411

411: On this page you’ll find out about web site hosting, like GoDaddy.com and you can also read sample contracts/estimates as well as see what kind of information can be gathered when you site is properly optimized and coded.
WEB sites

The World Wide Web. Home of unscrupulous business’s that promise everything from top site listings, to magical templates that you can update yourself to just about every claim from any ailment or pain you may be suffering from. Web sites are becoming a convoluted mystery that many people find daunting to undertake.

There are some fundamental facts. The first two are often the most misunderstood. One, you need to have a domain name. In order to have that, you have to purchase it. You can go to godaddy.com (which I am preferential to) and do a simple search. The second is to have hosting. It is smart to house your hosting where your domain name resides. It is also even wiser to write the information down. From your customer number, order number, anything in relation to your site and file it away. Don’t type it up and save it to your hard drive. You can back it up to your back up drive, but write it out and put it away. You never know when you may need it.

Some things I hear on a consistent basis are, “1. I finally got my site done and now no one can update it.” The people, who build your site, will move, close down, or change careers completely. Life marches on. But the last time your site was updated doesn’t.

It’s not a good idea either to put something up that’s poorly constructed or half completed. It’s more difficult to make a great second impression than a great first impression.

Another thing I hear is, “Can I update the site myself?” Usually, the answer to that is “no.” Unless you learn how to code and construct your own site, this is an empty promise made to seal a deal. In reality, the best thing or addition you can add to your site (which also increases your site ranking) is to add a blog. That is something you can edit and manipulate on your own. If it’s confusing or daunting, I have taught several people how to do this. It’s not that difficult. Anyone of any age can learn.

If you have a specific question, inquiry, or just want to know what’s going on with the construct of your site, feel free to call me. I don’t charge people who want someone to examine their code, tell them if they have meta tags (if you don’t know what that is, read on) and why their site may not be getting the kind of hits or response they desire.


WEB sites: the breakdown

Websites are quoted on an individual basis. Print out and fill out the planning a website page so I can estimate a bid for you.

On the average a web site can cost between several hundred (that would be a two page with links site) and upwards of $4,500.00. That all depends on how many pages, links, and features are desired. Such as flash, a photo album, movies and so on.

If you are looking for a site to be created, it requires a 50% deposit on the total estimate and a signed contract with the balance due before the final product goes live.

You can pay your deposit on-line or make payments on-line.

The balance due (see the contract for the terms) upon completion. Content and the structure or core of the site is required to do a scope of work. Without a scope, there is not way to guide when the project will or would be completed. A web site generally takes three to four weeks to develop. Upon that time the client will review the project and make edit notes.
There is no such thing as a “client friendly” site. Where in an individual can make edits to their own site. This is often where web sites, in general, falter. Creating a site is usually a long term commitment and updates are just part of the on going relationship.

If you or a client are in need of a new website send an e-mail or send your questions.

Print Work
If you are looking for a graphic or layout to be created, it requires a 50% deposit (No site work will commence without the deposit) on the total estimate and a signed contract (a contract is required to move forward). The balance is due before the final site goes live. No exceptions. The entire final site will be available in proof mode but not in live mode until the balance is paid in full. Examples of my work are contained on this site, no partial layout or proof will be sent without a signed contract.
From Business Cards to presentations. Both the Macintosh and PC platforms are available. You dictate the program. Your project, upon completion, can be downloaded from my site directly to the printer or I can FTP up your project to any printer you desire. I will also get quotes for you if you don’t already have a printer. No mark up on print work. I have done full page, full color advertisements in magazines, newsprint and promotional poster work for entertainment venues.

E-Flyers | E-Newsletters
Customized e-mail flyers and newsletters are not much different than a website with links and coding. Hourly charges apply for these types of applications.

My hourly rate

My flat hourly rate is $95.00 an hour with a 1 hour minimum for website work and a 2 hour minimum for a photo shoot. Photo shoots also require a 24 (twenty-four) hour notice for cancellation or it's a charge of $75.00 for short notice. No notice is $95.00. If you go to your local Kinko’s you will find that you will pay $85.00 an hour for type setting. My hourly rate encompasses everything from graphic design, web coding and updates, photography and layouts and type setting. I do not charge for the initial one hour consultation.
For contract and planning tips see above.

Some additional tips for saving time on a project.

1. Draft out what you want in word. Type out your text. Diagram how you might want something laid out. This saves me time when we sit down to go over whatever it is you are looking to have done for you.

2. Check your facts. Make sure the information you want for your site, advertisement or e-mail blast is current and up to date. You may be in a rush to type your information out, a phone number, fax number or e-mail was entered wrong or omitted. Double check the typed information before focusing on graphics or a particular layout you’d like to see.

3. If you are wanting a web site created, draw out a schematic or family tree of the site. Include every link, every page and, basically, outline the entire site. This will give you and I an exact idea of what it is you want. Try to stay within the scope of your draft, or keep it as close to possible. Especially if you have a particularly large web site. Web sites are made up of many layers. The more pages and links you have, the more layers there are. If you change one of the links, maybe a title, then every page that is connected to it has to be updated and changed. This means: more time and more cost to you.

4. Make a CD of all the photos or logos that you wanted included on your project. Label them clearly. Check to see what the D.P.I. of the images are. Usually, for print work, it is required that any image be a minimum of 300 D.P.I. (dots per inch) and when something is less than 300 it appears pixilated. Meaning it looks blurry or appears to have large dots that comprise the entire image. I would rather have a CD packed full of huge images than little tiny pictures that were originally 72 D.P.I. I can always make something smaller but making something bigger just doesn’t work. You can go one step further here and complete your web site draft, if that is what we are working on, by putting exact names of the photos on those particular links.

5. When putting together the text for your site, do it as you would an outline for an English paper or report. Type your header then put your body text below. It makes it easier and very exact. There is no guess work or a series of chain e-mails trying to clarify something that could be very clear from the get go.

Website Optimization or what I do while I code and create a site:
1. Extensive keyword research and analysis
2. Competitive strategy analysis for main keywords and keyphrases
3. Help with targeted keyword/keyphrase selection
4. Analysis of website architecture and linking structure 
5. Analysis of HTML source code and page design structure 
6. Initial recommendations and outline of necessary modifications for top search engine placement and promotion.

Benefits of a Search Engine Friendly Website Include:
1. Attracting search engine traffic with compelling content.
2. Successfully converting visitors into paying customers.
3. Faster load times on all major Internet browsers.
4. Increased number of repeat visitors. 
5. Increased selling power of your products or services.

Website Optimization Summary:
• Search Engine Positioning
• Website Promotion 
• Website Design
• Internet Promotion • Search Engine Optimization
• Link Popularity
• Web Development
• Site Analysis & Consultation
• Search Engine Placement

I optimize and promote your site, helping your internet business grow!
You may be spending a lot of your advertising budget on pay-per-click models, banner ads, bulk e-mail marketing or various other types of website promotion campaigns.
Are you satisfied with the results?
I will enhance your Internet promotion efforts by designing or re-designing and optimizing a high-performance website for your company. Your website will be geared towards obtaining more visitors and converting those visitors into customers through use of my superior optimization technology.
Are you attracting visitors from organic search engine listings?
How are your conversion ratios? (Are you turning Visitors into Customers?)
Does your website keep your customers coming back for more?
Have you considered adding website optimization to your new website design?
You will find that organic search engine listings get the highest click through conversion ratios, turning visitors into customers. Knowing this, I can assist you in getting your new or existing website fully optimized for all major Search Engines and Directories, which in turn will help achieve "High Search Engine Rankings" relevant to your keywords from your website.

Website Design for Top Ranking High Performance Results
When most designers design a website, optimizing your site for search engine performance is usually not considered. Website Optimization added to a great website design is the winning combination needed to get top listings in the major search engines.

Your domain name and why it should be registered in your name.

I have had many clients who’ve made the mistake of letting someone else do their footwork for them. That’s fine if you’re sitting next to the designer or coder who is working on your site for you and you can see the information they are entering. It is paramount that you, the owner of the website, have that information be in your name, your address and your payment information. Your designer or web person can be listed as the technical contact and in some cases they own the rights to your site until it is paid in full. That’s just smart business. But the bottom line here is that you need to own it. Because, if you don’t, when your relationship ends with your designer, your hosting company or renewal comes about for the domain name, you will not be the person contacted, the person registered to it will be.

Example 1. I did a re-work site for a company owner here in San Diego. The business is well established and has been up and running for over ten years. The owner thought and was told that the domain name was in his name. It wasn't.

After trying and attempting to work with the registrant who held the domain name (the original web site designer in this case) the domain name was not released. After then attempting to work with the company that holds the domain name and submitting paperwork to verify who the owner of the company is, it was and still remains unreleased. The bottom line here is, if it’s not in your name, it’s not yours. If you submit an article of incorporation, a business license, your birth certificate, none of that will help you if someone else registers it. In accordance with this fast and hard rule is this, if you register your domain name with a service (and it’s in your name) try to keep hosting with the same company. I always recommend GoDaddy because I have never waited longer than 7 minutes on any given day (including Holidays) to talk to someone and I've never had a site go down. Ever. It’s your call. But be smart about your domain name and your hosting. Just because it’s cheap doesn't mean it’s really a value and in your best interest.

Hosting and Domain Name

Domain name registration is usually around $9.99 cents a year via GoDaddy.com.
I recommend you host and register your domain name with the same service provider.
I usually recommend GoDaddy.com for hosting packages. The basic package available is the following:

Economy Hosting: 5,000 MB Disk Space, 250,000 MB Data Transfer, 500 Email Accounts, 50 forwarding accounts, 10 MySql Databases.
12 mos. Economy-Linux $3.59/mo that's $43.08 for 1 year.
24 mos. Economy-Linux $3.19/mo that's $76.56 for 2 years. That's $38.28 per year.
36 mos. Economy-Linux $2.80/mo that's $100.08 for 3 years. That's $33.60 per year.
or
Deluxe Hosting: 100,000 MB Disk Space, 1,000,000 MB Data Transfer, 1000 Email Accounts, Unlimited Forwarding Accounts, 25 MySQL Databases, SQL Server 2000, Free Linux Items or Free Windows Items.
12 mos. Deluxe-Linux $6.29/mo that's $75.48 for 1 year.
24 mos. Deluxe-Linux $5.59/mo that's $134.16 for 2 years. That's $67.08 per year.
36 mos. Deluxe-Linux $4.89/mo that's $229.68 for 3 years. That's $58.68 per year.

I also embed a counter (not visible) at your request. Daily, weekly and monthly reports from that includes:
01. Summary 
02. Popular Pages 
03. Entry Pages
04. Exit Pages
05. Came From 
06. Keyword Analysis
07. Recent Keyword Activity 
08. Recent Came From
09. Search Engine Wars
10. Visitor Paths
11. Visit Length
12. Returning Visits 
13. Recent Pageload Activity
14. Recent Visitor Activity
15. Recent Visitor Map
16. Country/State/City/ISP
17. Browser
18. System Stats 
19. Lookup IP Address
20. Download Logs

Following are some examples of the reports I can run with the embedded counter.

1. Map of People Visiting, this can be broken down to city and state as well.

I hope this helps you get a bigger overall picture of some of the things you might want to consider before contacting a graphic artist or web designer. Every project is different and challenging in its own way. Remember if you are considering a web site to factor in the hosting of it and the domain name registration costs. Many people who have contracted me for work don’t realize that they have those two factors to establish before the site is developed. Thank you for visiting this area of my web site. If I can be of assistance to you, please contact me via e-mail or telephone.

Steve McKinnis: Web/Graphic Designer [PC & MAC]

Mail: 1010 University Avenue #754 | San Diego, California 92103

619.913.3101

E-mail me directly at: steve@stevemckinnis.com