Your Web Design Questions Answered

Getting a new website can be a little intimidating and I realize you might have questions.  Rest assured that while we work together, I will make sure that all your questions get  answered and that you never feel that your involvement is an inconvenience.  I’m genuinely happy to address your concerns.

I don’t live in Raleigh, NC, can you still help me with a website?

Absolutely!  Although I am based in Raleigh, NC, I can build a site anywhere. Our communications will be via phone, Skype, and email, so distance in irrelevant most times.

I need some work done on a website another Web Design company built. Can you help me with that?

Depending on my availability, I’m happy to take a look and see if I can help you.

What’s included and how much will it be?

Truly, the answer to that question does depend on the type of website you want.  Each project is unique and entirely tailored to your specific needs. As a result, the set up and pricing varies.  More than the look of your site, what affects the cost is its size and what you want it to do for you.  So rather than create arbitrary packages that may or may not fit your needs, I will provide you with a detailed proposal based on our conversation(s) outlining each element included in my design.

What needs to happen before you start building my site?

As part of the Pre-building Phase, you need to purchase a domain to build your site on and and you need to purchase Web Hosting.  Need help with that? I’m happy to assist you along the way!

How do I go about getting a domain?

Your domain name is the name you choose followed by .com, .org, or whichever extension is applicable for your situation. It’s the address of your homepage for all practical purposes. Every other page on your site will have an individual address called a “url” that includes your domain name + an extension making each page unique (i.e. This page’s url is http://www.emmwebdesigns.com/web-design-questions-answered) Before you decide on a name, check its availability since so many names are taken.

What is Web hosting?

When you buy your domain, you are purchasing an address on the internet. To have a website at that address, you need to add hosting.

A website is made up of files (similar to those you have on your computer). For those files to be accessible to visitors, these files must be kept on a host computer (called a web server) that’s connected to the internet around the clock.

While a domain registration costs roughly $13/year, hosting costs between $6 and $20 per month. It’s not necessary for both hosting and domain registration to be done via the same company. I personally recommend BlueHost as a great Hosting company (plus they offer a free domain registration for one domain for a year with the purchase of web hosting –and no I do not have an affiliate link or get any sort of kickback, I simply feel they have a great product and give fantastic customer service)

Can I have an email or even several emails associated with my website?

Absolutely!

How long will it take to finish my website?

The time frame for your website depends on the amount and type of content you want on your website and the availability of that content. Usually, once all the files (marketing copy/text, images, etc) have been gathered, your project can be completed within 2 to 4 weeks for a complex website and a week or two for a simpler site. When we agree to work together, we will talk about your requirements and timeframe and make sure that your site is ready when you need it to be.

How will I maintain my website once it is built?

I develop all my websites with WordPress and Genesis Framework precisely to make this aspect of website ownership a cinch! With a WordPress driven site, editing your site is as easy as editing a Word document. The User interface is very easy to use.

As part of my website package, I include 2 hours of training for your and/or your staff so that you learn how to update the information, add posts to your blog if a blog is integrated in your site. I will teach you the basics so that you are comfortable with your site. If you find that you need more training, I’m always happy to do more training for you at my client’s preferred rate of $40/hr. Of course if you have a simple question, shoot me an email, and I will get back to you. If it’s a question that requires more than a few minutes, I will let you know and we can talk about options.

If you really want to take a hands off approach, I can also maintain your site for you. I offer a monthly “Peace of mind” package which includes keeping all software updated as well as performing weekly backups. I also offer a “Content Management” package that focuses on content tweaks and modifications. Head to my Website Maintenance section to find out more about your options.

How do I get on the first page of Google? What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process by which a site is optimized to be found by Search Engines such as Google or Bing.

Depending on your needs*, optimizing your site may be very high on your priority list. In that case, I will do an initial analysis for you of the current competition in your market and keywords you might want to go after.

The next step is to build your site from an SEO perspective at every step from a general site optimization to on-page optimization.

Beyond what I do on my side from a technical standpoint, the best way to do that is to have a well built site with frequently updated, highly relevant content containing target keywords. Other factors that affect the rankings include your site name, the age of your site, the number of pages indexed by the search engines, and the number of external sites who link to your website for instance.

It’s important to understand that no matter how optimized it is, and no matter what anyone promises you, it’s absolutely impossible to guarantee that a site will be on the first page of Google.  Because Google changes its algorithm formula and because we never know for sure what Google looks for, SEO is an ever-changing concept.

That said, it’s absolutely possible to put your best foot forward by building it right in the first place, using sound strategies, and giving it time.  While I can’t make any promises regarding your site’s ranking in search engines, I can make good on my promise to built your site well and equip you with effective SEO strategies.

 

 

 

*If you intend on using your site as a place to send your potential clients and do not need to be found via a Google search, optimization will not be crucial to you. If on the other hand, you will rely on visitors finding you “organically” (i.e. via an internet search), then putting some effort in optimizing your site will be well worth your investment.