Step 1: Register Your Domain Name (Web Site Address)
Domain Name Registration:
Find your perfect domain now, before someone else does!
When you register, the domain names will be in your account and you are free to use our design services or anyone else's that you choose. Registering your domain names is a completely separate transaction from our services and you will be under no obligation whatsoever to use our services. This is simply to register the names you want to use for your web sites. Even if you have an idea for a web site that you aren't planning to put together for a long time to come, register the names now or they'll likely be gone when you get around to it! So do not hesitate, get your names locked in now! (We can also register names on your behalf if you are uncomfortable with this process!)
Step 2: The Details:
It's All About Details:
Does your site require a password protected section, a database, a shopping cart? Do you like Flash animation or have a particular color scheme in mind? Do you have a logo or do you need a logo? Are there other web sites on the internet that you like the 'look and feel' of or like the way they function? The answers to these questions will help us determine the best design, programming language and hosting for your web site, all discussed below....
Step 3: Web Site From Scratch or Customized Web Site Template?
Design:
When we first began building web sites, there was really no such thing as "templates." We custom built EVERY web site from scratch. While we still design and build web sites from scratch, we also now have another set of tools at our fingertips: templates. These days, there are beautiful, high quality, professional templates available to use as a starting point. There are many benefits to using one of these templates, one of which is saving money! Templates almost always require a professional designer to customize them to suit the project at hand, but starting from a template can save design time and thus save you money! Using a professional designer to customize a template ensures that your site will be customized for your needs and essentially can have the look and feel of a site built from scratch. Have a look through some of our favorite template sites and see if anything strikes your fancy.
Starting with one of these amazing templates allows us to spend more time fine-tuning and customizing your site with all the features you really want! Simply beautiful! A great start to your amazing web site!
We have 1000's of other web templates to choose from. Additional links will be posted soon.
Step 4: Got Graphics?
Graphics:
Great photography can take a web site from ordinary to spectacular. High quality photography on just about any subject is now available for extremely low fees, often only a dollar each! Take advantage of these gorgeous photos and make your web site "a site to remember."
Now for the hardest part for the client ....creating the content for your site. What do you want your site to say? What information would you like your customers to know about you? We will help you polish this information as needed but since you know your field best, you are the best creator of this content. Start thinking about and writing down any text you would like displayed on your site.
Step 6: Where will your web site 'live' on the world wide web?
Hosting:
Your new web site will need a place to 'live!' This is called a hosting account. Not to worry, we are here to help you with this process and we will secure hosting for your web site on your behalf. We have worked with hosting companies for over 10 years and have many options to choose from or you may have a favorite in mind already.
What is a host anyway? A host is a company with special kinds of computers that act as servers where your web site files are stored so that they can be accessed by anyone who types your web address (see Step 1 above) into a browser's address bar. There are many types of hosting accounts and special requirements may be needed depending on your answers in Step 3 above. For instance, if your site sells products, is written in a special programming language or requires a database, your hosting account will need the special configuration to handle those features.
Step 7: Putting It All Together:
Web Development:
Now that we have all the ingredients, we can put it all together and create a customized, professional, get-you-noticed, web site.
Step 8: Getting Noticed:
SEO & Social Media:
Now that your web site is live on the internet, how will people find you? The obvious way people find your web site is through direct knowledge by way of a business card or advertisement you may have displayed. But what about the whole world full of people that still need to know about you? We want to utilize search engines and social media to spread the word about your amazing web site to the people you may not be able to access directly.
What keywords might your customers type into a search engine to find you? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and utilizing social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are important steps to ensure that your site rises to the top of the search engines and gets noticed. SEO is included in the initial web site development and we also offer more extensive and on-going SEO & Media Packages to assist you with ranking and social media.
Some highlights about SEO:
SEO techniques help to get your site top ranking.
While there are technically no secret tricks to SEO, it does take skill to get your site high ranking the good old-fashioned, organic way. The "trick" is that you need a properly written and designed web site.
Many of our clients appear on the first page for their search terms without paying for placement!
Code, content and design are all important in how your site gets ranked!
Believe it or not, you don't usually have to pay for high search rank if you have a properly written and designed web site. Organic search results, with a properly written and designed site, should yield high ranking results. You can then supplement with pay-per-click programs if you choose.
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