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Web Site Helps
5 "Hidden" Costs of a Web Site
Nobody like hidden costs. These items are included with every web site but are not technically part of the development process. The costs for each one vary depending on the type of site being developed.
- Domain name registration. What do you want your www dot com to be and is it available? Thousands of new names are registered every day. There are several companies that a person can use for registering their domain name, but a person needs to be careful that they register their name with a reputable company. You should know where you're going to host your site before you register your domain name. Your domain name should be easy to remember, not too long and most important, available. Businesses like Network Solutions (www.netsol.com) allow you to register your domain name for a specific number of years. Costs vary from about $10 to $50 per year depending on the type of name you want and who you register it with. Registering a domain name allows you to use that name until you decide you no longer need it. We are happy to register your domain name when you decide what you would like it to be.
- Hosting. Finding a reliable and helpful company to host your site can sometime be a daunting task. Hosting is done by the computer where the files that make up your site actually reside. Your site should be hostedby a company that will provide a high-speed connection so that your files will load as quickly as possible on the user's computer. Costs for hosting can range from a few dollars a month to several thousand. Some companies elect to host their own site(s) which brings with it new challenges and complications. Once you've selected a hosting company, they will provide the developer with access to their dedicated area of their server. This enables the developer to make changes to the files of your web site whenever it is updated.
Note: Hosting is not Internet access and email. Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) will offer a package that includes hosting, Internet access and email. If a company needs those services, ISPs will be happy to provide details about their services.
- Site upkeep. Making changes to your site and keeping it fresh are important ways to keep people coming back to your site. Regular changes or updates provide new information for your visitors. Along with other monthly costs, it's wise to budget additional resources for upkeep and site maintenance. A site can have as many or few updates as the owner would like.
- Clearances. In some instances clearances must be gained for registered elements of a web site. Because of the openness of the Internet, many items are public domain. In certain cases, however; permission needs to be gained from the owner of a certain image, quote or other element. Many times there is no additional cost, just a note of ownership must be placed near the item being used.
- Your time. It may be difficult to put a cost on your time, but it is very much a "hidden" cost to developing your web site. Your web developer will take care of many of the technical issues of your site, but you are the one that will need to collect copy, images and other elements for your web site that are unique to your company. That takes much more time than many people realize.
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