What is a web site / Homepage?

A web site is a place on the Internet where you can tell people about your business, your hobby, or your personal interests.

How will a web site benefit me? Why should I have one?

A web site will give you 24 hour a day, 7 day a week exposure to people world wide. If you are a business, or even a hobby and want people to see what you have to offer or have accomplished, then a website is the best value for your dollar. Compare the cost of a website to the cost of magazine or Radio/TV advertising, and I am sure you will see the benefit. It is the most cost efficient way to spread the word about your business or hobby. You may tell the world as much or as little as you want.

How do I decide on what the web site should look like?

Your personal likes and dislikes as well as favourite colours should be discussed with your web designer. A good web designer will ask you many questions. Design, content, ease of navigation, and speedy download are a few of the things to consider when deciding what you want your site to look like. We have a quotation questionnaire available for your convenience.

Why should I pay a web designer when I could get my friend to do it for free?

With today's WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors, most anyone can build a web site. Not everyone can do it well.

The old saying, 'you get what you pay for' is still a very good one today. The first impression that your web site makes upon your visitors will be a lasting one. You are paying for the web designers expertise and knowledge as well as their talent. There are good websites and there are bad web sites. The Design and Function as well as speed of downloading play a large part in what distinguishes a good website from a poor one. You will get custom design, which means that your site will be original, and will reflect your tastes.

What is included in the cost for web design.

Original custom graphics. Original, custom html layout. Custom scanning, submission to over 1000 search engines. For more information, see our costs list.

What is HTML?

HTML stands for the hyper text mark up language. This is the language that all browsers (software that you use to view the internet) use to understand what should be displayed and how it should be displayed.

Can I learn to do it myself?

Certainly, you can learn, if you have the time and inclination to do so. There are many many websites that offer Website building help. Many of them are linked from our Tips & Tricks page.

How much do I have to know about computers to learn to do my own website? I am computer challenged!

You must have some basic computer knowlege other wise you will be totally lost. You must know about folders and the structure of your computer. You must know how to make a new folder and how to navigate to various folders on your hard drive. You will find lots of info on building your own website in our Tips & Tricks section, as well as our own tutorials on 'Understanding the File Structure of Your Computer'. Please note that there are some really good and reasonably priced online classes available at LVS Online. I highly recommend them for those who want to further their knowledge in most anything having to do with computers.

What software programs do you use to design websites?

There is a wide variety of books and software available and many online tutorials to help you learn. It is a matter of finding those that you prefer. Here are some of the software programs that I use:

Notepad

Hot Dog Pro

Dreamweaver MX 2004

Fireworks MX 2004

PhotoImpact

Ulead PhotoExplorer

Paintshop Pro

Adobe PhotoShop

Adobe Illustrator

Typograph Font Organizer

ColorSchemer

Eye Candy

Blade Pro

Various Graphic Plugins

Cuteftp

AddWeb

Traffic Builder

What would it cost me to do it myself?

Remember, this is a rough estimate:
First it would cost time. You will have to put your own value on what your time is worth. You will need to purchase at least one book on HTML, aprox. cost. $49.95. HTML Editor software, aprox. cost. anywhere from $50 right on up to $300.00, more or less depending on what you buy. You will need to purchase the FTP software,(used to send your files to the server that hosts your website) approx. $100. You can learn to do your own custom graphics, the software for this ranges from $100.00 - $750.00 depending on the graphics program(s) you choose to use. You can surf the net and get free linkware graphics from those offering it if you choose not to learn how to make your own. (We offer free graphics on our site too). You will have to add the surfing time to find graphics to your learning time and designing time to arrive at the total cost of designing your own website. When you are finished designing, building and publishing your website, you will have to purchase the software, aprox. $100, to submit the site to the search engines. Often people try building a website themselves but get discouraged and give up. They end up paying someone to do it for them, thus having wasted a lot of time, money and effort in the process.

How long will it take to have a site designed?

This depends of course on the size and complexity of the site. It also depends on the length of time it takes to decide on a design and layout. Once this is decided, and the content has been forwarded to the designer, then it should take only a couple of weeks to get your site online. Whether your site is 5-10 pages or an extensive site of 20-30 pages, you should be given a time frame of when you can expect your site to be completed. Of course the completetion date also depends upon the timely forwarding of the photos and text content that will make up the site. We do not take on more commitments than we can handle. As we progress with your site, we will post it and inform you of where you can go to view the progress. You may then monitor the progress and development and offer your input.

How will people find my website?

Once your site is completed to your statisfaction, we will submit it via our submission software, to over 1000 search engines. People will then only have to type keywords into the search engines to find your site.

How do I know I have found a good designer if I decide to go that route?

Web Designers all have their own styles. You should do some research. Visit the sites of many designers. Look at the sites they have done, and at the prices they have posted on their sites. If possible talk with some of the owners of the websites done by the person you are considering as your webdesigner. A good Web Designer has put much time and effort into learning what makes a good website. You must be able to work together. You must have faith in whomever you choose. You should listen to their advise. If possible, choose a Web Designer that has extensive first hand knowledge in the field that your website will portray. Understanding the content will make designing the site and later maintenance/changes more professional. A Web Designer must be able to fulfill their commitment to you. Once you have done the leg work, you will then decide if you like their style and the work they do. You will now be ready to make an informed decision.

I do not have internet access, can I still have a website?

Yes, sure you can. Your web designer will arrange for your site to be hosted on a good server.

What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting means finding a server on which to place (publish) your website so others can see it. Most Web Designers will be able to supply space for your site at a very minimal fee or be able to advise you on where to host your site. This gives a much more professional appearance to your site, with no pop up advertising to distract your visitors. Web Designers who offer webhosting have gone to much trouble to research the many servers available. Bellcrest Web Design is able to offer you server space on a fast reliable server for your site at a very reasonable cost. We have acquired another domain name under which we host the many sites designed for high profile dog breeders. This domain name is showdogs.org.

What does Domain Name mean? What are the advantages of having a Domain Name?

Domain names give you a higher profile on the Web and they make you easier to locate. Domain names are portable. You can move your site at any time to any server and still be found because your domain name does not change.
Having a domain name means you can change web hosting services without losing customers. Your new web hosting service will point people to the same web site. This way, you can to change hosting services to find a better deal, or receive better service without losing viewers or breaking links. Without a domain name, your web site name (URL) changes each time you move, which is confusing to customers.

Why Buy A Domain Name?
Domain Names, a Business Essential!
In today's business world, a domain name and a web presence are a must. All major businesses have domain names. The Web is now a part of everyday commercial life and your domain name is your identity on the Internet. A business web site without a domain name is difficult to find and looks unprofessional.

The Web is where people and customers around the world find information about you, your products and your services - 24 hours a day. Here online buyers, suppliers and partners come together. Securing a domain name ensures that your company name or product names are on the Internet.

$25 - $35 per year, a small price to pay for increased credibility in the eyes of potential customers.

Why should I pay to have my website hosted when there are lots of free web servers available?

Here is a simplified response to your question. Free servers are great for those just starting out. The reason for having a website is to get people to visit, and view the things you wish to show them. Freeservers must exist by advertising. They place pop up ads, banners, or bars on your site. To do this they must insert javascripts into your html coding. This makes it very difficult for the search engine robots to index your site. Freeservers are not as fast, efficient or reliable. Visitors to your site find the advertising annoying and distracting. Ultimately, the choice is yours, freeserver or paid server. Discuss this with your webdesigner.

Does it matter that I live in a different province/state/country from you?

No. Location is unimportant. Most discussions can be done via the email, telephone or old fashioned mail.

What does 'custom design' mean? What are Custom graphics?

Custom means designed just for you. You will not run into the same design anywhere else on the internet. Your site will be unique to you and your business/hobby. Custom graphics are part of custom design. A website is made up of what graphic artists call "Website Sets". These are Backgrounds, headers, dividers, accent bullets, and frames for pictures, all designed to match and make your site unique. A lot of time and work go into the designing of these web graphics. Good graphics can make or break a website. Many Web Designers charge a higher hourly rate for the time spent designing custom graphics than they do for the time spent designing the html pages for your site. For further definition, please contact us by email

I notice on some sites that there is a copyrite at the bottom, can you tell me what that means?

When a graphic artist and/or web designer custom designs something for you, be it a graphics (including background sets, framed photos, etc.) or a HTML pages, their work is automatically copyrited. This means that it belongs to the author, not to the site owner. For more information check here.

Is it important to keep the information on my website up to date?

It is vital to keep infomation current on your website. People will return again and again to view your site if you keep the content fresh and up to date. It reflects poorly on your site if the content is not kept current. It is strongly advised that you build into your budget the cost of regular maintenance/updates for your website.

Can I learn to do updates myself?

Yes you can. If you have the time, ability, software and the inclination to learn how to do it. Talk to us, we can help you learn how to maintain your website.

What is 'maintenance'? What does 'updating' mean, and what does this include?

Maintenance is revising outdated information on existing pages and resubmitting your site to the search engines on a regular basis. Updating is adding information or pictures to pages. Changes made to custom graphics, changing the style or lookof the site, are not considered maintenance or updating it is considered redesign. (I.E. changing backgrounds, graphics, etc.) Adding pages to a website is not considered maintenance. Updating is billed at the regular fee for additional pages. Revisions and/or additions are done on an hourly basis or if agreed on previously, it can be done on a yearly fee basis payable in advance. No matter which way, the cost of maintinaing your web site is based on the time it takes to do so. This time is charged at $30.00 per hour, billed in 15 minute increments. This means that if it takes less time to do updates/maintenance, then you are only billed for the time it takes, not the full hour. Situations may vary, so we are open for discussion on this matter. Arrangements can be made for either monthly or yearly payment of Maintenance/update/hosting fees..

Why are some pages so quick to download and some so slow?

This question ties in with the above question in as much as, a properly designed web site is optimized to download as fast as possible. Optimize in this instance means that all graphics, pictures and backgrounds are compressed to make the files as small as possible without loosing quality. Another reason that pages may download slowly is that there is too much on one page, large pictures, or the links on that page go to sites that are having server problems. Music on a website is another major reason for slow downloading. The server that a website is hosted on plays a very important part in the speed of download, as does the time of day and how busy the internet is. It could also be your own connection with your server that is the problem. There are many variables, and a good webmaster has studied them all and done their very best to assure that the websites they maintain are optimized for quick and efficient use.

How do you expect to receive payment for your services?

Upon reaching an agreement to proceed with a website design, 25% of the quoted price will be paid as a deposit. Balance on completion of the site. Payment will be paid by cash, or money order in the currency of the country in which you live. Once the deposit has been received we will begin work on the site. Annual bills will be sent out in February of each year for server space and agreed upon maintenance fees.

If you have questions that have not been answered above, please feel free to contact us for answers.

Please fill out our quotation questionnaire, we will get back to you with a quotation promptly.