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More Knowledge Will Lead to More Self-Assurance
By Karen Kratz

When looking into establishing a web presence for your company, it is best to educate yourself as much as possible on the subject. One way to learn is by searching around the Internet. There are some very informative sites out there, however, you will need to separate the high-powered sales pitch from reliable information. Another alternative is to call a web design company and see if someone would be willing to talk to you in terminology you can understand about what it takes to get a web site up and running. If you don’t try to understand the process of implementing a web site, you could get burned. I’ve seen it happen, and it’s not pretty.

That said, here are some necessary things you should know to get started:

Registering your domain name. This is your “www” - the name by which users will find your site. This will carry an annual fee, generally $5 to $35 per year, depending on the registrar. The domain should be registered in your name or your company’s name in an account that belongs to you. If a company offers “free” domain name registration with a web site package, be careful - some companies bulk-register domain names under their own accounts, keeping the Domain Name Server (the unique IP address that points to the server where your web site files will reside) under their control. If at a later day you want to change Domain Name Servers or designers, transferring that control, is often problematic. Your best bet is to use www.internic.net to find a reliable registrar and then register the domain name yourself. However, if you find a web site designer who will register your domain name for you, insist that it will be registered under your own account, and find out who the registrar will be.

Hosting. Put simply, this is how your web site is stored or "hosted”, on a computer (server), which is connected to the Internet for communication between the client (user) and host (server). Hosting can cost as little as $10 monthly, to hundreds per year, it depends on what the hosting package includes and what your site’s needs are. A simple “brochure” (information only) site may not need much space on a server, and will most likely not use much bandwidth (how much stuff you can send through a connection), so you won’t need a heavy-duty package. However, if you are in need of eCommerce hosting (dynamic database driven programming), you’re talking more money, more space and more bandwidth.

Whoever does your hosting, should at the very least provide you with the information you’ll need to upload your site files from your computer to the server (called FTP – for File Transfer Protocol). You should have at least one, if not more, email accounts, a decent amount of bandwidth to accommodate your site’s needs, and enough space to store all of your files. If you accept hosting through a designer, make sure that once you have paid your bill, you are provided with the FTP and other hosting information.

Finding a designer. Design companies vary in their pricing structure, some charge by the page, some by the hour, and others have multi-level packages. Check out as many options as you can, then start getting answers to these questions: How responsive are they to your phone calls, questions and needs (if they are not responsive now, how will it be once they have your money)? Do they talk to you on a level you can understand? Do they have written contracts (a good idea)? Do they assign copyright of your site to you or themselves (who owns the site once it is paid for)? After your site is up, will there be a monthly maintenance fee, or invoicing only when work is done? When the bill has been paid, will they give you a copy (on CD) of your site files?

Make some phone calls, get some estimates, look at portfolios, read testimonials – and in the end, go with a designer you feel will work with you and who is someone you feel you can trust. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, twice if you have to, so that you understand what you’re getting into.

Now you have some necessary information to begin the adventure of getting your company’s web site up and running. Keeping these steps in mind will hopefully help to guide you through this experience with a little bit more knowledge and self-assurance.

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