Frequently asked questions about web design

Do I really need a website?

It's a fair question and there maybe situations where a dedicated website may not be necessary but if you are running a business I would say that you will definitely need one, yes. You can read a little more on the subject and the reasons why you almost certainly need a site here.

How much will my website cost?


Prices start from £100 for a 2-page (or 2-section) site. It is important to stress though, that each site is designed around your brief and tailored to your requirements. You can click here to see some examples of packages. I will always quote up front for your site and there are never any hidden charges. Contact me for details.

You can also now opt for my rental service which takes the upfront cost out of setting up your website. For more details, click here

How long does it take to complete my website?

Once I have all content (text, images etc.) I can complete most projects within 2 weeks. If however you have a specific deadline which is shorter than that, I will endeavour to achieve this dependent on my workload at the time.

Do we need to have a meeting?

I think it can be a good idea to have an initial meeting. It gives me a chance to learn about your business in order to provide the right solutions. This is not always necessary however as most communication can be made by email or over the telephone. It is entirely up to you.

How do I get the content to you?

This is best done by email. Text can be sent in Microsoft Word format or if you use an Apple Mac, you can use Pages or TextEdit. If you do not have any of these programs, you can put the content in an email.

For images/logos etc., you can send in any popular image format (jpeg, png, gif).
I will not normally start the design process until I have content for at least 2 pages (including the home page).

Do I need to buy a domain name and hosting?

With all my design packages, you get free 12 months web hosting. From the start of the second year you will be need to pay for web hosting which, currently, costs £56 per year. Domain name registration is currently about £6 per year for a .com and £6 per 2 years for a .co.uk. I will talk you through your hosting options independently and in an un-biased way.

Can I have my own email address?


Yes. In almost all cases, this will come free with the domain and our package price would include the set of your own email address. The only time you may have to pay additional charges for the set up is if your site/domain is hosted elsewhere. You can have multiple email addresses if you need them.

When do I have to pay?

We normally ask for 50% payment once you have approved the initial designs and the remaining 50% on completion of the project.
We will send you a copy of our full terms and conditions at the same time we send the quote.

How do I get my website listed in Google?

I will register your site with the major search engines. although this is not always necessary as Google and other search engines will usually pick up your site automatically.

What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of analysing your site and optimising it for higher listings in Google and other main search engines. More details on SEO and general site marketing can be found here.

What after sales service do you offer?

My after sales service includes a month of minor changes to the site (usually changes to the words) free of charge. After that, I am always on hand to help and support you and your site. Some changes and updates are even free!

Technical support and advice is free.

How can I monitor how my site is performing?

I install Google Analytics on every site I design. This is included in the initial package and is a free service from Google. I will talk you through the process of using Google Analytics after installation