FAQs
How do I get started?
We’ll start the discussion here:
Who is your audience
Is the purpose of your Web Site to sell a product or service? Or is it an information resource?
Do you have an idea of what you want it to look like?
First Steps:
Purchase a Domain Name (Web Address)
Select a Web Hosting Company - your web designer can help with this process. The number of options that have become available in the last two decades can seem overwhelming. How much space do I need? What does traffic allowance have to do with my website? Do I need a shopping cart? Will my website be secure? Is tech support included?
Who is going to build it?
These are just a few of the basics. Wolf On Web offers a free 1 hour initial consultation. email Beverly@wolfonweb.com
What is a domain name or web site address and where can I find one?
Domain name, or "web address" is like a piece of electronic real estate; it is your Internet identity — literally your internet address.
Domain names (web addresses) may be secured through a Domain Registration Service, an Internet Service Provider [ISP], commonly referred to as a "hosting" company or with the assistance of a web designer.
Examples:
www.wolfonweb.com
www.wolfonweb.net
www.mhcsd.org
www.whitehouse.gov
The "www" portion of the address stands for "world wide web". In recent the upgrades to browsers do not always require the “www” prefix to be typed in.
The next portion is your actual domain name (web address). If you find your first choice taken -- you may modify the selection by choosing a variation on the "dot extension" -- the .com or .net or .org — the list of extensions has become virtually limitless.
SPECIAL NOTE: Avoid symbols in your URL:
ampersand (&)
percent sign (%)
equals sign (=)
dollar sign ($)
question mark (?)
Symbols will clutter your web address and some Search Engine Spiders will not recognize them.
Who owns the domain name (web address)?
Most web hosting companies will offer to secure your domain name (web address) in their hosting packages. Some web designers may also offer to secure this on your behalf. I caution new web site owners to proceed with knowledge -- if you choose to register a domain name through a hosting company or through a web designer, be absolutely sure that you will be the "registered owner" of that domain name (web address) before you continue to do business with that company.
There are a few unscrupulous companies out there who will gladly include your domain name for "no charge" or a "very small fee" as part of their hosting package or design services. My warning to you is make sure they have not registered themselves as the owner of your web site address. This may not seem like a big deal until you experience problems or lack of service with that company and choose to want to move your site -- guess what -- they own the rights to your web site address and can now hold it hostage to either retain your business or perhaps choose to sell it back to you at some outrageous fee.
This is not the practice of most companies, for obvious reasons it's bad for business in the long run. If you already have a domain name and would like to confirm who the registered owner of the site is try one of these links:
Why can't I just use my free web space to build a web site for my business?
You can use free web-space, but it would be like comparing a lemonade stand on the corner to a retail juice bar in a mall -- how much traffic and visibility will you get?
When you promote your business web site address as www.abcbears.com it will make one impression while http://home.earthlink.net/~abcbears will make quite another.
Personal web pages can have design and traffic limitations and some search engines will not allow them to be submitted for review.
The old adage FREE is not FREE tends to apply to the “free web-space” world — these account will insert advertising into your page and you usually have no control over the content, links or position of the ads on your page.
SPECIAL NOTE: This does not mean that a search engine will not find a personal page and post it if the right query is submitted.
I'm starting a new business, when should I think about a web site?
A web site can be an invaluable tool in launching a new business, it gives you a forum to literally be able to communicate World Wide!
You can create beautiful "electronic" brochures or catalogs that can be available to millions. In many cases, for businesses just getting started this investment is more cost effective than printing conventional brochures and catalogs.
With that said, I'd like to make it clear that just building a web site without using marketing will not guarantee success. You must promote the web site address or URL on everything related to your business i.e. business cards, letterhead, envelopes, brochures, catalogs, data sheets, in all advertising including newspapers, magazines and on billboards, in radio spots, in your television advertising and on all press releases.
STEP FORWARD A DECADE AND A HALF Now it seems to all be about Social Media — have you linked your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pintrest, YouTube — that’s just the top of the list.
Additionally, the web site address needs to be submitted to Search Engines. One of the key benefits of including a web site in your marketing and communications plan, it that you can change it quickly -- adding new products, services, photographs, promotions, newsworthy announcements -- for pennies on what it used to cost to re- print and mail replacement brochures and catalogs.
What is most important?
Keeping your audience in mind. The biggest web site, fanciest programming or flashiest graphics are worth nothing if the user of the web site missed your message.