Dora M Roberts

Starting Your Website:

 

Once you've decided to create a website, I will guide you through the steps required to actually get your business published to the web. First, let's review some things you need to know regarding the steps involved.

 

Domain Name Aquisition:

 

Your web name, or address, is the name that people have to type onto their web browser in order to access your website. This is the name you want everyone to remember... so put some thought into it! You may not always get the first name you choose... and that's how creative names come about. Once you find a name that is available, you will have to register it. I can assist you in searching for, choosing and registering a Domain name /web address in your name.

 

Web Organisation and Design:

 

The role you want your site to play in your business will determine the ultimate size of your site. For now, try to think of a whole website as a book. Each chapter (or web page) contains specific information pertaining to the different facets of your business. I will help you organize your notes into these chapters. We can keep it as simple or complex as you want. Based on the Business Image and type of business, we develop a website. I depend highly on my client’s knowledge of their target audience and what they want the site to feel and look like. I design the site’s look with the site’s purpose in mind, as well as, your vision.

 

How The Design Process Works:

 

Once you gather all the needed materials, I can get started on designing the layout. This is based on the information you provide and the sites intended purpose. You will have the opportunity to edit both the design and the contents several times throughout the process. The way the process works is that we set up a phone date in front of our computers. I send you the files and we both take a look at them together. The first file will be of the concept. If you approve, I can move forward to the first major edit. At the first edit, I will send you a copy of the contents and you can make all the changes you want at that time. Once those changes have been made, the site will be edited for spelling and grammar by a third party. You will have the opportunity to accept this edit or not. Minor changes and edits can be made at this time, however, major changes may be subject to an additional charge.

 

Web Hosting and Publishing:

 

Once the site is complete, we need to publish it to the World Wide Web and make it available to be seen by everyone-- and make you famous! To do this, we need to go to a website host. The “Host” will rent you a space in “cyberspace” to serve as a home for your website. Most webmasters host their own sites by sublet, I do not. I help you to “hook up” to a public hosting company. You pay them directly. You pay me only for the creation of the site. There are several hosts available, and their rates vary depending on the amount of space required. Several other factors and amenities are also taken into consideration. It is basically the same thing as renting an office space. Once we secure the space, I can publish the site and you are ready to begin directing your clients there.

 

Local or World Wide Visibility:

 

Some people are almost afraid of having a website because they just want to keep it local, not worldwide. A gardener in New York has no need to catch a client’s attention in California. Worry no more—you can make a website work for you, it’s all a matter of visibility! You control the visibility of your site on the World Wide Web. You can target your desired audience or the whole industry. It becomes a matter of where people discover your "website". Local access can be through word of mouth, fliers, local ads, or specialized publications. You can keep it a little less local by advertising your web address through direct advertising that targets your town, county or state. Once you are published, you may wish to register your site with the top search engines. Think of these search engines as huge directories. The more search engines you register with, the more likely you are to be seen by people searching the web and these directories. Advertising your site in national magazines, and registering at other websites that target your desired audience, can give you national and World Wide Web visibility. The more you do, the more you will be seen. 

 

Updating Your Site:

 

As your business evolves, so will your needs and possibly the information contained on your website. I can change the site’s actual contents, add pages and information, or change the information as needed, all the while, keeping the look and feel of your site. If you are hooked up to a good host, they can also provide you with a variety of monthly premium services. Premium services include website optimization, registering with search engines, PayPal, and much more, at an added premium.