Web Design FAQ

What can a website do for me?
The answer to this question is neither short nor easy. With a little research and thought you can find hundreds of reasons, but there are a few general statements that may help you realize your needs. First, a website can reach millions of people that might not otherwise be available. Second, customers can view products, services, or whatever you want to share from the comfort of their own home. No matter what type of business you are in, their are ways to grow and make money on the web for you.

Why does it matter how it looks as long as it works?
When you receive a visitor to your site, they will instantly perceive the quality of your services or products. The first impression that a customer or potential customer has will come from the appearance of your website. A visitor will be interested and explore your site if it is appealing and easy to navigate. You are marketing yourself and your business to the world over the Internet and it is important to show your best.

I don't think a website will do anything for me, am I right?
No, many people overlook the various products, services, or business processes that they can include on a website. Any communication or interactions that happen within your business can be made easier and more efficient by the web. Your business will save money and time while appealing to to a much greater audience, the world.

So, I want to establish a strong presence on the Web. But where do I start?
The four easy steps that we provide below will guide you in the direction to a professionally designed, developed and marketed Web site.

Step One: Domain Name (URL) Registration -- This is the address people will use to access your Web site (www.yourcompany.com). Once you have determined that the URL you wish to use is available, the cost to register a name is anywhere from $8.00 to $35.00 per year. A domain name needs to be renewed every year.

Step Two: Design of the Web Site -- This is where the look, feel, and content of the Web site are determined and created.

Step Three: Hosting Your Web Site on a Web Server -- This is basically where you rent space on a computer that is always connected to the Internet. Price will vary, depending on the amount of disk space you will have and the connection to the Internet. Hosting is available through Flower Web.

Step Four: 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 reflex the search terms you will want your site to appear on search engines. We conveniently provide marketing services for our clients.

How much does a web site cost? There are quite a few factors that are going to affect the ultimate cost of your web site. These factors include how many pages you are going to have, if you will sell products on your website, the graphic work involved, and how interactive your future web site will be. You will also need web hosting and domain name registration. If you already know what you need, check out our web packages to see what's right for you.

Do I need to hire a "local" web site designer? We create web sites for clients who are local as well as out of province. By using the Internet, email and the telephone, it is possible to communicate effectively with clients in any location.

How long does it take to have a web site designed? The time frame is determined by the size of your web site, the complexity of your site design, and our current client design schedule.

What is a URL? It stands for "universal resource locator". This is the address typed in to view your web page on the Internet. For example, you would type in http://www.flowerweb.ca to access our home page.

What is a domain name? A domain name is a specific web site address that you choose and register with a domain registrar. We offer this service through Flower Host. Our domain name is "flowerweb.ca".

Can I choose you to design my site and use my own web hosting? Yes.

What is web hosting? Web hosting is a monthly fee that you pay to have your site accessible on the Internet. We provide web hosting for our clients.

What is site maintenance? Maintenance is a fee paid monthly to keep your site updated with new content that you provide. Most good web sites have new content updated regularly. Fresh content is what will keep your visitors coming back.

Do you offer any type of discounts? Yes, we offer discounts for schools, churches and not for profit organizations.

Why can't I find my web site in the search engines? Once your site has been submitted to the top Search Engines they may require several weeks, or even months to actually spider and list your web site in their directory. How fast your site is listed depends on each individual Search Engines database update schedule. Watch your server traffic logs for visiting spiders.

Web Site Content - What Do I Put On My Site? That would depend on the goals of your web site. If you run a business website you would include as much information about your products or services that your customers would need to purchase from you.

Why should I hire a web site designer?
To save time, frustration and to take full advantage of what having a website can actually do for your business. Hiring a web site designer will help you save precious time so that you can concentrate on your business, your vocation, or your organization. Even the easiest web site software takes time to learn, many are expensive and some limit creativity and are not compatible with each other. Not to mention creating the website is just the beginning of using all the internet's resources. A web designer can implement proven skills to create your web site quickly and efficiently and optimize it so your customers & clients can find you.

I have a small business and would like a web site. Where do I start?
When our clients contact us we always ask if they have a logo or brochure or anything that could provide a visual of your business/personal style. We then ask you a series of questions related to your business and YOUR vision of what you want your website to be. We make this process as easy and quick as possible, many times this is completed with just one email.

I need my current website to look more professional. Can you help?
Yes. A web design specialist will evaluate your current site, discuss your goals, and redesign and/or reorganize your site.

Can I start with a certain amount of pages and add onto it later?
Absolutely. After your web site is up and running, contact Flower Web with additional ideas.

I've made my decision - I want you to design my web site. Now what do I do? If you have decided you want a web site or have any questions, simply check out our design packages, then contact us.