I know I need a Web site, it's a necessary part of doing business these days, but I have no idea what's involved. Are you willing to work with a relatively computer illiterate person like me?

Absolutely yes. 50% of the inquiries I get start out with a version of this question. I am more than happy to spend as much time as needed answering all your questions (no question is a dumb question) and helping plan a site that meets your needs. I do this in a free, no-obligation initial consultation either by phone or in person.

I already have a Web site but the person that developed if for me has disappeared (or can't update it in a timely manner). Will you take over the maintenance of my site so I can get it updated?

Maybe... I will need to look at the site and its HTML to see what kind of shape its in. I don't take over sites I think are poorly designed and/or are badly coded. If the site is nicely designed but badly implemented, I will take it over if you let me strip the HTML and recode it. If I think the design of the site is poor, I will take it over if you are willing to let me redesign it first.

How long does it take you to update a site after you receive an update request?

Generally 24-48 hours for minor updates (duration of 2 hours or less) and a week for updates that will take 2 to 4 hours. Major site makeovers and extensive updating are scheduled more like new site work.

How long will it take to get a new site built once you have all my materials?

Anywhere from two weeks to three months depending on how much of a back log I have at the time, and the complexity and size of your site. Please note that I add new site work to my waiting list when I have all the materials for the site and a deposit in hand.

I registered a domain name, and I have advertising coming out shortly that has the Web address in it. However, I don't have time to get the whole site together before the advertising comes out. Can you set up a temporary page that says "Full site coming soon." just so that there will be something there if anyone goes looking for the site?

Yes, I can get you a hosting account and have a "placeholder page" up for you in a day or two. Ideally, you should hold off on publishing your Web address until you have a site in place, but this seems to happen quite a lot and a "placeholder page" is better than nothing under the circumstances.

I have no idea what kind of cost is involved in having a site built. Can you give me some idea?

As advertising goes, maintaining a Web site is dirt cheap. Virtual domain Web server space is available for as little as $36 per year. The initial Web site development costs depend on the complexity and extent of the site, but a Web site doesn't need to be elaborate (expensive) to be attractive and effective. Site preparation for a simple (but nice) one page starter site with a few images can be done for about $200. A basic site with four or five pages and 6-12 images will be between $450 and $630.

What is the difference between an Internet Access Provider and a Web Server?

Internet Access Providers provide access to all the features of the Internet including the two most popular--email and the ability to browse the World Wide Web.

A Web Server (or hosting service) is a service that actually "houses" Web presentations and responds to requests from Web browsers who want to see those presentations. Thus the name "server"-it's a computer that "serves" Web documents on request.

What is a Virtual Domain and do I need one?

No, you don't need one, but you probably want one. One of the most important differences between a Virtual Domain Web site and a non-Virtual Domain site is the site's Web address. A typical non-Virtual address looks like this: www.servername.com/yourcompany. A Virtual Domain address looks like this: www.yourcompany.com. As you can see the Virtual Domain address is much nicer looking and more professional sounding. Another advantage is an unlimited number of email addresses such as: info@yourcompany.com; johndoe@yourcompany.com; etc.

Most businesses opt for a Virtual Domain Web site for these advantages alone… and because the cost of domain name registration can be as low as $8.00 per year.

Okay, I want to do a Web site for my business, but this is a lot of information to digest. Just where do I start and how do I proceed?

1. Call me for a free consultation. I will answer any questions you may have, talk with you about what you would like to do with your Web site, and give you an idea of what it would cost.

2. Plan your site's content, gather your materials (text, pictures and graphics) and give them to me. You can use my step-by-step Web Site Planning Guide to help you through this process.