Frequently Asked Questions
This webpage answers many frequently asked questions regarding my services. If you will please read through these FAQs, it may help you better understand the website design and development process.
- What is a domain name?
- How will you buy your domain name?
- What are your domain nameservers?
- What is a web host?
- What web host is best?
- What is FTP access?
- Why might I need access to your hosting account and control panel?
- What do I charge for web design and development?
- How can my hourly rate be so inexpensive?
- How long will it take until your website is finished?
- How secure will your website be?
- Will I work with adult content?
- Will I work on your website as an investment in your business?
1. What is a domain name?
An over simplied definition of a domain name would be the address of a website. This website's domain name is brianswebdesign.com. Before you can have a website, you need a domain name (and hosting). Domain names can be purchased with different extensions, such as .com, .net, .info, .tv, etc. A person who owns a website with one of these extensions does not necessarily own all of the extensions. It is popular for people to buy all of the common extensions for their domain name.
2. How will you buy your domain name?
To buy your domain name, just go to a popular domain registrar like Go Daddy, check to see if the domain is available, and if it is then buy it. It's really that easy. Pricing varies depending on which domain extension you choose, but in general you can expect to pay in the range of $10 to $30 per year for your domain name. If you want to have me handle the purchase of your domain, this is all I would do. The main reason why you would want to do it yourself is so that you maintain control of the domain, and are personally billed for the domain should the account face expiration.
3. What are your domain nameservers?
Your domain will have settings that can be changed. The nameservers setting simply tells where the files that make up your website are located. For instance, the domain for this site was purchased at godaddy.com, but the web pages that make up this site are located on a web server at MDD Hosting. To set up my domain to point to where it is being hosted, I had to log in to my domain's account on godaddy, and then change the nameservers to point to my inmotionhosting web server. When you purchase a hosting plan, they will usually tell you what to change your nameservers to in their welcome email.
4. What is a web host?
A web host is a company that sells you file space on their web server. A web server is simply a specialized type of computer, which interacts with web browsers, to transfer files or data they request. Sometimes the request to the web server requires pre-processing before a file or data can be transferred. In more simple terms, a web host is where your website lives, and when people want to see it, this is where to it can be found.
5. What web host is best?
There really isn't a perfect web host that I have seen, but I do have my favorites. Web hosts offer different services and functionality with their hosting plans, which can make a big difference. Web hosts also have different server types. Most web servers are either Linux type or Windows type. While Windows web servers have their use, and some web designers specialize in working with them, I prefer to only work with Linux servers. The type of websites that I make depend heavily on Linux server features. Keep all of this in mind if you would like me to work on your website. My favorite web hosts are:
- MDD Hosting - for the best package of server features, multiple domains, server speed, and a very personal customer support experience.
- InMotion Hosting
- for a good package of server features, multiple domains, datacenter location, technical support, and customer service.
- Go Daddy - for simple websites that require low cost hosting.
Like my recommendation to purchase your own domain, I always recommend that my customers purchase their own hosting plan. If you would like me to make a recommendation, I will gladly do so based on your website requirements. If asked, I will purchase hosting for my customers, but hosting fees are not refundable, and no account level access, ftp access, or control panel access will be given to you under any circumstances.
6. What is FTP access?
FTP stands for "File Transfer Protocol", and I use an FTP client to upload files to your web host. Using an FTP client to communicate with your web host requires a user name and password, and sometimes a port number and special host name. If you purchased your own hosting, and I am to work on your website, I will require this login information.
7. Why might I need access to your hosting account and control panel?
There are several reasons why I might need your hosting account and/or control panel access. The number one reason would be if I am to set up a database for your site. There are actually many settings for a website in its control panel, and having access to the control panel may be essential for many projects. There is also a chance that I would need to ask your host's technical support department specific questions regarding your server, and they will almost always require your account login information. When starting a website project, I will always ask for your hosting account/control panel access in case I need it.
8. What do I charge for web design and development?
My hourly rate for web design and development is $50.00 per hour. In general, the total price for your website would include the following:
- Template creation
- Content Insertion
- Server-side scripting
- Database creation and management
- Domain and hosting support
- Website updates
- Theme changes
As you can see, the price for your website, depending on your needs, can vary greatly. When I estimate a work request, I always base my estimate on how many hours I think it will take to complete the job. I have become experienced enough to know how long it will take me to do most work requests, so you can figure that my estimate will be reasonably close to what you will actually pay. In some cases you may either be billed for less than what I had estimated, or billed more if the work took longer than expected. Because of the nature of the close contact I keep with my customers during a job, there are never any big surprises in terms of my billing.
Unless other arrangements have been made, before I start working on your website, estimates for your work requests should be signed and faxed back to me, accepting all terms on the estimate. Most estimates will also require that at least a third of the estimate be paid before the project is started.
9. How can my hourly rate be so inexpensive?
My hourly rate reflects the fact that I am a working freelance (not in a web design agency), and don't have many of the expenses associated with web design agencies. If you request estimates from various web designers, you will see that I am fairly priced for comparable service quality, but in honesty, the majority of "web designers" out there will not be creating a quality website for you, and my estimate or quote may appear much higher than their's. Remember one thing; The quality of my hand written code is far superior to the generated code and outdated coding style of most web designers. Meet with me and let me show you the real difference!
10. How long will it take until your website is finished?
If you speak to any of my previous customers, you will know that I do not procrastinate in any way when it comes to starting or finishing a job. I like to get things done as soon as possible, and you can count on your website being done in a timely manner. When I have received everything I need to get started on your website, I will usually start immediately, but how fast your website is done could depend on my current workload. I have had sites up and running in as little as two days, but unless timing is critical, I would ask that you give me at least one day per page. I will always give you a realistic time range for your website project to be completed when I submit my estimate for your work request.
11. How secure will your website be?
Your needs may vary when it comes to security. If you require an area where only authorized users or members have access, or if you are transmitting credit card data to a payment gateway, you will need to purchase an SSL certificate from your host. The SSL certificate allows for a secure connection, which is the standard for website security. Most hosts will charge about $100 a year for an SSL certificate. Installation of the certificate is usually in the $25 to $30 range.
Shared SSL certificates may be a free option of your hosting plan, but are not always suitable. Sharing an SSL certificate from your host doesn't require a dedicated IP address, but your secured environment will appear to be somebody elses domain in your user's browsers. If your SSL connection is to be used for credit card transactions, a shared SSL certificate is not an option, because your website will not pass your merchant account's PCI compliance scan.
Securing files or folders within your website normally includes restricting access using the server's configuration. Sometimes files may be secured with server side scripting. When set-up properly, either of these security methods are generally accepted as safe. For maximum security, login and any transfer of data should be done through an encrypted connection.
When you and I talk about what kinds of features you need for your website, I will always give you my best recommendation for site security. The internet can be a scary place, but by utilizing common website security features, you shouldn't have anything to worry about*.
* Please read the security disclaimer on your estimate, and agree to its terms, before returning it with your initial payment.
12. Will I work with adult content?
No, I will not work with adult content. This includes but is not limited to pornography and/or nudity of any kind, anime or other adult artwork, and/or the written word of a sexual nature.
13. Will I work on your website as an investment in your business?
This question ought to be the first answered FAQ, because it seems that 90% of the people that contact me about working on their website are asking this question. The short answer is NO! I have considered this type of work/payment for a couple of the businesses who have asked, because in my best judgement they seemed to have potential, but in the end each of these businesses has just wasted my time. If you are starting a business, and you haven't planned that you will need to spend money on a professionally designed and developed website, then you have failed to plan your business properly, and I cannot help you. The exception would be if you have good credit, and can qualify for financing. Let me know if you would like to fill out an application.
