Wednesday, November 5, 2008

What is a website?

What is a website?

Dao’s Design Custom Website Designs.

The following are definitions of Internet terms.

Internet

The vast collection of inter-connected networks that are connected using the TCP/IP protocols and that evolved from the ARPANET of the late 60's and early 70's. The Internet connects tens of thousands of independent networks into a vast global internet and is probably the largest Wide Area Network in the world.

Web page

A document designed for viewing in a web browser. Typically written in HTML. A web site is made of one or more web pages.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language. The coding language used to create Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web. HTML looks a lot like old-fashioned typesetting code, where you surround a block of text with codes that indicate how it should appear.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheet. A standard for specifying the appearance of text and other elements. CSS was developed for use with HTML in Web pages. By changing that single specification the look of a large number of documents can be easily changed.

A website (alternatively, web site or Web site, from the proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet.

A Web page is a document, typically written in (X)HTML, that is almost always accessible via HTTP, a protocol that transfers information from the Web server to display in the user's Web browser.

All publicly accessible websites are seen collectively as constituting the "World Wide Web".

The pages of a website can usually be accessed from a common root URL called the homepage, and usually reside on the same physical server. The URLs of the pages organize them into a hierarchy, although the hyperlinks between them control how the reader perceives the overall structure and how the traffic flows between the different parts of the site.

Some websites require a subscription to access some or all of their content. Examples of subscription sites include many business sites, parts of many news sites, academic journal sites, gaming sites, message boards, Web-based e-mail, services, social networking websites, and sites providing real-time stock market data. Because they require authentication to view the content they are technically an Intranet site. (Definitions and more information provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website.)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results, or the higher it "ranks," the more searchers will visit that site. SEO can also target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work and what people search for. Optimizing a website primarily involves editing its content and HTML coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines. Sometimes a site's structure (the relationships between its content) must be altered too. Because of this it is, from a client's perspective, always better to incorporate Search Engine Optimization when a website is being developed than to try and retroactively apply it.

The acronym "SEO" can also refer to "search engine optimizers," a term adopted by an industry of consultants who carry out optimization projects on behalf of clients, and by employees who perform SEO services in-house. Search engine optimizers may offer SEO as a stand-alone service or as a part of a broader marketing campaign. Because effective SEO may require changes to the HTML source code of a site, SEO tactics may be incorporated into web site development and design. The term "search engine friendly" may be used to describe web site designs, menus, content management systems and shopping carts that are easy to optimize.

Another class of techniques, known as black hat SEO or Spamdexing, use methods such as link farms and keyword stuffing that degrade both the relevance of search results and the user-experience of search engines. Search engines look for sites that employ these techniques in order to remove them from their indices.

This information and more can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/.

How much does a website cost?

What it Costs & Why?

Dao’s Design Custom Website Designs.

Web Design takes time, talent, and skill.

Website design, construction and management is an art and a craft. It takes time, talent and skill. Costs are based on time. You can buy a package, pay by the hour or pre-pay. A deposit is taken before work begins, usually half of total initial cost and is non-refundable. Most communication about a website under construction takes place via e-mail, phone.

The crafting of a web page takes time. The construction of a web site takes skill. Efficient navigation and clean coding are essential if you want a web site to be found by people searching the internet via search engines. The web site must be designed for your customer and for the search spiders that will discover, rank and display it to your potential customer.

The website must be designed, and the pages written, for two viewers. The human viewer and the search spider. It is critical that the coding of a web page consider both viewers. If the search spider cannot read and digest the code, it will not "spit out" your site when the human viewer types in their search query and many potential customers may never see your website.


What do the parts cost?

Domain Names are "rented" from the registrant by the year. Prices are competitive up to $35/year for new dot com domain names.

Hosting Space is "rented" from the hosting company by the month or year. Prices are competitive and vary with amount of space and amount traffic.
There will be a one time set up fee ranging from $500.00 to $5,000.00 depending on the needs and function of the website.
Basic hosting paid monthly, unless other agreements have been made, for a basic website ranges from $200.00 $650.00.

Web Site Structure is the basic design and construction of your site. A Basic 5 page site with some simple graphics and 2 photos/page will cost about $100.00/page

Navigation is the "flow" of your site and is included in the structure.

Page Design is the "look" and function of your pages and is included in the basic cost. Websites are a number of web pages laced together by navigation. Adding pages to your basic site will cost between $75 and $100/page, costs may be higher or lower depending on content.
HTML Coding is the "secret stuff" behind the page that a web designer does to tell the browser what to show to the person viewing the web page.

Text is the "important stuff" you provide. Words on the page that tell your message. You supply the text via e-mail. Text should be supplied without formatting. If you write text in a word processor, copy and paste it into an e-mail.

Keywords are the words on the page that the search spiders use to rank your site. You should have an idea of what your keywords are.

Logos and Graphics are the things that grab your viewer’s attention. I will create complex logos and graphics can be for you for additional cost.
(Cost is usually factored in initially).

Photographs are what sell your product. You supply 2 photos per page. I scan the hard copy photos and create a web ready graphic*. If you have digital photos you can send them via e-mail, but they must be in jpg format. (Send only one photo per e-mail with page location) or, you can burn your full size digital photos to a CD and deliver in person or via snail mail. If you do not have photos, I can take digital photos.
(Cost is extra).

Links are connections between websites. Search engines love links. You can supply links. I can offer links from other sites.

Search Submission is the business of making sure your customer can find your website in the search engines. Initial submission to major engines is included.

Making Changes and/or additions to pages on your site. Adding pages (after the initial build) to your basic site will be charges at an hourly rate. Changes to your site (after the initial build) are charged at the rate of $40/hour or $1.00 per minute. Web customers may opt for a pre-paid plan when looking at web changes. Rates for pre-paid work are $20/hour. Pre-paid customers also move forward in work order in a pre-paid "que", different than the regular work que.

*Copyright & Trademark. To protect your business, you may want to trademark your name. To protect my business, I copyright my creative work. Copyright protection exists from the time the work is created in a fixed, tangible form of expression. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. If a work is protected by copyright, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder to reuse it. Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created. While you may own the content supplied to a web developer – the underlying code, page layout, and any other graphics or materials used or created for your website is owned by the web developer. In the digital age, where much of one's most valuable copyrighted property can be stolen at the click of a mouse, a person may be criminally liable if they willfully copy a work for profit or financial gain.

Removing your website and all links leading to it. Remember, if you choose to take your site (or site within a site) down, there will be charges for the time involved in removing the pages, pictures and links from the web.
Time is Money.

Web Site Structure is the basic design and construction of your site. A Basic 5 page site with some simple graphics and 2 photos/page will cost about $100.00/page

Navigation is the "flow" of your site and is included in the structure.

Page Design is the "look" and function of your pages and is included in the basic cost. Websites are a number of web pages laced together by navigation. Adding pages to your basic site will cost between $75 and $100/page.

HTML Coding is the "secret stuff" behind the page that a web designer does to tell the browser what to show to the person viewing the web page.

Text is the "important stuff" you provide. Words on the page that tell your message. You supply the text via e-mail. Text should be supplied without formatting. If you write text in a word processor, copy and paste it into an e-mail.

Keywords are the words on the page that the search spiders use to rank your site. You should have an idea of what your keywords are.

Logos and Graphics are the things that grab your viewer’s attention. I will create complex logos and graphics can be for you for additional cost. (Cost is usually factored in initially).

Photographs are what sell your product. You supply 2 photos per page. I scan the hard copy photos and create a web ready graphic*. If you have digital photos you can send them via e-mail, but they must be in jpg format. (Send only one photo per e-mail with page location) or, you can burn your full size digital photos to a CD and deliver in person or via snail mail. If you do not have photos, I can take digital photos. (Cost is extra).

Links are connections between websites. Search engines love links. You can supply links. I can offer links from other sites.

Search Submission is the business of making sure your customer can find your website in the search engines. Initial submission to major engines is included.

Making Changes and/or additions to pages on your site. Adding pages (after the initial build) to your basic site will cost between $50 and $80/page. Changes to your site (after the initial build) are charged at the rate of $40/hour or $1.00 per minute. Web customers may opt for a pre-paid plan when looking at web changes. Rates for pre-paid work are $20/hour. Pre-paid customers also move forward in work order in a pre-paid "que", different than the regular work que.

*Copyright & Trademark. To protect your business, you may want to trademark your name. To protect my business, I copyright my creative work. Copyright protection exists from the time the work is created in a fixed, tangible form of expression. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. If a work is protected by copyright, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder to reuse it. Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created. While you may own the content supplied to a web developer – the underlying code, page layout, and any other graphics or materials used or created for your website is owned by the web developer. In the digital age, where much of one's most valuable copyrighted property can be stolen at the click of a mouse, a person may be criminally liable if they willfully copy a work for profit or financial gain.

Removing your website and all links leading to it. Remember, if you choose to take your site (or site within a site) down, there will be charges for the time involved in removing the pages, pictures and links from the web.

Time is Money.

Web design

You may be considering purchasing a website, either for personal or professional purposes. Whatever the reason, you are in the right place. Dao's Design is a website design company focused on developing a professional image for businesses of all sizes whether just starting out on the Web or those seeking to improve their existing website. Why not take advantage of one of the greatest advertising tools offered, reaching people all over the world. Having a web site for your business can really boost your customer base. Many times people want to contact a business but find that it is after operational hours or maybe even the weekend. Once you have your web site established it will do the after hours work for you as well as regular business hours. There are many benefits of having your company on the internet. We will be happy to go over these as we talk about how you want your own site designed. Now you have the opportunity to create a website to implement your very own web presence. Here is your chance to see your own website come to life, we can help you create your own site for far less than you may have imagined. We will do all the work while you reserve the final say on how your site is presented. Be sure to check out our satisfied customers located on our "Portfolio" page. All sites are custom.

Why let the "other guy" steal all your business when your company too can take advantage of a world wide advertising tool. No matter if you are looking to create a website for your business or for personal use we will make sure that you are 100% satisfied, because we measure our success through your success. In an ever growing business world more and more companies are turning to the internet for many of there business and advertising needs. Don't be left behind, let us bring your company up to speed and beyond. Together we will explore the many options that can be implemented on to your site...

Whether its updating your existing web site, data entry, image uploads, verbiage, or creating a whole new web design, Dao's Designs will be happy to assist you.