Let's Get Started!

So you're ready to start your website! Great! There are a number of steps to this process.

Step 1: Domain Name - Every website needs this, no matter who designs the site. The domain is the website address (i.e. www.mysite.com) that people will use to find you. You can register your domain at any number of registrars including, but not limited to, godaddy.com, registrar.com, and domainpeople.com. We are happy to register your domain for you if that service is needed.

Step 2: Web Hosting - Web hosting is the space on the web where your website files are located, making them available to the public. There are a variety of web hosting companies across the world, ranging in price from $4 per month to $200 a month depending on your needs. We recommend web hosting that uses Linux and includes PHP and MySQL. Shared hosting is usually suitable for most sites, however if you'll be collecting a lot of information via your website or taking secure information like social security numbers or credit card numbers, you'll want to make sure you have a good SSL certificate. We can recommend a number of good web hosting services, including Dream Host, Blue Host, and Network Solutions. We also offer web hosting on a shared server at a rate of $7 per month.

Step 3: Design - Once you have your domain and hosting squared away, we'll start on designing your site. It helps if you have a list of sites you like so we can get an idea of what you have in mind. We'll create a "mock up' and then send it over for you to look through. From there we'll alter or recreate until we get it right.

Step 4: Install - After we get the site design just right, we'll start configuring your site for the web. This process varies by the type of website you choose, but may include adding software, configuring databases, etc.

Step 5: Content - Hopefully while we've been working hard on designing your site, you've been working hard on getting your content ready. Once we get the site designed, then it's time to add your content. We'll add all or most of the original content to start. If you choose a content management system or blog, we can show you how to update the content yourself. Otherwise, we will maintain your site for just $35 an hour.

Step 6: Final Questions - The last step is for you to go through your site, making notes about changes or other concerns. We will work with you to answer any questions and make sure your site is ready.

That's it, we're all done! Hopefully you love your website and are ready to present it to the world!