Here are a few facts to help you understand the process involved in building your site.
Domain Name (URL) Registration --
This is the address people will use to access your Web site (www.yourcompany.co.uk). A domain name needs to be renewed every two years. The web hosting company I normally use includes a domain name as part of the hosting package. Try to keep the name you choose as short and simple and to the point as much as you can, short and sweet is much easier for people to remember than something complicated. It may take a few attempts to find a name that is not already in use, so the more unique it is the better.
Design of the website --
- This is where the look, feel, and content of the website are determined and is the most involved step of the creation process. It can often help to do a little research, by looking at sites that are similar to the type of site you would like yourself. Get some ideas on the sort of colours you like, the kind of navigation bar, individual pictures or a slide show? Music? Video? How many pages do you think you will need? Don’t forget the contact page and a page for reciprocal links, these can both be on the same page if you prefer. Links are good as they help lead viewers to your site.
Hosting your website on a Web Server --
This is basically where you rent space on a computer that is always connected to the Internet. This enables viewers to access your site. I will organise this for you and load your site on to the server when it is complete. Hosting has to be renewed every two years.
Marketing Your Web Site --
You should be thinking about the marketing of your Web site as it is being designed. The content of the site needs to reflect the search terms you require if you want your site to appear on search engines. You need to include as many ‘search’ words into your text as you can, without making it look ridiculous, so that when someone puts a word into a search field, the search engine will point them to your site.
E-Mail –
You will receive an email address that is the same as your web address, so if your web address is www.carparts.co your email could be sales@carparts.co this way customers to your web site can contact you with out having access to your personal email address. You will need to add a new email account to your email programme, this is very simple to do and I will provide you with advice and all the necessary details.
When we have fully discussed your site, and I have built it, you will be able to preview the site, and we can then tweak it until you are completely happy with it. Once you are happy with it, I will invoice you for the total cost, including web hosting, and as soon as I receive your payment I will purchase your domain name and web hosting space, and load the site onto your own web space and your site will be live. I will then submit it to basic search engines, and the job is done, if you want me to update it for you at a later date, I can do this for £10 a page, or I can give you the necessary details to update it yourself
If you have already purchased a domain name it will normally be possible to transfer it to the web hosting company I use for a small fee.
