'm going to do my best to avoid this, by sitting down with you, talking to you about what you want, and looking at your business. I'll try to make sure I have all the information I need to create a professional, personalized web site that will reflect your personal or business character.

How will I know where to find a hosting company for my website?

I work with several hosting companies, each of which has a variety of options. When I bring your quote to you, I'll also present you with a comparison sheet so you can make an informed decision.

What if you're maintaining my website, and it goes down? What do I do?

You can let me know (by email or phone), but the chances are good that I will already know (I keep a close watch on My sites). I'll take the following steps:

• immediately contact the hosting company
• find out the situation and the resolution
• contact you with the information

If for some reason I will be away from the office, I'll give you a way to contact me.

How often should my website be updated?

It's an individual decision - if you own a car lot, you might want to update weekly to keep new cars listed on the site. If you own a restaurant, you also might want to consider updating weekly, and post each week's daily lunch specials on your site. On the other hand, if you own a furniture store, you might consider having your site updated monthly or quarterly, showing new furniture that has come in, and even leaving some items showing marked "sold" so that potential customers know what is moving.

Of course, there are some sites that will not need regular maintenance. The site will need to be created, then updated as needed. We can also work with you in this situation, too. We will be glad to discuss your situation with you and help you come up with a plan that's right for you.

How big will my website be? Can I have e-mail with my site?

Your website can be as big or small as you want. There are pros and cons to both kinds. The bigger your site, the more detail you can have, but it may require more maintenance. If you have a smaller one, you don't have as much detail, but you probably won't have as much upkeep. Another consideration about the size of your website is how much transfer usage you'll have. If you have a big site with a lot of visitors (of course, you want lots of visitors!), your transfer rate will be higher. You would want to make sure that your server has allocated you enough space for transfers. Again, when we meet, I'll be glad to help you make an informed decision. Most servers have free email accounts built in, which we'll will be glad to help you set up.

Can I have a merchant account on my website?

Yes, if you want a merchant account, or any other type of specialty service, I will make sure you have a server that provides that service.