#1 -
How much does a web site cost? - I can tell you what my rates are, but that won't really answer your question. Think of it as if you were putting an addition on your house. Do you need 500 square feet or 2000? Do you want marble countertops and hardwood floors? In general, I charge for new sites by the page, usually $150-$200 per page. There may be additions or discounts, depending on what you need. For maintenance work, I generally charge $50 per hour. Even so, that still doesn't really answer your question. The best way to find out is ask me for a free, detailed quote that will match your paticular needs. Fill out this
form for a free, no obligation quote. Also check out our
small business packages.
#2 -
Can I build a website myself? Yes you can, given the time and resources. Five years ago this was a much simpler question to answer. Today, I would recommend you stock up on professional-level graphics and website/html software, and some really good books and tutorials. Don't even think about including multimedia or a database if you want to build it yourself - unless you've got about 2 years of spare time. If you have no experience with graphics or websites yet, start with a basic book. Even though professional software will help you, you absolutely must understand the basic principles behind graphics and html for the web, or any software you use will 'let' you make some big mistakes.
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#3 -
Who is Neos Media? We are a small company in Vancouver, BC with 4 employees. My name is Tyler Lange. I began building websites back in the dark ages. I've had my own company since 1999. I do nothing but design and develop graphics, multimedia and websites. Prior to 1999 I worked at Mainframe entertainment doing animation for television shows like
Reboot and
Shadow Raiders.
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#4 -
What do I need for a web site? Whether you are providing information or selling a product, all websites need three things: a domain name (such as www.mywebsite.com) which you obtain from a Registrar. Second, you need a Hosting Company (where your website actually resides), and third, you need the site files themselves (which is what I do). Fees from a Registrar are normally on an annual basis, ranging from $10 to $40 per year. Hosting companies also offer a variety of choices - count on a ballpark of $25 per month for basic hosting. See question #1 for cost of the site files. Contact me for recommendations on Registrars and Hosts with which I've had good results. I can also alert you to some potential pitfalls.
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#5 -
What do I need for e-Commerce? You need the three essential components in question #4, plus a shopping cart program to take the orders, plus a payment processing system ( usually referred to as the merchant account/payment gateway.) Beyond this basic answer, the details and the costs can get complicated. Not all shopping carts and payment processing systems are interchangable. Costs vary widely. I generally employ a cart that costs nothing to $6 per month, and can recommend payment processing that seamlessly integrates at competitive prices.
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#6 -
What does the web designer need from me? - Website designers need to understand your service or business - so take the time to meet with them. They will probably ask for as much text copy and photographs or other images you can provide. If you are starting from scratch, a good designer can work with you to produce well-written copy and probably everything else needed for the site. There are times when a professional logo designer, photographer, writer or additional programmer might be needed. Consider talking to a marketing expert too! Above all else, plan ahead - do your best to determine the goals and objectives of you site, then stick to it. A good designer will be experienced in helping you determine the focus and message of your site. Though I can usually fulfill all the requirements for a site, I also maintain a strong backup network of professional copywriters, graphic designers, multimedia producers, photographers, marketing and publicity experts and others, for times when additional help might be needed.
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#7 -
What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? Let's say you use Google or Yahoo to search the web whenever you need to find something. So how do they decide who's webpage should be at the top of the list of results? SEO is the process of building a web site so that its inherent structure and content will give you the best possible chance that your website ends up at the top of the list - without spending any additional money on paid listings. Every single aspect of your website is a factor for improving your chances. It takes years of research, practice, and ongoing study, to fully understand all these factors. I have made SEO my specialty.
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#8 -
What is PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Advertising? Today, when you make a search on the web using just about any portal (i.e. Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL), the top listings are probably ones that the website owners paid for in one way or another. PPC is the general term for this. It is a highly effective means of gaining visiblity for your website. The biggest complaint about PPC is the difficulty in keeping it under control and determining whether your are actually making money by using it. An expert can help - for this field I usually refer to an associate of mine. I have seen his proof, he knows what he's doing. Please contact me if you would like more information.
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#9 -
What is SEM (Search Engine Marketing)? SEM is a general term encompassing everything from SEO to PPC (see previous two questions) to offering online newsletters to demographic research to site log analysis to click tracking to the dreaded and deservedly reviled "spam" email. I can help you with most of these - except the "spam"! I maintain a high standard of ethics.
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#10 -
Who owns a website onces it's built? You do, as far as I'm concerned. Some designers want to copyright their work for you - I don't. The only possible exception is when you use photographs or other content that might be copyrighted by someone else, but used with permission. Be very stringent about respecting copyright laws!
