FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What do I need to get to put my business online?

First, you need a domain name, which is a name like google.com. Second, you need a web site and web hosting (so your web site files will have someplace to be stored). And third, you need an e-mail account (or maybe many e-mail accounts). Each of our web site packages includes all of these things - and much, much more!

What is a domain name?

A domain name is a name like "google.com".  Each domain name is registered with the government for some small yearly fee (usually somewhere between $10 and $35), and the name is held as long as the registration is renewed each year.  Before a registration expires, the owner of the name is sent e-mails reminding them to renew.  As such, it is important to keep your client records up to date.  As a courtesy to our clients, we monitor domain registration dates and call to make sure all domains are renewed as they should be.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is disk space that is rented on the hard drive of a computer at a web hosting company.  There are lots of companies out there and each typically has many computers.  Each computer is connected to the Internet and always turned on, so your web site files are ready whenever someone types in your web address in order to view them.  The computer that your files actually sit on is called your "web server".

If I buy a Web site from you, will I own it?

Yes.  Each of our Web site projects is considered to be a "work for hire", and you will own anything that we create for you.  We'll give you complete access to the source code, and can provide you with a backup of the site upon request.  Note that many companies charge you a setup fee and then rent your Web site (which you don't own) to you.  That's not how we do business.  If we build it, you'll own it.

What is a Web browser?

A Web browser is the software you use to look at Web sites.  In the same way that there are different word processing software packages available (Microsoft Word, Lotus Word Pro, etc.), there are different Web browser software packages available.  They all look basically the same.  They a menu and some buttons at the top of the page, and a big blank area in the center where the Web sites are displayed.  The most commonly used browsers are Internet Explorer (the big blue "e" on your Windows desktop) and Firefox. Yes, if you are able to browse the Web, you do have one.

What are meta tags?

Meta tags are special commands that are placed in the source code of your Web site.  The "keywords" meta tag contains a list of search terms the Web site would like to be listed under in the search engines, and the "description" meta tag contains a short site summary that the search engines can use when listing the Web site as part of search results.  Years ago, the meta tags were all-important in getting listed in the search engines.  However, most search engines now pay much more attention to the title and text (among many other things) on the pages of a Web site.

What is a mirror site?

A mirror site is a site that contains the same content as the main (web / FTP) site, but has a different address. Some companies create mirrors of their main site in order to spread out the network traffic and thus get a better response time from each machine - a good idea. In contrast, some companies create mirrors of their main site in order to try to trick the search engines into listing them more than once - a bad idea.

What is an intranet?

An intranet is simply a Web site that is published internal to an organization rather than published publicly for all the world to see.  Many companies use intranets to provide employees access to company announcements, handbooks, rules, project documents, holiday schedules, etc.  Intranets are built and viewed with the same software that is used for public Web sites; user access is simply limited.

How can I see my (or my competitor's) meta tags?

Open Internet Explorer (the big blue "e" on the Windows desktop) and go to the Web site to check.  Once you have the Web site open, click on the "View" main menu option at the top of your Web browser software and then choose the "Source" drop down menu option.   The source code for the Web site will open in Notepad.   Visually scan the first dozen or so lines for some text that starts with "

Someone else built my Web site and now it's gone. Can you get it back?

The answer depends on why your Web site is no longer online.  Perhaps your domain name expired and simply needs to be renewed.  Perhaps your DNS settings have become corrupt and need to be reset.  Perhaps your Web hoster had to install a new hard drive and your Web designer can re-upload the site.  Perhaps your Web site has been deleted and no backups exist.  We would simply need to check into the situation and see.

Last modified on 2/22/2010 2:59:33 PM