Web Design Information

You are an individual who wants a web presence for a personal interest, passion, talent, or a part time or start-up business. Click here for pricing

You are a small company looking for a web design that is clear, well-organized and reflective of your unique services. Click here for pricing

Common Questions and Answers

What is a web host and how do I find one?

A web host is a company that provides a place for your web site to reside. If you have a personal internet account your Internet Service Provider (ISP) probably also provides you with space for at least one personal web site. This should be adequate for most personal sites. If your web site has a lot of traffic (many visitors), your ISP may ask you to pay for a business account or find a web host provider as you will be using too much bandwidth for a personal account.

There many different web hosting companies and it is important to carefully check out the details of what each company offers. Web hosting service can often change (especially if they are bought out by larger companies), so I often check the latest reviews and belong to a web designer's forum that rates and reviews web hosts. My current web host is A2 Hosting.

Don't have time or too confusing? I can help. See pricing

What about a domain name?

It's a good idea to register at least one domain name for your company. MyGreatBusiness.com looks more professional than memberof.myisp.com/MyGreatBusiness, as well as being much easier for people to remember. It doesn't cost a lot register domains (Less than $15.00 a year per domain) so once you come up with that wonderful-catchy-unique name, you may want to register several TLDs such as com, net and ca for your domain name (the .ca can only be used by Canadians). There are lots of other choices depending on your interests or services. I use the .name TLD for my genealogy web site.

Again it pays to shop around as prices vary. Although many web hosts offer a "free" domain name in their packages, you are better off registering your domain names with a separate domain registrar as it's sometimes difficult to get your free domain name released if you decide to switch web hosts.

Don't have time or too confusing? I can help. See pricing

What is involved in maintaining a web site?

Unlike a brochure or a document a web site can be continually updated to reflect changes in ideas, products, services, personnel, etc. This can be both a blessing and a curse as it takes time to do this and an out of date web site doesn't get many repeat visitors. Maintenance can involve checking for problems such as dead links and incorrect data and gathering information from submitted forms. Updating involves keeping information current and adding new information or examples (such as on a personal portfolio site).

How will people find my web site?

The technical answer: key words that reflect possible search criteria are added to meta tags in the coding of your web pages. Some web site providers now offer SEO (Search Engine Optimization) services as part of their packages.

The simple practical answer: word of mouth and having your web address included on your business cards will get people visiting your site. The more often people search for or visit your site, the higher up it will move in the search engine ranks.

Have a question?

Email me for an answer:

Personal web site pricing:

Basic design:

$600 to $1200 depending on the size of the site and the amount of customization.
This does not include the cost of web hosting or the purchase of a domain name. Most internet providers offer free web hosting with your account and if you are comfortable making purchases on the Internet you can easily buy a domain name.

Additional
charges:

maintaining, updating or revising web site - $60.00 per hour

return to top

Business web site pricing: