Web Design FAQ
If you have a question about the web design process or just a general question, you may find the answer here. If your answer is still not answered please feel free to contact us here.
“Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.”
- How much will a website cost me?
The cost of a web site varies depending on the site and complexity. A small web site with just a few static pages would cost around $500 whereas a full ecommerce website with a large number of pages and a CMS system could cost any where between $1200 and $5000. If you contact us we will be please the discuss with your website design requirements and give you a fixed quotation.
- I hear that there are hidden costs associated with web design services. Is this true?
No. We discuss with you your website requirements and then price accordingly and once you have placed an order for your website design with us, that price is strictly adhered to.
- How long will it take for my web site to be designed?
The timescale of a website design project is often dictated by the client. If you have a deadline in mind we will endeavour to meet it for you. The most common delay in the creation and completion of a new website is waiting for content (text/images) to be sent to us by the client.
- Can I view my website during development?
Yes, during the design and development of your website we will regularly post the latest version of your website to our clients server. We welcome and encourage your feedback throughout your project.
- What information do you need to start my website?
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Our first step is designing your pages, for this we need:
- Company logo
- Colour schemes (We can
- Target market
- List of websites you like
- Who your competitors are
Next we will need some content for the pages. We generally like when all the content for your website is written ahead of time. This will decrease the time it takes to finish and publish your website. We advise you to look at your competitor's websites for ideas.
- I already have a website and I need it updating, can you help me?
Yes, we would be happy to look at you existing website and give you a quote for updating it, just contact us here.
- How do I update my website?
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There are many different methods which can be used to update websites. The method you choose and the functionality we build into your website design is solely up to yourself although of course we will be glad to advise you which method will suit your needs.
If you have a small website consisting of just a few pages and will only wish to make changes very infrequently, then usually it is more cost effective simply to ask GCW to carry out these changes for you. Other methods which are frequently chosen are largely dependant upon how much data or information and pictures you have and how you store this information at present.
We can provide an on line content management system where you can either update individual products/pages/services or particular sections of your website. e.g. company news.
Alternatively we can provide functionality such that you can upload your entire product ranges to the website in one action using spreadsheets etc. We can also add databases if you wish.
- What is the difference between a "static" and a "dynamic" site?
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A static site is one that is written in HTML only. Each page is a separate document and there is no database that it draws on. What this means functionally is that the only way to edit the site is to go into each page and edit the HTML - so you'd either have to do it yourself using a webpage editor like FrontPage or pay me to go in and edit the site each time you wanted something changed.
A dynamic site is written using more complex code and can do a lot more. For instance, we can make an area where you can log in and change various parts of the site, such as adding information or products. This is because each page is constructed based on the information in a database, and the information in that database can be changed via another interface.
Dynamic sites can reduce ongoing maintenance costs if you don't want to change things yourself with a webpage editor or with the HTML. They usually cost more to develop, as they require more complex coding and a content management utility needs to be developed to help you manage your website information.
Another benefit of dynamic sites is that they allow you to change only the content of the site and not the design, so you will not be able to accidentally break the visual style of the site. They have other benefits when sites start to get very large, as they make data management much more efficient and your site more expandable.
Many clients do a combination, having some dynamic areas such as a product catalog where they have to change information or pictures regularly, and leave other pages such as contact information as static pages.