Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much will my site cost?

A: That depends almost entirely on what you want in it.  The cost covers the time it takes us in designing, implementing, setting up and getting your site online, plus any bolt-ons you have selected.  On top of the project itself, which is a one-off development cost, you will need a domain name and web hosting, which is an ongoing cost for which you are normally invoiced every year or two (varies depending on provider).

Q: How long does it take?

A: Again, this largely depends on how much work there is to do.  However, to give a couple of examples, a small company web site might take 2-3 months from start to finish, while a large site could take 6-9 months.  A large portion of this time is often spent waiting for content to be written - we appreciate that you have other commitments, and squeezing in additional responsibilities may be difficult, which is why we offer copywriting services.  Allowing us to write the content for you tends to be quicker, as we can often devote time to it more readily.  If all the content is written promptly and good communication is maintained between you and us it is possible to get a whole site done in a week, but realistically most web sites take much longer.  If time is of the essence, we will do our best to prioritise your project, but bear in mind that effort and input will be needed at your end too.

Q: What is a domain, and do I need one?

A: A domain is like a pointer to your web site.  Your web space is a physical storage area on a server connected to the internet, and the domain is like a shortcut directing people to those files.  Your domain should ideally be something memorable and not too long, and something that roughly describes who you are, for instance your business name.  Buying a domain is not a one-off purchase - it is more like a lease; you will generally be invoiced every couple of years for the ongoing ownership of the domain.  Remember that your domain is the way people find your web site, so it is important to get it right.

Q: I already have a site, can you make it better?

A: No matter how good your web site was when it was first put up, or how much you spent on it, if it is not regularly maintained and developed it will start to look old.  Web fashions move at a surprisingly fast rate, and a three-year old design will likely be showing its age.  We stay in touch with the latest trends and use cutting edge techniques to ensure our designs are stylish and effective.  If you are looking to upgrade your site, whether functionally or visually, we can help!  Take a look at our portfolio to see the sort of designs we've been coming up with recently.

Q: What tools do you use for web design?

A: While WYSIWYG web design programs have their place, we believe in the importance of hand-coding web sites, as it gives us more precise control over every aspect of the site.  Our experience and knowledge of the code also ensures that if something doesn't quite work properly we are more likely to be able to track down the problem and fix it.  We use Apple's Mac OS X operating system, and make use of such great apps as Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, MAMP, Firefox, iSVN, Sequel Pro, and many others.  We keep our software up to date and backup regularly, ensuring the finest results possible.  We also believe in the importance of whipping out a pencil and paper to sketch ideas every now and then!

Q: Why can't I find my web site on search engines?

A: Just putting your web site online isn't enough.  Search engines will probably stumble across the site eventually, but you can give them a hand by doing a little Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).  We use legitimage and long-term techniques to help your site get noticed on search engines; we don't encourage paying for visitors, which generally gives false results, but rather put the effort into making sure your web site is properly set up and honest.  We inform all the major search engines of your site's existence, and include such things as XML sitemaps, RSS feeds (where appropriate), and can help with keyword choice and keyword relevance.  Link from other web sites is also a key factor, so we encourage you to let your friends and colleagues know when the site is online and ask for links to be put on their web sites too.