Frequently Asked Questions about website design and AWD Ltd

How much does a website cost?

As every website we build is developed specifically for that customer and does not use a website template, we do not have offer fixed cost packages. The price of a website very much depends on the style of website required, the technologies employed and the size of the site. As a service industry ‘Time = Money’ and therefore the larger and more complex the site, the more time will be needed and the more it will cost to develop.

Additional required costs include domain name registration and website hosting, which again depending on the style of website and required domain prefix will start from around £80 per year.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is an address that enables visitors to find your website. Ideally your domain name will represent your business by using the same name, such as www.glrscooters.co.uk. The domain name will also allow you create emails that tie in with the website address such as info@glrscooters.co.uk or sales@glrscooters.co.uk.

The most popular domain names for businesses trading in the UK end .co.uk and for businesses operating both within the UK and/or in countries outside of the UK, the .com address is recommended.

Domain names are usually registered for a period of 2 years before their renewal is required. At Advanced Web Designs we are able to register and manage your domain name(s) on your behalf.

How do I get my website to be found on search engines such as Google?

Search engines will in most instances list your website in their directory free of charge. It can however take a while for your new website to be listed and there is no guarantee offered by search engines companies with regard to either directory inclusion or position.

If you operate in a busy market where many of your competitors already have established websites, getting onto the highly desired 1st page is very difficult. We do however have a very good record when it comes to optimising websites for search engines and have many examples of websites we have developed ranking high on that all important first page, despite these businesses operating in busy competitive markets. Our latest Extended Search Engine Optimisation service uses the most recent optimisation methods (currently only used by some of the worlds very largest websites) and has already proven very successful for our e-commerce clients that have taken on this service.

How do I get an email address?We can provide you with any number of email address you require. Email addresses are in most cases linked with your domain name and emails can be viewed by either downloading them to your computer via a standard software package, or if you are regularly on the move, via an online system.
How long does a website take to develop?The development time of a website depends very much on the style, size and complexity of the required site. As there is a design stage to any website, no matter how small, it is possible for a 2 page website to take almost as long as a 10 paged website. Again as a rule of thumb most sites we develop take between 1 and 3 months to design and develop.
Do I own the website once I have paid for it?Yes. Once we have received the final payment for a project the customer owns it outright. It is however important to know that customers of our E-commerce and Content Managed style websites own the files and design of their website but do not own the Content Management System that we have developed.
What happens if there is a problem with the website?

Whilst we thoroughly test all websites prior to handover, due to the numerous browser types, versions of browsers and devices being used to access websites, occasionally system bugs will arise after the website has gone live.

Bug fixes are free for the first 6 month from the date of handover.

In most cases this is more than enough time to iron out any issues that arise. Any issues which asire after this period are most frequenly due to changes in technology, usually browser updates, and more often than not are small jobs.

If changes in technology, legislation or to a third party application means that there is a measurable amount of work involved, we will clarify what the reason is and what action is required. We will also provide you with a cost for the work for approval prior to carry it out, which would be based on our 'exiting customers' *hourly rate.

Can I update the website myself?

All of our website are developed with a bespoke, intuitive and scalable content management system (CSM). This allows our customers to easily add/edit/delete all of the websites content including copy, imagery and videos.

No coding knowledge is requires and alteration can be made to the website from any location providing you have access to the internet. Our CMS allows for the addition of multiple users who can each ben granted different access levels by the administrator.

Can I sell my products online?

Yes. We develop e-commerce style websites that enable customers to sell their products over the internet. This style of website uses a Content Management System allowing the website owner to fully manage the products on the website.

Payment for orders can be taken using an online payment provider such as Worldpay, Dagepay or Paypal.

Can I find out who has visited my website?

AWStats: Via your Content Management System we will provide you with access to AWStats, our raw data statistics package which will provide you with basic website visitor information.

Google Analytics: We do however recommend you set up a free Google Analytics account which will provide you with a code to be add to your website. Via your Google account you can then track your website visitor's information in far more detail.

Can the website be expanded?

As all websites we develop are managed via an intuitive online Content Management System there are very few occasions when you would need to contact us to carry out additional work to the website.

However, if additional work is required in the future which falls outside the capability of the Content Management System, this work would be treated as a separate project for which we would provide an upfront price for approval based on our 'exiting customers' *hourly rate.

How long will my website last?

There is no expiry date, and providing you renew your domain name and hosting your website will remain on the World Wide Web (the internet).

However, changes in your business as well as website design styles, technological advancement and changes to Search Engine Optimisation rules, means that we would recommend you should consider a redesign of your website every 3 to 4 years.

What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a computer language and the basic building language of Websites. It is a relatively simple language but quite powerful when used to it’s full potential. It is constantly undergoing revision and evolution to meet the demands and requirements of the growing Internet usage

  • HyperText is the method by which you move around on the web - by clicking on special text called hyperlinks which bring you to the next page.
  • Markup is what HTML tags do to the text inside them.
  • HTML is a Language, as it has code-words and syntax like any other language.
What is a web browser?

A Web browser is a programme which enables a user to display and interact with websites. Web browsers allow a user to quickly and easily access information provided on websites. Web browsers format HTML (and other web languages) information for display, so the appearance of a website may differ between browsers.

The most popular web browsers include: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, Opera, Chrome and Safari.

What is Web Space/Hosting?This is the physical amount of space on a server that is allocated to hold the files that make up a website and in most cases is limited to a set amount, which if required can be extended.
What is an Internet service provider (ISP)?An Internet service provider (ISP) is a company that offers its customer’s access to the Word Wide Web (the Internet). The ISP connects its customers to the internet using data transmission technology such as dial-up or DSL (broadband). ISP's include, BT, SKY, VIRGIN, AOL.
Do I need a computer (or a better computer) to have a website?

The simple answer is 'No' as Websites run independently on web servers which don’t rely on an individual having a computer.

However if you are considering running a Content Managed or E-commerce website you would need to be able to access the internet in order to make changes to your website and process your orders.

What is broadband, and how many people use it?Broadband is very simply a faster way of connecting to the internet when compared to dial up. The service is now available to most areas of the country and is offered by many Internet Service Providers.
What is meant by screen resolution?Screen resolution is not the screen size and can be altered to suit your personal preference. Typical screen resolutions are set to 1024x768 or 800x600, with the most common size now being 1024x768 representing the width and depth of the viewing area in pixels.
Got a question for us?Email it to us here and we will get back to you with an answer.