What is website hosting?

For people to view your website, you will need to put your site on a server that has a web server installed so it can 'server' your website to the world wide web.

At Impulse, we actually resell hosting plans to our clients. That means we don't actually own or have a server sitting nearby, we let a full time hosting company handle the hardware and we handle the websites. They charge us, we charge the client and we both make a little money.

This method is used by many smaller web companies who can't afford to hire someone to maintain the server - that is usually a full-time job. Another great benefit of reselling is that the hosting company usually has great 24/7 support so they can take care of any problems that may arise. Their facilities are usually super secure and tightly monitored so your website will stay running smoothly.

To find out more about our hosting plans at Impulse, please visit our hosting page.

Link: Impulse Web Solutions - Wilmington NC Website Hosting

What is the web design process?

Here is a breakdown of the web design and development process so you know what to expect:

Communication
This is the most crucial step of the whole project and needs to be documented correctly before any work is done on the site. It is important for us to listen to you and your needs as a client. It is important for you to accurately communicate your goals for the website. Sometimes clients don't always know what they want, so we often ask some questions to help begin effective dialogue.

Website Quote and Pricing
Once we know what you do and don't want, we can provide you with an accurate quote on how much the project will cost. Once the site budget is approved and all documentation has been signed and approved, we require 50% of the site cost up front. Pricing a website is sort of like buying a car, the more bells and whistles you want the more the car will cost. Therefore, the more information about the project we have and know up front, the more accurate the quote will be.

Web Design
Your website design speaks volumes about your business. Think of your website as the billboard on the side of the internet highway as thousands of web surfers cruise the internet on a daily basis. Will they stop and take a look or keep going? The quality of your site will determine if they stay or go. Be sure you have taken a look at the past work of the web design firm you choose and that they can produce the kind of quality your site deserves.

Web Coding and Programming
If your site requires any PHP programming, this is done once the design has been approved. PHP is a dynamic programming language we use to do tasks such as email contact forms, application form processing, content management, e-commerce and database development.

Delivery
Once the site is complete and has been approved by the client, we are ready to 'go live' and put the site up on the web for all to see and explore. To make a site live, you will need a domain name and someone to host the website. We recommend GoDaddy.com for purchasing domain names and we provide hosting for $15/month. Read more about our web hosting plan.

And then....
Well, the site is done, but the relationship is not. Many clients like to do site upgrades in the future, like to purchase other services like search engine optimization or will need technical support. We often check in with clients on a monthly basis to make sure things are still running smoothly and to offer any support they may need.

How long does it take to build or design a website?

I think this mainly depends on the client. Some clients have deadlines and timetables, some don't. Some clients get everything that you need right away and some take their sweet time.

One of the longest periods of time during website development is the initial mockup design phase. Often, I will design 1 or 2 mockups for a client. Sometimes I will do 1 mockup and show it to the client - they like it, but they want to tweak it. This back and forth cycle can take up too 2 weeks easy. Make a change - show it to the client - they get back to you in a day or two - make another change - show it to the client, etc. Some clients are pickier than others. That's not a bad thing, it just means that as a designer I need to try and understand exactly what it is the client is looking for.

Another time killer during web site design is waiting on content. When the website design is complete and then you say, 'ok, I need to know everything you want to say on the homepage'.

Writing copy for a website is hard, I'll admit it. I don't like doing it either. But it is important to say the right thing and so many clients spend a good amount of time thinking over exactly what they want to say.

Sometimes it's not always copy - sometimes it's waiting on images. I did one website for a client who wanted a different header image on every page. So that client went to a stock photography site and hand picked every image they wanted. Not saying that was a bad thing, just saying that kind of stuff takes time. Searching for the right image can take awhile, trust me - been there.

But, I have to be honest, we designers can also kill some time as well. I am very picky about my web designs. If I don't like it, I don't show it to the client. I have to like it too. I often do multiple versions of a design until I get it just right. This can take a week easy.

My general rule of thumb is about a month for a basic 5 - 10 page website. I figure a week for the design phase, a week waiting for content, another week for popping in content and then the last week is for final review by the client and any last minute changes and updates before going live.