Web Design FAQ
- How much does a web site cost?
- How long does it take to build a web site?
- Why shouldn’t I design my own web site?
- How large should my web site be?
- What about maintenance of my site?
Domain Registration FAQ
- What is a domain name?
- Do you register domain names?
- How do I choose a domain name?
- Can you take care of these details for me?
- Will my domain account renew automatically?
Logo and Imagery FAQ
- What kind of images does Hamond Media Design provide?
- I already have a photo I’d like to use, can I do that?
- I found an image on the web I’d like to use, can I do that?
- Will you touch up any graphics I’d like altered?
- We don’t have a logo and we’d like one, can Hamond Media Design provide this service?
Non-profit FAQ
Web Design FAQ
Below are questions and answers about our Web Design services.
How much does a web site cost?
There is no quick and easy answer to this question. The cost of a web site is driven by the complexity of the design, the cost of any images that need to be licensed and the time it takes to develop the site.
With that in mind, cost doesn’t have to be a scary thing. If you have a set budget in mind, be up front about it and we can outline for you what we can provide at that cost level.
Also remember that there can be costs associated with upkeep. A site with Content Management may cost more to implement originally, but over time may save you money because you can update it yourself without paying a designer to make changes.
How long does it take to build a web site?
The initial design phase can be the longest phase of a project because there are so many decisions to be made at that time and information that must pass from the client to the designer. Before you get started, thinking about the kind of structure you want the site to have will be critical. What information do you need to get to your end user? Company Information, Directions, Product Listings- these can all vary. We will explain a typical flow chart plan to you and provide you with a cheat sheet that you can use to think about your options.
Once we walk through your site plan and talk about your budget, your designer will be able to put together a quote for your site.
Why shouldn’t I design my own web site?
So many products now advertise free web templates and easy build it yourself sites. You can take advantage of these things, but remember that you get what you pay for. I could build my own table but I would prefer one that doesn’t wobble back and forth on its legs. When your business and therefore your bottom line is at stake, why risk having a web site that won’t represent your company in a positive way?
Do you know how to get your page ranked highly in big searches like Google and Yahoo? Do you have a well designed logo and all the imagery you will need to showcase your products and services? Do you understand how to build a Cascading Style Sheet and how to test your website across multiple browser to ensure that your site will be compatible to as many users as possible? Do you know how to configure a web site on a server or know what to do if your files don’t upload properly? We do. As professionals, we have dealt with all these things before; and we can and will help you with all of these issues and more.
How large should my web site be?
As large or small as your heart desires. How complicated is your business and how much information do you want to share with your customers? The answers to these questions will play a large role in how your site design unfolds. Your smallest option is a simple page with only contact information; though we would advise against this (isn’t that what the yellow pages are for?)
Your website should not just be your information but should set the tone for what your company is like! A bare website with practically no information is a major turn off for customers. This is your opportunity to really market yourself. We recommend at least considering the following pages in your site design:
- Home: Obviously the front door to your site, this is what the world will see first. What do you really want your customers to know or see? If they dig no deeper into your site, is there anything that they absolutely have to know before they go? What can you tell them to get them to want to stay and explore? Both content and design will play a role here in bringing the customer deeper.
- Company History: Looking at a web page can be like looking into a void. Customers who feel like they know you and understand your business are more likely to take advantage of your services. Simply sharing information about how your company got started and how you got to this point today can build a lot of trust, and that is very important.
- Services: Describing your products and services is essential to attracting new customers. If someone came to your page looking to see if you carried a particular brand or product, would your site answer that question? A simple yes or no here will determine whether or not they call to place that order.
- Contact: How can they get in touch? Where are you? It’s amazing how many business do not ever list their address or even what state they are located in. Don’t make it hard for people to give you their business!
- Feedback: Provide customers with a form that they can fill out and submit back to you. Allow the customer to opt-in to a mailing list or request a catalog. Ask the customer to fill out a survey in exchange for a discount or other giveaway. Interaction makes the customer feel invested in your business.
What about maintenance of my site?
We know that things change in any business and we can work with you to make sure that your web site reflects that. We encourage you to take a look at our maintenance plans and decide which one fits your business needs.
Domain Registration FAQ
Below are questions and answers about our Domain Registration services.
What is a domain name?
Your domain name is your internet address, unique to your business. After you acquire one, it becomes you web identity, not only as your address but as a crucial part of all your employees email addresses.
When you set up a website, it is assigned an IP Address, made up of a series of numbers, that identifies where on the internet your server is. Because numbers aren’t very pretty, easy to remember or fun to market, we register a domain name with the Domain Name System (DNS) to tell them to route all people on their way to www.mywebsite.com to the correct IP Address.
Just like your name and logo your domain name has marketing value. It should be easy to remember and should provide easy association with your business. In August of 1995 only 18,000 domain names had been registered. In November of 2006, the major milestone of 1,000,000 domain names registered was reached. Choosing a domain name that represents your company can be difficult if the obvious options are already taken. We can help you consider the options and decide what your best options are.
Do you register domain names?
We can help with this process as much or as little as you would like. Hamond Media Design does not directly host websites, but we can definitely point you in the right direction to find an ISP that will work for you. Many ISPs provide domain registration as part of their initial sign up package.
How do I choose a domain name?
It’s easy to start researching available domain names. A web site like www.godaddy.com will allow you to type in names that you want to check and provide you with information as to what top level domains are available for that name. If you are Mike’s Restaurant, www.mikesrestaurant.com might not be available, so think about possible alternatives.
A top level domain (TLD) is the 2 -4 letter code that appears after your address. Here are the possibilities to consider:
- .com: The most common TLD, used for commercial business.
- .net: Used as a secondary option to .com.
- .org: The TLD most often used by non-profit organizations, this TLD generally is used non-commercially.
- .edu: For educational establishments, only post-secondary institutions that are accredited by an agency on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies are eligible to apply for a .edu domain.
It’s also important that you know that domain name registrations are not permanent- they are time based and will expire if not renewed by their owner.
Can you take care of these details for me?
We certainly can! At our first meeting we will determine task ownership and we can handle all ISP and domain name registrations if you do not want to manage it yourself.
Will my domain account renew automatically?
If you chose, we will monitor your domain name and take care of renewing any services that are about to expire. Depending on your ISP, you will likely only need to take care of this approximately every two years.
Logo and Imagery FAQ
Below are questions and answers about our Logo, Imagery and Digital Photography services.
What kind of images does Hamond Media Design provide?
We will gladly take any digital photographs you would like, and we can also use digital stock photography for you.
I already have a photo I’d like to use, can I do that?
Yes! We are able to scan in both photos and negatives for use on your web site.
I found an image on the web I’d like to use, can I do that?
We can try to track down the copyright holder to see if you can get permissions to use the graphic, but sometimes this is not possible.
Will you touch up any graphics I’d like altered?
Graphics are easily manipulated and there are a number of things that we can do to improve their look for your site.
We don’t have a logo and we’d like one, can Hamond Media Design provide this service?
While logo design is not our specialty, we have a graphic designer who we often consult for work of this kind. We also can work with an outside graphic design company to get something very professional designed for you at a reasonable price.
Non-profit FAQ
Below are questions and answers about our Non-profit Organization services.
How do I qualify for non-profit pricing?
Non-profit pricing is available to any school, religious organization, social organization or federally recognized non-profit organization.