FAQs

Yes that is true, a lot of hosting companies offer "Site Builder" software for and extra cost (usually monthly or yearly). If you have a fair understanding of the internet then you can start off with these style of websites. So if you need information on the internet affordably, then this is a good way to go.

When you are ready for a site that will impress your clients and help close the sale or direct their business to you then talk to a professional designer because remember, they live on the Net, they see all styles of sites (great, good & bad) and know what is best for your business.

Remember to be a "General" in your business... delegate jobs to people who know what they're are doing.

The following is a workflow process that D.P. Web Design follows on building all websites, so if you feel comfortable doing all of the following then you don't need a designer, in fact you probably are one already!

1. Purchase & setup up domain name (DNS)
2. Setup domain on server
3. Create 2 standard email accounts
   • info@domain.com.au
   • admin@domain.com.au
4. Install Joomla (latest Version) on server
5. Install & configure key enhancements (Plug-ins) for Joomla CMS
6. Add client & Admin user accounts
7. Add Meta Information (Description & Keywords) researched from client & Google Keyword Tools
8. Add & Modify "Template" or "Original Design" site layout
   1. Template (most affordable) - A Client has either a short list of templates selected by the designer based on the clients suggestions or can look through a large database of templates. The template will be modified to the clients request
      • Adding company logo
      • Edit Cascading Style Sheets (CSS – fonts, colours & layout) to suit your business identity
      • Edit template graphical colours, images, borders, backing, panels & more in theme with clients company colours
   2. Original Design (more unique) - Original Web Design Workflow & Process
      • (Step 1) Original Web Design Definition: It is best if the client discusses their ideas with the designer to save confusion with future website design concepts.
      • (Step 2) Designer Description: Ideas from step 1 will be suggested by the designer to give the client an idea of what to expect visually.
      • (Step 3) The Visual Design: One (1) concepts will be created from the client's suggestion taken from the designer description (step 2), then emailed in a static JPEG image format the client's review.
      • (Step 4) Revisions: Revisions suggested by the client will be made to finalise your site design. There are on average 3 revisions (more revisions may incur extra cost)
      • (Step 5) Final Design: final original design will be sliced & integrated into a functioning website.  
9. *Adding Home Page Scrolling/fading/flipping/animated style banner (visual site summary)
10. Adding page information to site
11. Adding menu items to site & linking to articles (page information)
12. Adding & modifying page images or photo albums using Photoshop
13. Setup simple contact form “Contact Us” page
    1. form data to be sent to clients email account
    2. contact page showing Google map of business location
14. Adding & configuring + visually editing special site component/s requested by client
    1. Shopping Cart
    2. Image Gallery
    3. Calendar
    4. Download Manager
    5. Testimonials banners/scrollers
    6. Members/staff access levels
15. Basic SEO on site
    1. alt tags for images (correct naming for images searching)
    2. page titles (well described & keyword filled)
    3. heading, subheading & content configuration
    4. meta tags (noted above in point 7)
    5. SEF URLs (Search Engine Friendly URLs)
       REPLACES THIS: index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=5
       WITH THIS: products/best-product-name/price
       in the address bar, this helps strengthen searches through search engines.
    6. *setting up Google accounts for business
       1. adding Free SEO script (Google Analytics, measures traffic to site)
       2. adding company to Google Location & Business
16. Testing site in various browsers
    1. Internet Explorer
    2. Mozilla Firefox
    3. Google Chrome
    4. Safari
    5. Opera
17. Testing site using various screen resolutions
18. Testing site using various operating systems
    1. Windows XP
    2. Windows 7
    3. MAC
19. Submitting site to main (Organic) search engines
20. *Train and assist client in the back-end workings of the CMS system + access to database of online tutorials
    1. adding menu items
    2. adding & editing articles
    3. adding & editing modules
    4. editing specific requested components
    5. Shopping Cart
    6. Image Gallery
    7. Calendar
    8. Download Manager
    9. Testimonials banners/scrollers
    10. Members/staff access levels

* to reduce hours & price talk to your designer for a unique workflow process

A website is just a collection of small files consisting of HTML pages, pictures, audio, video and much more, much like a bunch of linking word documents. All these files link together and make what is your web site.

The main setup, navigation and pictures that make up a basic site can usually fit on a the old 3.5" floppy disk (storing about 1.44mb). Now because of ADSL Broadband connections in almost every house websites can afford to be larger in size and have more interactive content.

The files that can consume a lot of hard disk space are:

• Audio (.mp3 & .wav files)
• Video (.mpeg & .avi)
• Pictures (large/high resolution pictures and databases)
• PDF Documents

D.P. Web Design can help you work out how much hosting space (mega bites) you'll need for your site.

So which is best for you and your business? If you want to set up a "www.yourname.com.au" you will need to have a registered business name. For example your business name is Tony's Car Detailer, then you probably would have www.tonyscardetailer.com.au as your domain name. That is of course if it isn't taken and it shouldn't be because Tony's Car Detailer is a name registered to you and no one else. If you think that www.tonyscardetailer.com.au is too long then you can use a abbreviation of that name like www.tcd.com.au.

When choosing a domain name you have a few choices...

• www.yourname.com
• www.yourname.com.au
• www.yourname.net.au
• www.yourname.ozz.bizz
• and the choices go on and on.....

Things to consider when choosing a domain name

1. will it be easy to remember?
2. don't make it too long
3. try not to use underscores or hyphens as people are use to typing in one full word
4. does it describe your business name

If you wanted to use a "www.yourname.com" address then you don't need to have a registered business name and .com addresses are cheaper as well. Some businesses prefer .com.au because it shows that they are an Australian company.

There is a lot of work that goes on under the hood of a website, so if you're getting a website for only a few hundred dollars then there is usually a few steps being left out, forgotten or your designer is inexperienced and doesn't know about them.

Look at the question "Why does it cost so much for a website? I can make one myself using popular hosting companies "Site Builder" software!" above and see the standard steps to provide a professional looking & functioning site. To complete this amount of work for only a few hundred dollars would mean your designer is working for less than the person scanning your item at the Coles checkout. would you let that person design and present a website for your business?

Payment

Payment is to be made within 21 days of invoice notification unless special arrangements have been made.

If you are paying a smaller invoice then your prompt payment is greatly appreciated as all small businesses rely on cashflow.

Payment Plans

For larger invoices D.P. Web Design offers installment plans with 3, 6, 9 & 12 month intervals.