Guide to Websites / FAQ

Even if you have had a website before, please read through this whole section. Many people don't really understand what they're paying for, and we want to make sure you understand what you need and why. Feel free to contact us with any questions you still have.

Basic Web Guide   |   Web Charges   |   Search Engines   |   Changes to your Site

Basic Web Guide

Obviously you know what a website is, since you are looking at one right now. But do you know how your computer finds a website? Basically, there are two things that tell your computer where to find a website: the domain name and the web host.

The domain name is the "dot com," the address you type into your web browser. AlamoWebsites.com is a domain name. So are yahoo.com, google.com, pittstate.edu, and irs.gov. Domains always have a name (the Yahoo part) and an extension (the .com part). .Com extensions are the most common here in the United States.

The web host is a computer that is online all the time. You rent space on this computer (a server) so that you can store your website there -- the graphics, the text, everything you have on your website. That way, anyone can access your website at any time. We set up the domain name so it knows where to find the computer you're using as a web host, and as soon as you type in the name, your web browser opens up the right files on the right computer and shows them to you.

Web Charges

There are three basic charges when you buy a brand-new website: the domain name charge, the web hosting charge, and a web design charge. Some companies throw in other charges, but we like to keep it simple.

We charge a one-time web design fee. This price depends on how big your website will be, what kinds of things you want to include on the website, and in general how much time it takes to create. You're welcome to see our pricelist for a basic idea. Once you have an idea of what you're looking for, contact us for a free custom quote.

Once you have a web design, what do you do with it? You need to put it online. This is where the domain name and web hosting charges come along. We include the setup in all of our web design packages, so you only have to pay the domain name and web hosting company a direct fee. We don't mark it up or charge you extra fees, but we do require you to pay those companies directly.

We use a domain name company (also called a registrar) that charges $7.99 per year for your domain name. We use a web hosting company that charges $8.95 a month for your web hosting. If you have a different registrar or web host, we will be happy to use them -- but if you don't have experience with any of these companies, we recommend sticking with the standards. We have used both companies for several years, and they both offer excellent customer service and very rarely experience problems.

Besides these basic services, there are many custom ones you can choose from. If you're a photographer, you may need extra photo editing so your photos look just right on the computer screen. If you're selling jewelry, you might need extra color correction so the colors in your photos stand out brightly. We'll be happy to help you decide what you do and don't need, so you don't spend money on something that's not important to your business.

Search Engines

If you buy a search engine package, we will submit your website to the most popular engines -- Google, MSN, and the Open Directory Project are included in the basic submission; Yahoo costs extra. The basic submission also includes a review of your website. We will go through and edit the wording, the graphics, and the meta tags (special codes that the search engines look at to decide where to list you) so that you'll be more likely to show up in searches.

We specialize in making websites for small companies who don't have huge budgets. Search Engine Optimization is the term for boosting your rankings in the search engines, and you can literally spend thousands of dollars every month if you want to try to be in the top 10 results for a keyword. It can be worthwhile for bigger companies -- but it's not necessary for small ones. Our search engine package is an alternative to the budget-busting expenses of larger companies, and it will bring more traffic to your website.

Changes to your Site

Besides designing your website, we are more than happy to make any changes or updates you may need. We charge an hourly fee for this service and can do anything from changing text to adding photos... we'll even redesign your site if you want a new look. Just let us know what you need.