I have seen all those commercials where I can build my own website for free. Why shouldn’t I just do that?
I am sure that you have seen the ads for companies who promise you that you can build your ‘Free’ website. I have done some research and these websites are not really free. They maybe be free to setup but if you want to keep your website live there are monthly fees, as well as fees if you want to use your own domain name, etc. Down the road, when you decide you want to move to another host, or another website developer, you will also find out that you do not own your website and cannot take it with you.

How much does a website cost?
Answer: How much does it cost to build a house?
No, a website is not as expensive as a house, but the cost will depend on what features you want in your website.
Our web projects are custom designs and since everyone’s needs are different we cannot give you a one-size-fits-all price. Each project is quoted on an individual basis after we discuss your needs.

Should I just choose the cheapest option and go with that?
An old friend once pointed this out to me – “You Get What You Pay For.” If your website is costing you too little (or free), then chances are your your website will not give you the results you need. Stop being cheap – your website is an extension of your business on the Internet and the whole world can see it! If you choose that cheap developer, eventually you might just come crawling back to the web designer that you thought was too expensive because you ‘got what you paid for’, only now you’ll have to pay for a good web designer plus the money you wasted on your really cheap web site. This includes those ‘free’ websites offered by many companies now. (see above)

My friend offered to make me a website for free (or really cheap). Why should I turn that down?
You do not want to hire someone who does web design in their spare time, as a side job, or as a favor to friends and family. They will eventually become too busy with their full time job to finish your project, or to respond to your questions. You want a designer who is local, reliable, with verifiable references.

Why can’t I just build my own website?
It takes years of experience to be a good web designer / web developer. You can’t learn this trade in a few hours. It may look easy to drag and drop what you want but you will be missing out on the years of experience of a professional and the results that come along with that. These sites also may start off free, but there will be charges later on to keep the site up, keep it ad free and you will NEVER actually own the site. You also will not get your own domain name at some of them, and who wants their website to be mybusiness.someone-elses-domain.com?

Can’t my IT person build me a website?
First of all – Web design is marketing, not IT. You want a web designer, not an IT person. A lot of people associate IT departments with web design. Even though our company does both web design and IT services, they are not related and not done by the same professionals.

Will my website designer just write the copy for my website?
Creating content for your new website is the biggest challenge every client faces. It’s also one of the biggest causes for delays. A good web designer will be prepared with a solution and discuss it at the initial meeting. In my experience, the marketing department at the client company is the one who knows the most about their business, so they are the first choice for writing the content. There are also content writers who can be hired specifically to write the web content. We will help direct you to the best choice for your business.

I have a Facebook page, isn’t that enough?
A Facebook page is a great tool for marketing, but do you know how to use it to your advantage? You need a professional who knows how to get the most out of your Facebook page. You need someone who also knows how to make sure that you have the right keywords in all the right places on your website, and knows how to make sure you are showing up on local maps, etc.

Can I update my website myself once it is finished?
Most clients who start out wanting to do their own updates end up sending them over to me anyway since they are busy with the day to day tasks of running their business.
If you do decide you want to do your own updates, be sure that your site is built in a way that is easy for you to make changes. I can’t think of any good reasons why your web developer wouldn’t build your website on a CMS (content management system). A good CMS like WordPress is built on a framework that has pre-built functionality that will save you time and money. If you are familiar with basic word processing programs you will be able to make minor updates to your website, such as changing text and adding photos.