Frequently asked questions

Questions web design
- Do you register domain names?
- What's involved in building a website?
- How can I keep costs down?
- How do I pick a web developer?
- Why have professionally designed rather than diy?
Jargon Busting questions

Do you register domain names?
We can and do register and manage domain names for our clients. We don't advertise this service as it isn't one of our core services nor do we insist that our clients register domain names through ourselves.

What's involved in building a website?
That really depends on what type of website is being built but at it's simplest there are 3 elements. Firstly the design of the site which is usually undertaken by a graphic designer. Then when this is agreed a copywriter would normally write the wording for the site then lastly the developer will bring it all together to construct the site. The use of a copywriter is option but for the best results we highly recommend that a professional is used to compose the wording for your website

How can I keep costs down?
It depends how you class 'costs', you can get a 'cheap' website now but it will show in the finished product and it is money down the drain. You would be far better off actually spending more now and using a professional (see next question) to save you money in the long run. Remember you get what you pay for.

How do I pick a web developer?
There are no hard and fast rules in picking a web developer but here are some pointers. Research the internet look at websites and who made them (normally the designers website link is at the bottom of the page). Look at the portfolio of the designer and look for testimonials from past customers. Once you think you have found a designer you like then you can try contacting a couple of past customers to ask how they got on with the web development company. Finally make sure the designer is someone you can work with, remember they should listen to you but also they are the experts and equally you need to be able to take on board their advice and so you must be able to trust them.

Why have professionally designed rather than diy?
Would you do your own fillings in your teeth or cut your own hair? Because the tools for making websites are readily available everyone seems to think they are website designers. There are so many factors to consider when making a website and it's not as simple as putting something together and hoping for the best. If you want to have fun then of course experiment but when it comes to business you need to look professional so you display the right impression to your potential customers

Jargon busting

What is a domain name?
A domain name is something you need to choose and buy so that people can look up your website. Domain names need to be legally registered but the process is very easy and we can do it for you if required.

What is a url?
A url is a Universal Relocater Location you type it into the browser address bar and then the browser an talk to the DNS server (see below) and find the website you need from the url you have typed in. A domain name might be xyz.com where as a URL is http://www.xyz.com

What is dns?
DNS is Domain Name Server - when you type a domain name the browser sends the name to the nearest DNS server and it is translated into a set of numbers that internet servers can understand and then will point your browser to the right website for you to see.

What is hosting?
Hosting is a small portion of a server that is purchased so that you can have a website on the internet. Every website needs hosting and hosting can be purchased easily from various 'hosts' on the internet or our clients can benefit from our client hosting on our own server.

What is SEO?
SEO is Search Engine Optimisation - this is the practice of getting the website higher in search engine natural rankings so when someone types in their search phrase your site will come up high in the results.

What is Page Rank?
PageRank is a link analysis algorithm that assigns a score to a webpage with the purpose of "measuring" its relative importance within the set.

PageRank was developed as part of a research project about a new kind of search engine. The project started in 1995 and led to a functional prototype, named Google. Although it's one of many factors that determine the ranking of Google search results, it's widely now thought that the actual page rank doesn't affect search engine results that much.

What is PHP?
PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML. It is especially good at compiling information from a database and displaying it dynamically on a web page which gives it a wide application use.

What is web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is the perceived ongoing change of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full platform serving web based applications to end users. It refers to the supposed second-generation of Internet-based services where user generated content (ie people visiting websites) is king but also includes things such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users.

What is Accessibility?
Accessibility makes content resources usable by persons with disabilities like visual, mobility, intellectual, auditory and seizures, or other browser factors (different types and old browsers), slow connection speeds etc chiefly through careful attention to navigation as well as the separation of presentation style and actual symbolic content.

What is CSS?
Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, are a series of instructions that specify how text should appear on a web page. You can use CSS to set styles for text, borders, and other elements, and apply these styles to your entire Web site

What is Validated code?
Validated code can comply with reasonably well-defined standards. The process of using such software is known as "validation" and the primary goal of validation is to ensure that the submitted code contains no obvious, facial mistakes. Validated code is much more likely to render properly in all browsers. Moreover, valid code, being standards-and-doctype compliant, is much more forward-compatible - meaning newer browser versions will be less likely to break it