Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

How much is all this going to cost?

What exactly will I be spending money on? 

What should I include in my website?

What is the difference between a directory and a search engine?

 

How do I get started?

Call Ron at 355-8217, or send an email to jr@ester.net.  He will arrange a free consultation.  After reviewing your needs, we can come up with an idea of what your site will contain and an estimate of how much the project will cost.  The consultation is free, and there is absolutely no risk or obligation on your part.

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How much is all this going to cost?

You may be afraid of the cost.  You have probably heard of people who have built their own websites and others who have spent thousands of dollars.  No two web sites will cost the same.  It is easier to estimate a cost after determining what is needed to convey your firm’s message.   All of our charges are spelled out in writing, before we begin working on your site.  Significant changes in the layout or number of pages in the site can result in additional charges.

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What exactly will I be spending money on? 

One of the first things you will want to choose is a domain name www.yourname.com.  This is the name that people will type into their internet browser to find your site.  You may have heard that some services charge $70 or more to register a domain name.  Your domain name can be registered less expensively. 

You will also need server space to hold your site content.  There are several options here.  You could spend many thousands of dollars on equipment, telephone service and pay a staff of computer technicians to monitor the system around the clock, every day of the year.  Or we could set up a hosting account with Southwestern Bell for about $30 a month. 

The content of your site tells people what you can do for them.  If you have brochures or a catalog for your business, this is usually a good place to start.  Even within the same field, every business is unique.  You are probably best qualified to tell about your business.  An advertising copywriter is available at an additional fee if we need to start from scratch on the story of your business.  

A professional web site designer will save you hours of valuable time in producing your site.  This website will be your introduction to customers and clients from all over the world.  We will work with you to capture your ideas for the look and feel of the site.

Professional placement and marketing is essential for getting your message in front of internet users that are looking for your type of service.  We can handle the initial promotion of your site and advise you in your internet marketing plan.  Monthly submissions to the major search engines and directories are included in our package prices.

Maintaining your site is important.  A site’s ranking by of some search engines is based on how recently the site has been updated.  A budget of $20-30 a month should cover normal maintenance and any minor updates. 

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What should I include in my website?

While the content of each site is unique to it’s owner and the message they want to convey, there are some elements that are found in most websites:

The homepage is a brief introduction to the website and gives a visitor some idea of what to expect from the site.

Descriptions of services provided by the company are a very important part of the site’s message.

Biographies of key people are important in showing the company’s expertise in certain areas.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) pages like this one are an excellent method of providing uniform, consistent answers to commonly asked questions.  A visitor to your site can get a lot of answers before they ever talk to you about their need for your services. 

A links page can guide people to other sites that you think are helpful or interesting.  An investigator that specializes in finding birth parents for adopted children, might link to sites of interest to those people.

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What is the difference between a directory and a search engine?

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there is a difference. 

A search engine visits your site and assigns a ranking base on a variety of factors such as the number of times that key words appear on the page, where they appear on the page and what other sites link to the site.  Our packages include submission to major search engines including Altavista, Excite, Google Lycos and Northernlight. 

A directory is a listing of websites that are included because a person reviewed the site and made a decision to include the site in the directory.  Two of the largest directories are Yahoo!  and The Open Directory Program, submission to these sites is included in our service.  

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