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What is website hosting?  How do I get it for my website?  Are some of the terms that your web designer uses confusing to you?  Here are some simple definitions to common terms to help you navigate website hosting.

Hosting

For a website to be accessible from the internet, it must be hosted somewhere.  Think of it as rented virtual office space.  Just as a rented office houses the equipment needed for you to run your business, the files that make up your website are located, or hosted, on a large computer server that is connected to the internet so that others can view it.  Hosting services are usually paid for on a yearly basis.

Hosting Provider

A hosting provider is a company that rents out space on a server for your website files.  It is possible for you to use your home computer as a web server and host your own files, but because of security and speed issues, it’s not a good idea.  The price you pay for hosting with a respected hosting provider usually includes top-notch security, great uptimes, and customer support, and is well worth it.

Server

A web server is simply a computer that stores lots of information and delivers it to the world wide web. Unlike a home computer, it only runs programs that are dedicated to its server duties, and can handle large amounts of traffic.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the amount of information that can be transferred from one computer to another in a set amount of time.  It is similar to the miles per hour when talking about vehicle speed.  It is measured in bits of data per second.  The higher the bandwidth, the faster your webpage will be loaded for people to view.

Domain Name

A domain name is the web address for your website, usually ending in “.com.”  Web sites actually are accessed using IP addresses (unique number IDs), but domain names are more meaningful and easier to remember.

Domain Name Registration

Once you select a domain name, you must either buy it directly from a domain registrar or request it through your hosting provider.  Domain names are typically rented yearly, but can have rental periods up to 10 years.  If you let your domain name registration lapse, someone else can take your website address.

Working with a web designer should already be easy, right? Simply tell them what your site is about, what colors you like, and cut them loose to make an amazing website. Except, it’s not that easy. Since when has playing well with others ever been, anyway? At least you can help make the process go much easier by following these 10 tips.

1. Know What You Want
   It’s important to have at least a vague idea of what you are looking for, design-wise, on your website. The last thing you really want to tell a creative individual is “Have fun with it, just do anything, I trust you,” because they really will do anything. I once consulted with a gentleman who told me something similar, and when I playfully suggested that pink and purple be the primary colors, he quickly (and not surprisingly) objected. If you don’t want your designer to do something uncharacteristic of your business and your own personal taste, then give them basic guideline. Even if it’s just a series of adjectives, such as clean, modern, eclectic, funky, retro, etc., any specifications are better than giving a designer absolute free reign. Plus, many designers actually find it harder to design when there are no limitations because the design possibilities are infinite.
2. Don’t Be Too Specific
   While it is important to have an idea of what you want, being overly specific is another pitfall. You might have an exact vision of how your website will look, how every last piece of text or graphic will be laid out on the page, and you feel that all you need is a designer to execute it. However, another person, no matter how talented, will never be able to perfectly create your website they way you see it in your mind. Being too specific about the design of your website only sets you and your designer up for frustration and failure.
3. Do Your Homework Beforehand
   Your website is a reflection of your business. Thus, you should have a clear vision of what your business is about and how you want your website to communicate that. Discuss with the designer your company’s goals, mission, vision, purpose, and so forth, and provide a copy of this information, if possible. Then reflect on the goals of your potential website, what kind of audience you hope to reach, whether your website’s main function will be to provide information, sell a product through e-commerce, reach new customers, or build trust in your company’s brand. All of this information is vital to your designer, so even if you don’t take the time to write all of it down, at least have it in mind.
4. Gather Your Content Well in Advance
   There is nothing that can make the design process grind to a halt faster than a client that has not gathered and submitted the actual content of the website. Apart from an aesthetic design, the actual information that is presented is the most important part of your online presence. So, although it is somewhat of a painstaking process, take the time to write/type out exactly what you want to go on your page, then submitting hard copies and electronic files of your information to the designer. Do this well in advance, so that you have time to edit. Even if you decide that your writing skills are lacking and opt for paying for copywriting services, it is still a good idea to write out a general outline of the content you plan to have on your website.
5. Give Copies of Everything Pertaining to the Project to the Designer
   This doesn’t mean that you have to give up your trade secrets, quarterly reports, or every memo, but you should provide your designer with materials relevant to your business and the design project at hand. Brochures, business cards, flyers, image files of the company’s logo, documents with the company’s color scheme, etc. all come in handy. Even if it doesn’t seem wholly relevant, it can help the designer get a feel for your company’s atmosphere and personality. When in doubt (and when it’s not confidential), give a copy to your designer.
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up
   My personal consumer philosophy has always been, “If I don’t like it, I’m not paying for it.” Individuals who work in the service industry are there to please you, not the other way around. If there is something that you want to change, or an aspect of the project’s design that you don’t care for, be vocal about it. Just because you realize the need to hire a professional designer doesn’t mean that you aren’t in a position to question their design choices. Remember what happened to the emperor when his tailors insisted that only fools were unable to see the invisible clothes.
7. Don’t Be Insulting
   On the other hand, tact is always a good idea. So you don’t like it. Make it known, but don’t feel the need to tear it to shreds. Remember, for many web designers, design is not what we do, it’s what we are. Some creative individuals have a hard time separating themselves from their work, so an attack on their art amounts to a personal one. Granted, it’s not your job to massage anyone’s ego. Just opt for something along the lines of “That’s not really my taste, plus it’s not in the direction of where we want to take our company’s image,” over “That’s just ugly.”




8. Don’t Be Overly Flattering
   One last note on etiquette. Don’t pour on the praise. If you really enjoy the work in your designer’s portfolio, then by all means make sure that you let them know this. But don’t overdo it. It’s annoying and designers can see through that, especially if it’s in an attempt to get more services at lower prices. It’s also not necessary to get all sugary to soften criticism. Keep the commendation sincere.
9. Keep in Touch
   We understand that you are busy. You have a company to run. But any good designer will periodically send you a call or an email updating you on the project’s progress, or with a quick question. Please take the time to make contact. There’s nothing more disheartening when an exciting new client suddenly stops communicating right in the middle of the design process. Even if it’s just a simple “Hello, I’m still alive and still interested in working with you,” make the effort to keep in touch.
10. Be Realistic With Deadlines
    Probably the only thing that’s worse than not hearing from a client is to suddenly hear from them later with an impossibly urgent deadline. Suddenly, the project that you put on standby six months ago suddenly needs to be completed an online by the end of the week. Realize that the design process is simple, but has several steps that must be done thoroughly and completely for the best results. If you don’t mind typos, alignment issues, and dealing with a sleep-deprived, irritable designer, then disregard this advice. If you want your project done right, however, contact your designer well in advance of the website’s launch deadline.

You have just taken the plunge to open your business, and with budgeting, licensing, paperwork, employees, forms, phone calls, and customers to worry about, a website online may be the last thing on your mind. Or, you may have been in business for a while, and have been successful without having an online presence. You may even admit that your product or service can’t be sold or offered online. Plus, computers and technology make your head hurt.

So why do you need a website?

A website is more versatile and useful than you may think. Here are 10 reasons why your business needs a website.

1. A website can be your hardest working employee.

Unlike a human employee, a well-designed and informative website is available 24 hours a day, all year. It never goes on vacation, doesn’t take a sick day (for the most part, and even the occasional server downtime is minimal), and can provide information and support to your customers after business hours. Plus, a website only incurs a one-time payment to begin with.

2. A website can lower the time spent with emails and telephone calls, and costs less than brochures.

Have a product that new customers want to know more about? Are you tired of answering the same questions over and over again? It is becoming a pain to email images of your product every time you get new interest? Losing money on printing and mailing brochures? Have investors, or potential investors, who want to see the numbers on your business? A website can fix all of that. Keeping your website updated and full of essential information about your business means you can waste less time answering questions and more time on other important tasks. Simply give out your website address and allow your customer to inform themselves. Remember, setting up a website one time is cheaper than reprinting brochures, and will accommodate curious potential customers online at 2:00am in the morning.

3. A website can reach a new customer base.

So you run your business in Texas. You sell a product that someone in California may find useful. A simple website with a shopping cart can more than double your profits. Even if it’s not viable to sell your product online, you’ve just made your presence known to customers you couldn’t have reached before, and if your product or service is really worth it, customers will make the effort to reach out to you, regardless of your location.

4. A professional website is better than Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Don’t misunderstand. Those websites have their function. But they are not appropriate places for a legitimate business to host a website. They simply don’t have a format conducive to doing business. Also, the amount of customers you receive should not depend solely on the amount of “friends” or comments you receive.

5. Customers today expect a reputable business to have a website.

Everyone expects you to have a business card. And regardless of what you do, people expect your business to have a website listed on that business card. It’s becoming a new norm, especially in our technological society. Since websites are so effective and affordable, there’s really no excuse for a business not to have one. And it’s something that potential customers notice. A simple, well-designed, informative website tells a customer that your business is worth taking a look. It’s worth the investment.