Thread: Domain hosting and website design...

I am looking to revamp my website to be more in line with what a "grown up" dancer site should look like but since I don't have the computer skills to make something "pretty" I will need to hire someone to help with that but I have a few questions...

1. If you have someone design your site, are you able to go and edit things like text/calendars/events as you need or do you have to go through them for every change?

2. If I purchase hosting space from someplace like godaddy or yahoo or wherever, would the designer be able to launch everything on that space or would I need to pay for more space through them?

3. What is an SSL certificate and do I need one?

4. What's the average cost for website design and do you have anyone you'd recommend that may be accepting new business in the next month or two?

Thanks for all the help!

I can answer a few of these:

1) Not unless you purchase software to do this yourself or if you have FTP information and the ability to change info on your "remote server" through FTP. (I think)

2) Not usually

3) I dunno. I think it is mostly for purchasing. I don't have one.

4) I think designers charge $60 an hour up to $100 an hour for design. Our designers for my work Web site charge $65 an hour for updates!

1. Depends on who it is, and how they design it. This is something you would work out before hiring them (there's a lot of discussion that needs to happen before you even start design!)
2. You're usually paying GoDaddy et. al. for three services -- a web server, space on said server, and a domain name. Again, this is something a good designer can help sort out, but you'd want to double-check any host, and avoid hosting w/the designer.
3. Unless you're selling stuff from your site, no.
4. Averages are highly variable; web design is not really a standardized job yet. I'd recommend going with what you can afford, and asking for proper quotes and references (both sites they've done and people they've worked with). Here's a decent guide on the topic; hit Google for more.

#1 can definitely be done by yourself... My boyfriend uses WordPress software. His father, who is very much computer challenged, can go in, change the bio or text stuff.

My boyfriend is definitely looking for new business. His personal website is at TOBEY THORN. He prices by project. So if you want a fairly simple site it'll be cheaper than a site that's full of Flash and other stuff

Originally Posted by miriamgamal

1. If you have someone design your site, are you able to go and edit things like text/calendars/events as you need or do you have to go through them for every change?

It depends. If you are willing to purchase an html editor and learn how to use it, you can edit your own stuff. I am currently designing a web site for my sister-in-law's medical practice (she's a private-practice surgeon), and I am intending to turn over ongoing maintenance of it to her staff.

If you want to have the power to change it yourself, you should consider that as a requirement when you evaluate prospective designers. Tell your prospective designers that this is a requirement, and ask them what software you would need to use in order to do the maintenance.

Originally Posted by miriamgamal

2. If I purchase hosting space from someplace like godaddy or yahoo or wherever, would the designer be able to launch everything on that space or would I need to pay for more space through them?

The designer can use the space you have purchased. You don't need to pay for more. Put a TEMPORARY password on your account before you give it to the designer for them to use as their work area. After the designer has finished the work and turned it over to you, change the password to something that only YOU know.

Originally Posted by miriamgamal

3. What is an SSL certificate and do I need one?

It's a security thing. In the 11 years Shira.net has existed, I've never had one. I don't have one either for my Bellydance Plus web site, and I don't have one for the site I'm building for the surgeon. But if you plan to sell merchandise on your web site and you have a shopping cart, then you'll need one.[/QUOTE]

1. If you have someone design your site, are you able to go and edit things like text/calendars/events as you need or do you have to go through them for every change?

I specialize in websites that incorporate a Content Management System (CMS). This allows the owner/administrator to log into the site from anywhere in the world, to add/edit/delete pages, change links, update calendars, etc. I just finished a website for Razia (here on Bhuz) and hopefully she can speak up about her own experience of the site and how it functions. You do not need to use a html editor or an ftp program, and it is very user friendly as it has a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) editing format.

2. If I purchase hosting space from someplace like godaddy or yahoo or wherever, would the designer be able to launch everything on that space or would I need to pay for more space through them?

You can generally host where you would like. I offer hosting for my clients, but it isn't required. You will want to check with your designer to make sure that the programming they are using is compatible with your host. We use php for our sites, and nearly everyone can accommodate that.

3. What is an SSL certificate and do I need one?

You don't need one of these unless you plan on doing an e-commerce site and taking credit cards directly. If you are using paypal or equivalent, it isn't necessary.

4. What's the average cost for website design and do you have anyone you'd recommend that may be accepting new business in the next month or two?

Costs depend tremendously depending on what features you want. My company offers a wide variety of options and modules. I am available now and I'd be happy to give you a specific quote if you want to contact me off-list. Samira@bellydanceintensive.com or alisa@am-solutions.com

Oh...and Razia's site is Razia Dance

OK, I am a web designer by trade. (Go to Spark Digital Alchemy for more information about us).


1. If you have someone design your site, are you able to go and edit things like text/calendars/events as you need or do you have to go through them for every change?

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I use a program called Joomla for a number of my sites. Joomla is a content management suite - once I get the initial setup done, I can show you how to log in to the administrative backend and do updates. You can add articles, calendar events, photos, etc. You would have to be a bit computer literate, but it isn't too daunting. I set up a site for my bellydance troupe here and taught my isntructor how to use it, and she's been doing fine. My clients really like this because they have full control over their site.

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2. If I purchase hosting space from someplace like godaddy or yahoo or wherever, would the designer be able to launch everything on that space or would I need to pay for more space through them?

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With my business, we use 1and1.com - they are the best price that I have found. They charge $3.99/mo for basic hosting, and they charge $9 to register a domain.

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3. What is an SSL certificate and do I need one?

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An SSL certificate basically makes your website secure - it's a level of encryption between you and the person looking at your site. If you are accepting credit cards through your site, you need one. I had a client who wanted to have a form where people could put in their CC numbers and other personal data. I told her that she would absolutely want one - otherwise, there is no guarantee that some 3rd party listening in can't grab that data. I also, as a consumer, would never put any data like my CC number on a site that doesn't have a little padlock icon in the address bar.

An SSL cert, when I set it up about a year ago for my client, cost $50 and a little bit of emailing back and forth to get a few things verified.

Also, another way around that is good ole paypal - paypal will handle the transaction for you, securely, with no need to add an SSL cert. They take a percentage off the top. Depending on how many transactions you do, that might be the smarter way to go.

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4. What's the average cost for website design and do you have anyone you'd recommend that may be accepting new business in the next month or two?

I charge $60 an hour (and you get a full hour - I keep and give to my clients logs of every minute I spend) for web design. Debra Parmley - Author - Home took me about 12 hours to do. WhistleClean Inc took me about 10. The time involved includes things like initial setup, template research (finding the best starting template to modify to get you the best design), creating the layout, training (teaching you how to use it), manipulating things like photos, graphics, and text.

And I recommend me.

I hope this information helps!