Web Design & Development: FAQs
Questions:
- Do you provide site hosting?
- How much will my website cost?
- How long will it take?
- What features may I have?
- What is search engine optimization?
- Will my site be secure?
- What should I do before meeting with you?
- What other sites have you done?
- What’s the difference between web design and web development?
Do you provide site hosting?
No, we do not. However, we are able to recommend a hosting option to fit your needs.
How much will my website cost?
It depends. That’s like asking a general contractor how much it will cost to build you a home. He cannot answer that question until he sees the blueprints. The blueprints cannot be drawn up until the architect knows what you need in a home. And the architect cannot know this until he sits down and has one or more meetings with you.
One Hat Design Studio offers a free initial consultation for each project in order to determine the client’s needs and desires. Based on that initial consultation, a quote is drawn up for the price of the site. Larger sites may require additional consultations to determine the scope of the project.
Some factors affecting the cost of a website are:
- Complexity
- Turn-around time
- Features
How long will it take?
Much like the previous question, it all depends on the site. Smaller sites may take a week to build. Larger ones take months or more. A quote given after the free initial consultation will include expected turn-around time.
What features may I have?
You name it, we can do it! We are artists and also expert programmers (a very rare combination indeed). We can create interactive Flash movies, build rich Internet applications, use Ajax, and more!
What is search engine optimization?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of structuring and marketing a site so that it appears higher in search results for a given set of search keywords. Despite much current hype, basic search engine optimization is all that is needed for most sites. This includes making sure the site's structure is accessible and marked up semantically, and making sure the content is high-quality and relevant.
Clients who are in highly competitive online markets will want to hire an outside specialist to market their website and generate high quality in-bound links. We do not offer this level of SEO.
Will my site be secure?
All websites are vulnerable to attack. No website is 100% secure, so website security is a simple matter of risk. Every client needs to ask himself, “How much risk am I willing to accept?”
Much like protecting a home from burglars, websites can be built with multiple levels of deterrence. A homeowner could install simple door locks, dead-bolts, an electronic security system, train a guard-dog, or even hire a full-time security guard; each providing an additional level of security. But there is no guarantee a determined thief won’t get in.
At One Hat Design Studio, we take security issues seriously. We do our best to stay on top of the latest security issues and keep our software free from all known vulnerabilities.
What should I do before meeting with you for my initial consultation?
Download and read our Introduction to Web Development.
What other sites have you done?
Have a look at our portfolio of business websites, government websites, and non-profit websites, or take a look at our currently featured websites.
What’s the difference between web design and web development?
Both are essential parts of creating websites today. Web design emphasizes the art side of creating websites. Images, layouts, typography, color theory, navigation, and arrangement of content fall under this category. Web development, on the other hand, stresses the logic and programming side of making websites functional. Integrating with databases, enterprise systems, and building rich Internet applications fall under this umbrella. One Hat Design Studio excels at both of these aspects.