Frequently Asked Questions
Check here for some answers. If you have your own questions, submit them by using the box at the bottom of this page.
_Do you really do websites for $450.
A. Yes & No. Most websites will be priced at $450. If your site is very complicated needing complicated design work involving special coding, it might be more. But for 99% of us, the $450 site is exactly what you need and you will be getting a full-featured site including domain name registration, hosting, and maintenance.
Why do I need a website?
A. I almost always get asked this question when I ask someone if they need a website and I occasionally get asked this when someone comes to me saying they want one. You should have some thoughts about why you need or want a website. Truthfully, just about everyone could use one and every business definitely needs one. It's how you communicate your business services and products to new and repeat customers. Customers expect you to have a site. It's where they can find out lots of information about you, compare you to competitors, and hopefully become motivated to contact you. Just having a site will not guarantee you a single customer, but just getting one or two new customers because of your website will pay for your site time and time again. It's a great investment. A website can be your sales staff 24/7.
How can I make sure I keep my price under your quote?
A. Plan ahead plain & simple. Think about what pages you need. You can expand these later. Write your own copy. Type everything up. Collect your own photos and other graphics. The more you send me by email via Word documents and JPGs,PNGS, or GIFs for images the better. Think about what you want on each page. Make a note of design features you really like that you've seen. The more you give me upfront, the quicker your site comes together and the more likely it is your fee will come in at or under what we agreed to. Yes, it does happen!
Well, suppose I haven't a clue where to begin?
A. That's the case for many of my websites. No problem as long as you tell me in the beginning of the process. I'll help you pick a theme and determine which pages you'll need to start with. You can add other pages as you need them. If you have no copy written nor images available this can add to the final cost of the site but I can estimate what that will be for you. If we stick to "the plan," your site should still come in at our agreed fee.
Who maintains my site once it's published?
A. Up to you. For the first year, maintenance comes with your site. Generally speaking, once your site is up and running you will be given full access to it to make whatever changes you might want. I will show you how to make many changes yourself. It's pretty simple once the initial site is up and running, but I do realize most people are uncomfortable making lots of changes or special changes to their website so there are maintenance options to consider. See the Fee Schedule page for information.
How to I sell goods and services from my site or accept other payments?
A. Good question. PayPal has made it very easy and it only cost you when someone uses it and the fees when that happens are very reasonable. You will need to set up your own PayPal account and then set up your basic business account to accept website payments. I can help you with this. You can also accept donations and sign people up for recurring fees like a subscription to a newsletter.
Can you promise me that my site will reach the top of the list on a Google search?
A. Short answer, no. Getting and staying on top of search results is a never-ending quest for all websites. I will work on your site to make sure it has initial search engine optimization (SEO) in place to start getting it found. I will also send you my list of tips for helping get your site found and included in search engine results. There are lots of things you can and should do if you want to guarantee that your site comes up when people are looking for it. Being high up in search results is a moving target but I'll do my best to get you pointed in the right direction. There are businesses that spend thousands of dollars a year just for search engine optimization alone and they also have no guarantee.
Am I going to get rich because I have a website?
A. That would be nice but it's not likely going to happen. But your website can do several things for you. It will help your current customers stay informed and it will let potential customers know what you can do for them. And yes, hopefully having a website will bring you new customers. And for many businesses, one new customer is all it takes to pay for your site over and over again. You should see your website as just one tool in your marketing plan and it's likely to become your most important marketing investment.
I should have called you first. I have an old website that I can't get maintained without begging my provider. It's a hassle. Is it possible to leave my site where it is but have you do some changes for me?
A. In most cases, yes. As long as you have the login credentials (username and password) and the FTP info for where your site resides, it shouldn't be a problem. And you should have this since it is YOUR site. As long as I can access the site, then I can usually make typical changes including updating text, switching out photos, correcting bad links, and more. Sometimes I can even add pages. Just ask. And by the way, with an AffordableWebs site you will always have access to your site. It's YOURS.
I don't have $450, can you help me get a website?
I can help you with my "economy website" for less dough if you just need two or three pages. Email for information.
A. Yes & No. Most websites will be priced at $450. If your site is very complicated needing complicated design work involving special coding, it might be more. But for 99% of us, the $450 site is exactly what you need and you will be getting a full-featured site including domain name registration, hosting, and maintenance.
Why do I need a website?
A. I almost always get asked this question when I ask someone if they need a website and I occasionally get asked this when someone comes to me saying they want one. You should have some thoughts about why you need or want a website. Truthfully, just about everyone could use one and every business definitely needs one. It's how you communicate your business services and products to new and repeat customers. Customers expect you to have a site. It's where they can find out lots of information about you, compare you to competitors, and hopefully become motivated to contact you. Just having a site will not guarantee you a single customer, but just getting one or two new customers because of your website will pay for your site time and time again. It's a great investment. A website can be your sales staff 24/7.
How can I make sure I keep my price under your quote?
A. Plan ahead plain & simple. Think about what pages you need. You can expand these later. Write your own copy. Type everything up. Collect your own photos and other graphics. The more you send me by email via Word documents and JPGs,PNGS, or GIFs for images the better. Think about what you want on each page. Make a note of design features you really like that you've seen. The more you give me upfront, the quicker your site comes together and the more likely it is your fee will come in at or under what we agreed to. Yes, it does happen!
Well, suppose I haven't a clue where to begin?
A. That's the case for many of my websites. No problem as long as you tell me in the beginning of the process. I'll help you pick a theme and determine which pages you'll need to start with. You can add other pages as you need them. If you have no copy written nor images available this can add to the final cost of the site but I can estimate what that will be for you. If we stick to "the plan," your site should still come in at our agreed fee.
Who maintains my site once it's published?
A. Up to you. For the first year, maintenance comes with your site. Generally speaking, once your site is up and running you will be given full access to it to make whatever changes you might want. I will show you how to make many changes yourself. It's pretty simple once the initial site is up and running, but I do realize most people are uncomfortable making lots of changes or special changes to their website so there are maintenance options to consider. See the Fee Schedule page for information.
How to I sell goods and services from my site or accept other payments?
A. Good question. PayPal has made it very easy and it only cost you when someone uses it and the fees when that happens are very reasonable. You will need to set up your own PayPal account and then set up your basic business account to accept website payments. I can help you with this. You can also accept donations and sign people up for recurring fees like a subscription to a newsletter.
Can you promise me that my site will reach the top of the list on a Google search?
A. Short answer, no. Getting and staying on top of search results is a never-ending quest for all websites. I will work on your site to make sure it has initial search engine optimization (SEO) in place to start getting it found. I will also send you my list of tips for helping get your site found and included in search engine results. There are lots of things you can and should do if you want to guarantee that your site comes up when people are looking for it. Being high up in search results is a moving target but I'll do my best to get you pointed in the right direction. There are businesses that spend thousands of dollars a year just for search engine optimization alone and they also have no guarantee.
Am I going to get rich because I have a website?
A. That would be nice but it's not likely going to happen. But your website can do several things for you. It will help your current customers stay informed and it will let potential customers know what you can do for them. And yes, hopefully having a website will bring you new customers. And for many businesses, one new customer is all it takes to pay for your site over and over again. You should see your website as just one tool in your marketing plan and it's likely to become your most important marketing investment.
I should have called you first. I have an old website that I can't get maintained without begging my provider. It's a hassle. Is it possible to leave my site where it is but have you do some changes for me?
A. In most cases, yes. As long as you have the login credentials (username and password) and the FTP info for where your site resides, it shouldn't be a problem. And you should have this since it is YOUR site. As long as I can access the site, then I can usually make typical changes including updating text, switching out photos, correcting bad links, and more. Sometimes I can even add pages. Just ask. And by the way, with an AffordableWebs site you will always have access to your site. It's YOURS.
I don't have $450, can you help me get a website?
I can help you with my "economy website" for less dough if you just need two or three pages. Email for information.
