Frequently Asked Questions

Note: All prices are in United States dollars (USD).

How long will it take for my website to be designed and developed?

The time that it takes to design and develop a website depends on the complexity of the site. If you have a deadline, I will work hard to meet it. The most common cause of delay is the content (text, images, information) from the client. On average, I can develop one in 2-4 weeks.

How much will a website cost me?

The cost of a website depends on its complexity, how big the website is (number of pages), and the features and functionality that are included in the website. I am happy to discuss your requirements and provide a price estimate at any time. A basic website with text, a navigation menu, a few images, business hours, contact information, and social media links starts at $300 plus sales tax. A website also has to have a registered domain and has to be hosted somewhere. Read below.

Do I first need to register (buy) my website domain and hosting?

No. I can provide you with hosting and register your domain for you at extra cost. Depending on your business name, your ideal domain might not be available. I will give you a few options.

Domain registration is an annual cost. It's usually $16 plus tax, but it depends on the domain type (extension) and domain availability. Example of a domain: MyBusiness.com. Examples of domain extensions:

• .com
• .net
• .info
• .us
• .org
• .gov
• .edu
• .design
• .church

A domain transfer can cost the same as a domain registration or be free. If you want to transfer your website from its current host to another, I must edit the domain’s DNS records to point to the new host and transfer the website files.

Website hosting is basically “digital real estate.” A website is hosted on a web server so that anybody on the internet can access it. I pay for space on a server each year. I can host your website, or you can have it hosted somewhere else and have me design and develop it. The hosting price will be higher for more complex websites such as e-commerce (online store).

Once my website is developed, what additional services do you offer?

I fully support any website that I develop, and I'm always available if you encounter any problems or want additions or changes. I also offer website hosting, website maintenance, website management, basic search engine optimization (SEO), email content creation and marketing, social media marketing, social media account creation, graphic design, and more.

Basic SEO includes submission of your website address to the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Duck Duck Go), setup of your primary meta tag information (Page Title and Description with keywords), and meta tags for Facebook sharing. Additionally, your website is designed and developed from the beginning with search engine-optimized technologies and methods.

I already have a website, but it needs updating (upgrading). Do you upgrade or redesign existing websites?

Yes. I would be happy to look at your existing website and give you a price estimate. I can update your existing website with its current design or give you a completely new design. I can also provide a website evaluation. I will show you how a new website can take advantage of the latest mobile-friendly technologies and increase your search engine ranking.

What kind of technology do you support?

I am skilled in HTML and CSS (standard essential website design code), Javascript (animation and effects code), PHP (email server code and WordPress code), and some SQL (database code).

How do I know if I have an outdated website?

Here are a few things to look for. If you are using any of the following, it's time to update your website.

Outdated Website Design Factors:

• Website uses Flash
• Non-mobile-friendly (does not fit well on smartphones or tablets)
• Gaudy backgrounds
• Annoying, blinking text
• Unnecessary page clutter
• Videos that play automatically
• Background music
• Misaligned images
• Small font sizes
• Too many font colors
• Fancy or difficult-to-read fonts
• Inconsistent font types
• Huge uncompressed image files. These can take long to load.
• Excessive image borders
• Slideshows with 25+ images
• Common or overused stock photos

Outdated Website Content Factors:

• Low word count on pages
• Long paragraphs of text
• Excessive keyword stuffing
• No recent samples of work
• Incorrect (or inconsistent) phone numbers, email addresses, or street addresses
• Services or products no longer offered
• Former employees still listed
• New employees not listed
• Excessive use of stock photography
• Outdated images of offices or products
• Common questions not answered
• Expired coupons or specials
• Old or neglected blog/news section
• Broken links to/from a website
• Missing images/logos
• Pixelated/blurry images
• No way to update easily

Price versus Value

Price is what you pay; value is what you have or give.

Price is the money or amount to be paid to acquire something. It's the buyer's amount of money to the seller in exchange for any product or service. It's the seller's amount for a product or service and includes the cost and the profit margin.

Value is the utility of the worth of the commodity of service or product for an individual. It's the usefulness of any product or service to a customer. It can never be determined in terms of money and varies from customer to customer. For example, if you are going to a gym by spending $100 each month, the output seen is worth the expense. It's the value that you create for a gym regarding the service being offered there. Here, the worth is its value.

The most important distinction between price and value is the fact that price is arbitrary and value is fundamental. For example, consider a person selling silver coins for $5 each. The price of those silver coins in this example is $5. It's an arbitrary amount chosen by the seller for reasons known only to them. Yet, even though those silver coins are priced at $5, their value is so much more.