FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
by: Loomis Web Design
The following are questions that we get asked frequently :
* What is a domain name?
* How much does a website cost?
* Do I need to hire a local website designer?
* How long does it take to have a website designed?
* What is a URL?
* What is web hosting?
* Can I choose you to design my site but choose a web host other than the one with whom you normally work?
* What is site maintenance?
* Why can't I find my website on any of the search engines?
* For what size screen resolution do you design sites?
* What if I don't need a whole website?
* Who do I contact for a price quote? Are price quotes free?
* How do you accept payment?
* What if I need to make a change to my website?
* What if I need a domain name?
* Do I need my own domain name?
* Can I write content for my website?
* What about search engine registration?
* How do I know if people are seeing my web page?
* Who owns the information on the websites you design?
* Why does my website look different when viewed on different computers?
* Can I have lots of animation on my site?
* What if I need to add things (such as new pages or features) to my website?
* How important do you consider "navigation" to a website?
* Who owns the website after it is designed?
* What if I need help or services in the future? Will they be available to me?
* Why should I sketch my site out?
Q: How much does a website cost?
A: Many factors influence the final cost of a website: how many pages you will have, whether you will be selling products on your site, how many graphics you will need designed and how complex they will be, and how interactive you want your site to be. Please click on "services" for information on basic packages.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Do I need to hire a "local" website designer?
A: Yes and No. Today's technology allows people to complete a wide scope of projects without ever meeting face to face. Through the use of telephone calls, e-mails, and the internet, we can design a site for you or your company no matter how far away you are. However we are a local company. Face to face meetings allow us to understand your "brand" and convey your message over the web. One on one tutoring and consulting is the most effective form of communication. Being a local company that you can put a face with a name is our strongest assets.
[ Back to top ]
Q: How long does it take to have a website designed?
A: The time it takes to design a website depends on the same factors that the final cost does. Once again, these include factors like how many pages you will have, whether you will be selling products on your site, how many graphics you will need designed and how complex they will be, and how interactive you want your site to be. In general, the more pages and the more complex the site, the longer it takes to complete. After discussing your website needs in depth, we can give you an estimate of how long your site will take to complete.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What is a URL?
A: URL stands for "universal resource locator." A URL is the address you type into the address bar of your browser so that the browser knows where on the internet a site should be found. For example, to access the Loomis Web Design homepage, you would enter "http://www.LoomisWebDesign.com" in your browser's address bar.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What is a domain name?
A: A domain name is part of a website's URL. It is the part following the "www" and ending with .com, .net, .org, etc. For example, the domain name for Loomis Web Design "LoomisWebDesign.com".
[ Back to top ]
Q: What is web hosting?
A: Web hosting is a fee paid periodically (monthly or yearly in most cases) so that your website has a place to "live" on the internet and people can view it. We provide webhosting with 99.9% uptime. Also the cost of hosting is usually included in a package price for a predetermined time frame. Click on "services" for more information.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Can I choose you to design my site but choose a web host other than the one with whom you normally work?
A: Yes. However, if you choose a another host other than GoDaddy, we charge an hourly fee of $20 for the time spent to familiarize ourself with using a different host.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What is site maintenance?
A: Site maintenance is a fee paid periodically to keep your site updated with fresh new content. At Loomis Web Design we utilize CMS to allow you to update the content of your website in real-time without having to pay additional fees. Some sites such as online stores will not be able to get around this fee. However for most business sites your maintenance is included in the packaged price. Click on "services" for more infomation.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Why can't I find my website on any of the search engines?
A: Once your site has been submitted to the search engines, it can take weeks or even months for the search engines to "spider" your site and list it in their directories. Times vary depending on the search engine. Ask for details about search engine submission when you discuss the creation of your site.
[ Back to top ]
Q: For what size screen resolution do you design sites?
A: Most experts agree that the minimum screen resolution designers should account for is now 800 by 600 pixels. However, a good designer will design a site that will look appealing on a screen with higher resolutions as well.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What if I don't need a whole website?
[ Back to top ]
Q: Who do I contact for a price quote? Are price quotes free?
A: Just email or call us, with the details of your project to receive a price quote. They are always free. We are always happy to drive out and meet you if your in the local Kalamazoo area.
[ Back to top ]
Q: How do you accept payment?
A: Currently, we prefer payment to be made by check. If you would like to pay by credit card, please contact us and we will see what we can work out.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What if I need to make a change to my website?
A: CMS is Content Management Systems. A long title for a simple way for your to edit your website anytime anywhere. You control the content of your site because your know your business the best. CMS is integrated into every site that we design.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What if I need a domain name?
A: We will register a domain name for you. Since only one person or organization can own a domain name, they are subject to availability. Contact us to discuss what domain name might be best for maximum exposure for your business.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Do I need my own domain name?
A: Once you have signed up and paid for hosting, the next step is to pick your own domain name. Its included in the package price and makes it easy for people to find you online.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Can I write content for my website?
A: Yes, we prefer clients to write their own content. You know far better than anyone else exactly what your business is like and what you would like to say about it. CMS makes it very easy and we will train you on how to update your site anywhere with a internet connection.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What about search engine registration?
A: Search engine registration is included at no extra charge when you purchase any package. We will consult with you before arranging for search engine submission.
[ Back to top ]
Q: How do I know if people are seeing my web page?
A: Website "traffic" summaries are available at anytime. You can choose to receive these reports by visiting "http://www.yoursite.com/stats" where "yoursite.com" is your domain name. These statistics cannot show exact numbers, but they will give you a good idea of the amount of traffic your site is experiencing.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Who owns the information on the websites you design?
A: Every Loomis Web Design client maintains ownership of the content on his or her site. Loomis Web Design maintains ownership of the page design and code for the site.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Why does my website look different when viewed on different computers?
A: Just like the same lipstick will look a little different on each person that wears it, so every website will look slightly different on each computer used to view it. Every monitor will handle colors a little differently, and then different people may use different settings on each monitor. Screen resolution also makes a big difference in how your website appears. But rest assured that the information you make available and the fundamentals of how your website works will be the same on a wide variety of computer systems.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Can I have lots of animation on my site?
[ Back to top ]
Q: What if I need to add things (such as new pages or features) to my website?
A: Additions and changes are included in the package. Visit "services" for more information.
[ Back to top ]
Q: How important do you consider "navigation" to a website?
[ Back to top ]
Q: Who owns the website after it is designed?
A: The client owns the domain name and the site, but with a contract to Loomis Web Design for any work that is done on or in association with the website. For further details on the specifics of the contract, please Contact Us.
[ Back to top ]
Q: What if I need help or services in the future? Will they be available to me?
A: We am always available to my clients to answer questions and make additions or changes to websites. Just email me or use the information on the contact us page.
[ Back to top ]
Q: Why should I sketch my site out?
A: No matter how hard we've tried, we can't read others' minds. Sketching your site out allows us to get an idea of exactly what you'd like your website to look like. Knowing this minimizes the number of changes we need to make and means that your site will be done in a timely and cost-effective manner. We wil meet with you one-on-one to help sketch out the website your want.
« Home | Top | Share This »
