Hosting...,
 

What is hosting?

Hosting is the term used when you place your website pages onto a computer connected to the internet (server).  The server makes your web pages available 24/7 to users of the internet.

Do I need a host?

Yes.  You need someone to connect your webpages to the internet.

How much does hosting cost?

There are a number of services offered:

• Free - yes free.  The downside is that usually you have to put up with advertisements placed on your website by the host.  Your URL is generally inherited from the host company, e.g. www.yoursite.hostsite.com.   Originally these options were only considered by the desperately budget conscious.   More recently companies like www.110mb.com have made the free option much more desirable by removing the ads altogether.

• Subscriber hosting is usually an optional upgrade from a free service.   The Host removes the ads from your website for a small annual fee.  The site URL is still inherited from the host though.  This is an ideal low budget option.  Check out www.cjb.net for one of the cheaper options around.

• Commercial Sites If you're running a business you'll need to consider more serious hosting solutions.  These services are generally more expensive which is the price you pay for increased services, security, daily backups and 24 hour help desks.   Check out your ISP or local hosting companies and expect to pay from $6 to $25 per month.

How do I choose a host?

Using Google will generate a list of hundreds of hosts.  You might be better using Google to find a comparison of hosts.  Find out what they offer, how much it costs and assess if this is what you want.

Some companies will bundle hosting and domain name registration into a package deal.   This can be a good option for commercial websites.

We recommend you use a local hosting company if you're going to be running a commercial website.  They will know your laws, speak your language and the currency will be the same.

What is a URL?

URL stands for Universal Resource Locator.  In non-geek terms this is the address of your website.  For free or subscriber hosting options, the URL is usually inherited from the host company:

http://www.accompany.net/users/yourwebpage.html

or even something like:

http://www.yourwebsite.somecompany.net

If you need or want a *.co.nz URL, you're going to have to register a domain name (see next item).

Do I need a domain name?

No, not unless you're running a business.  If you are running a business we highly recommend it!  A domain name registered in your company name will attract search engine traffic from local users, but it will cost you an annual fee ($30+).   A domain name has a URL like:

http://www.yourcompany.co.nz

If you do decide you need a domain name, you get advantages like email addresses that go with it.  Seriously consider getting your domain name and hosting from the same company.

Check if your chosen domain name is available:

co.nz com biz info tv org net geek.nz maori.nz net.nz org.nz gen.nz ac.nz school.nz co.uk org.uk

Can't I just use MySpace?

You could, but we don't recommend it as MySpace has significant disadvantages.   MySpace is intended for small personal webpages and won't suit every need.  Also, the advertising MySpace inflicts on users is intrusive and annoying.

Website owners who want complete control over their page design should set up their own web site, especially if you're in business.

Upgrading...,
 

Can Scriptus upgrade my website?

Almost certainly.  But beware that an upgrade might cost nearly as much as a new site built from scratch.  

Check out our Design & Build packages: Package Deals

Want to test your site for upgrading suitability?  Test your website

How much will it cost?

As much or as little as you want.  Check out our prices and hourly rates: Latest Prices

Feel free to contact us if you would like to find out more, or if you have to work to a budget: Contact Us

Can I write my own content?

Yes, and we encourage you to do so.  Writing your own content or copy is a great way to save money.  We have prepared some tips budding copy writers should read before they start: Writing for the web

If you would like to find out more about our design process: Scriptus Design Process

What about images?

You should endeavor to supply your own images.  Letterheads, logos, photos, promotional material, menus, etc..., can all provide interesting images for your website.  Hard copies are acceptable.  If you are using other people's images please be careful of copyright issues and obtain permission.

How should I choose a colour scheme?

Colour is a deeper subject than you might imagine.  Many colours have emotions attached to them which you should not ignore.  The art of combining colours is also a subject with great depth.  Here's a link to a great site that lets you test and combine colours to your hearts content: www.colorcombos.com

You should choose colours which allow for a high contrast between text and the background to make your text easily readable.  If you have long established colour schemes we are happy to work with you to achieve the best result for you and your website.

Can I use this neat effect...?

Tell us where we can find the effect you're looking for and we'll get back to you.

Should I use humor?

If humors fits with your tone and style certainly, but be careful that the humor is appropriate and not offensive.  A well placed cartoon might be just the right way to cement an idea you've covered in text.

Top reasons for upgrading...,
 

Make it more attractive

Did you make your website yourself just to save money?  Have you little experience in website design?  If so, your website will almost certainly benefit from an overhaul.  Chances are that your labour of love is appealing to you, but others will have problems with it.

If you're running a commercial enterprise, your amateur site will most likely scare off potential customers.   Do yourself and your website a favour and get it professionally upgraded.   You will see immediate improvements in use of colour, images, speed, clarity, etc...,

Clarify the information

Users of the internet want information NOW!  They won't wait for slow downloads and they won't read pages of text.  Viewers actually read very little text on a site until they are sure what they are reading is valuable.  One of the best reasons that you should consider getting your website redesigned is to clarify the information.

If your website is older, chances are that the content may be out of date too.  Why not seize the opportunity to improve both the readability and value of your information in one go?

Change the tone or style

We like to set the tone of a website early on, as the style is critical to the image you're trying to project.  Is the tone formal, semiformal or informal?   Are you projecting a corporate or non corporate image?  The image you present should be appropriate to your target audience.

Tone and style are projected by appropriate use of colours, language and images.   Get it wrong and you'll be sending mixed messages to your viewers.   How would you like your bank manager to continually call you "Dude"?  Or how about trying to buy a surfboard from a salesman who keeps spouting scripture like a rampant evangelist?  I'd go elsewhere...,

More effective marketing

One of the cornerstones of modern business success is website promotion.   Not only do you need a website, you need to let people know it.

There are a number of different ways to promote your website, including search engine optimization, email campaigns, and links from other websites.   Once the viewers are arriving, your website needs to grab and hold their attention.

Improve search engine listings

Search engines use the data contained in your website to evaluate your site ranking when a search is performed.  Knowledge of the effective techniques is critical to achieving a good ranking as the optimization needs to be built in to the substance of your web pages when they are created.

Make it faster

Modern web viewers won't wait.  One of the biggest mistakes made on the internet is a slow download time.  If a site takes more than 8 seconds to download a page you'll lose more than half of your potential viewers as they simply give up.    Modern web design techniques make information more accessible, faster.   Redesigning your site will present the critical information to the viewer sooner.   Improved data compression gets information to your audience in less time, and deeper knowledge of viewers' online habits makes it more likely they will get what they are looking for in the few critical seconds you have their attention.

Improve the information

You should know who your target audience is and cater to them.  Your website should present information to your target audience clearly and logically.   Are you really sure the information on your website is clear enough?   You want to make sure that people who view your website can easily understand it.

Improving the quality of the information is a very good reason to consider redesigning or upgrading your website.

Improve the graphics

A picture paints a thousand words.  End of story!

Many website owners simply fail to grasp the importance of the power of images.   In terms of conveying information, and appropriate image will much more effective than a paragraph.  Images assist to set the tone/style and draw the viewers' eye quickly to that area of the screen.

Loading your website with high quality images won't do the job though.   That will simply make your website slower to download.  Your images need to be appropriate in size to the job they are doing, and effective.  Welcome to the world of graphic design!

Improve the accessibility

One of the biggest peeves of web users are websites that are not easy to use.   Confusing navigation, poor use of colours, bad grammar, poor language choices and ineffective layout can kill a website before it has a chance.

Some web users will use very different techniques to browse the web, you need to know and appreciate this.  Vision impaired users may enlarge the text, while blind users may have the text read to them by their software.  Many users will want to resize the browser window.  Does your website hang together and retain its effectiveness in these situations?

Ignore sightless users at your peril - Google has no eyes at all!