Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does a web site cost?
2. How long does it take to complete a web site?
3. What is a domain name? Is this the same as URL?
4. What is web hosting?
5. Can I have you design my site and use my own web hosting?
6. What is Search Engine Optimization?
7. Are there other ways to bring visitors to my website?
8. What is web site maintenance?
9. How is a "static" and a "dynamic" web page different?
10. I want to get started, what do I do next?

How much does a web site cost?

There are quite a few factors that affect the cost. These include how complex the graphics, flash animation and the programming requirements are. We produce web sites from $500 (simple 5 page website) to over $20,000. We are happy to supply a quote and we ask that you complete our form (or if it is easier for you, please call our office and some one from our sales team will guide you. We are able to offer a complete offering of web services.

How long does it take to complete a web site?

It will depend on the scope of your project and how quickly you provide us information for content. A website generally takes 3 weeks to 3 months depending on complexity. We will be able to tell you how long your project will take once we have your project specifics.

What is a domain name? Is this the same as URL?

This is the website address that you choose and register for your website. This is almost the same as the URL (universal resource locator) which is the full address that is typed to bring up a website. The domain for our website is portlandwebnet.com and our URL http://www.portlandwebnet.com.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a monthly fee that you pay to have your site accessible on the Internet. Website hosting also gives other services such as email services, website statistics and databases for web programming. We can provide web hosting for our clients.

Can I have you design my site and use my own web hosting?

Yes

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Having a great website doesn't help your business if visitors can't easily find it. Search Engine Optimization or SEO involves researching and choosing the right keywords that people would use to search for your website, adding these to strategic areas in your site, getting other websites to link to your site and then measuring the results. Search engine positioning is a long-term strategy, and there are no quick-fix solutions in this area.

Are there other ways to bring visitors to my website?

Yes, we can set-up a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign with any or all of the major search engines. This is where you pay to advertise on Google, Yahoo or MSN. Pay-Per-Click means that you only pay the search engines when people "click" thru to your website. PPC can be set up quickly and you can usually be receiving results the same day.

What is web site maintenance?

Website maintenance or Web Mastering is a fee paid monthly to keep your site updated. This can include adding new content that you provide, changing photos or adding a new page to highlight a special product or service. Most good web sites have new content updated regularly. Fresh content is what will keep your visitors coming back.

How is a "static" and a "dynamic" web page different?

A static page is a simple web page usually written in HTML. These web pages are created one at a time and must be changed or maintained one at a time. A dynamic page has content supplied form a database . Online stores, catalogs and any page that allows you to sort and select information are usually created as dynamic pages. A website can contain both static and dynamic pages. We create web database programs for your website using PHP programming and MySQL databases.

I want to get started, what do I do next?

Fill out the request a quote form and we will be back to you shortly with either a few questions or a price and proposal. If you prefer you may call our office in Vancouver, WA at (800) 393-7740 and we can discuss your requirements by phone or you can make an appointment and come into our offices for a face-to-face meeting.