Webcami Site Design- Frequently Asked Questions

A web site begins with a domain name, a design and web hosting. The details can be confusing as to what exactly it takes to create a web site and get it online. Some of the most frequently asked questions I receive are listed below. If you can't find an answer to your question here, please feel free to email me.

What is a domain name?
What is web hosting?
Where do I begin?
How much does a web site cost?
How long does it typically take to build a web site?
I already have a web site, but I want a new design. Can you help?
I already have a web site, but I need someone to maintain it. Can you help?
Is a deposit required to get started, what payments methods do you accept, and how am I billed?

- What is a domain name?

The "address" or URL of a particular Web site. This is also how you describe the name that is at the right of the @ sign in an Internet address. For example, webcami.com is the domain name of this web site. There is an organization called InterNIC that registers domain names for a small fee and keeps people from registering the same name. Costs range from $10- $35 annually. Webcami charges $15 per domain per year and will register names for you. This includes a privacy protection feature.

- What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a service that provides space on Internet servers for the storage of World Wide Web sites. This service is usually This is offered by ISPs or web hosting specialists for a monthly fee. Fees vary based on the size of the web site and the services provided. Webcami provides web hosting starting at $15 per month. If you prepay for 12 months, you only pay $140 (a savings of $40 per year, or $11.67 per month).

- Where do I begin?

To keep your design costs to a minimum, supply as much information as possible. The following are suggestions to start with:
   - Who will your web site visitors be?
   - What do you need your web site to do?
   - Organize your ideas into main topics.
   - Decide what you want your web site to look like.
   - Colors?
   - Layout ideas
   - Do you have a web site you admire? Then please send the URL address.
   - Do you have a company brochure? A company logo? Anything that would contribute to telling the world about your company? This is where the web designer starts.

- How much does a web site cost?

There are quite a few factors that affect the cost of your web site. These factors include how many pages you are going to have, will products be sold on your site, do you need graphics created, and how interactive your future web site will be. Webcami charges an hourly rate of $85 per hour for web design. Most of the sites I have designed have taken between 8 and 20 hours to complete. A basic brochure style site with 10 pages or less falls in the 8-10 hour range. A site that has a shopping cart or a multitude of pages would fall in the 15-20 hour range. In addition to the design fees, you will have a monthly web hosting fee and a yearly domain registration fee (see above). Your needs may vary from what is described above. I offer a free initial consultation to help you determine your needs.

domain name	design fees	hosting	total
$15*	$680-$1700	$140-$180* + $25 one-time set up fee	$860-$1920
*denotes annual fees. Domain names are renewed yearly and hosting fees occur monthly.

- How long does it typically take to build a web site?

During the process of designing your web site, Webcami will work as your partner. Most of the sites I have designed have taken between 4 and 12 weeks to complete. First, we will work on the initial design of the site. While I am coding the pages of the design we have chosen, my clients work on providing the copy (or text) for the pages. Clients also provide photos and graphics from past brochures or printed materials. Once all the material is gathered and coded, we publish the site to the internet and test the pages. We also make minor adjustments to complete the final product.

- I already have a web site, but I want a new design. Can you help?

Absolutely! I will examine your current web site, discuss your goals, and redesign your web site according to your requests. My standard rate of $85 per hour would apply.

- I already have a web site, but I need someone to maintain it. Can you help?

Absolutely! I will examine your current web site, and determine if it's a site that I am skilled to maintain. My standard rate of $85 per hour would apply.

- Is a deposit required to get started, what payments methods do you accept, and how am I billed?

   - I will provide detailed contracts for both web design and hosting once you have decided to work with me. Upon that time, I require a deposit of $200 to begin work.
   - I accept payments by check and Paypal. Most of my clients pay by check.
   - All of my clients receive invoices via email and US mail on a quarterly basis. These invoices include both design fees (if any), monthly hosting fees, and domain renewal fees when applicable. If we are completing a new site design, I will bill you when the job is complete, or quarterly, whichever comes first.