Q: How do I choose the right web designer?

The right web designer for one businesses might not be the right web designer for another business. Not every web designer or web design agency is the same, but whatever their level of skills, knowledge or experience, one of the most important aspects of selecting a web designer is to find one with good communication skills. Look for a web designer who seeks to understand your business or goals, and can provide the solution you need, including ongoing support.

Question 1

How much does a website cost to build and maintain?

Accepted Answer

Because the requirements for each business and what they need from their websites differ, it is difficult to provide an accurate cost for a bespoke website without prior discussion. To guess the cost could easily lead to over or under pricing. However, some web designers and agencies offer fixed price web design packages which clearly list what they include for a set price.

Question 2

How much will it cost to update my website?

Accepted Answer

The cost to update your website will depend on what that update is, how simple or compext it is, and also how much impact it has on other ascpect of the website. Simple content updates can often be carried out for free, but if you require a new web page, a new section, or functional changes, those changes can be so varied that it's difficult to put an average cost to them without more information.

Question 3

Why are some websites much cheaper that others?

Accepted Answer

You'll find plenty of web designers, especially those who are new and inexperienced, will happily produce websites for very little money. This sounds great for the buyer, but most cheap websites are built using pre-built templates which help to keep the costs down, but they're usually very inflexible, and compromise on quality, reliability, SEO effectiveness, and their ability to load and display correctly on mobile devices.

Question 4

Is it worth saving money on a cheap website?

Accepted Answer

Cheap websites could be the perfect solution for many small businesses, but they can have hidden costs and consequences. Cheap website designers are often novices with limited technical ability, and their capacity and willingness to handle updates might leave you wishing that you had chosen a more professional web designer to entrust with your website.

Question 5

What payment methods do you accept for building websites?

Accepted Answer

The preferred method of payment is direct bank transfer. Details will be provided when an invoice is submitted. Alternatively you can pay by PayPal.

Question 6

Can I pay for my website in installments?

Accepted Answer

To help with making larger projects more affordable, some web designers or agencies are willing to offer split payment plan, whereby a deposit can be paid upfront, and the balance paid in installments.

Question 7

What is the process when having a website built?

Accepted Answer

The web design process can vary from one web designer or agency to the next. But the process should at least include:

Initial and detailed discussions about requirements, budget, etc.
Discussions about layout, styling, etc
Content preparation.
Progress and status updates during the design, build and testing stages.
Signing off (often done at different stages of the process).
Go live.
Post launch testing (incl. mobile and desktop)
Search engine submission and other post launch actions

Question 8

How long does it take to build a website?

Accepted Answer

Websites for the average small to medium size business can typically take between 1 and 8 weeks to produce. There are many factors such as size, purpose, features and functionality which make it impossible to accurately how long a website should take to build.

Question 9

How long will it take to complete the website development process?

Accepted Answer

The time it takes to complete a website depends on various factors such as the complexity of the design, the number of pages, styling, features, functionality, and the availability of content. Typically, a simple website can be completed in anything from a few days or weeks, whist larger more complex projects may take several months.

Question 10

How do I choose the right web designer?

Accepted Answer

The right web designer for one businesses might not be the right web designer for another business. Not every web designer or web design agency is the same, but whatever their level of skills, knowledge or experience, one of the most important aspects of selecting a web designer is to find one with good communication skills. Look for a web designer who seeks to understand your business or goals, and can provide the solution you need, including ongoing support.

Question 11

Can a website be transferred to a different web designer?

Accepted Answer

If ever you need to have your website managed by a different web designer, it should be a straightforward process provided that your existing and new web designer cooperate and actually know what they're doing. It should be possible for websites to be backed up and transferred to another web designer, but be aware that not all web designers can code, and some designers exclusively use WordPress, Wix, and other platforms.

Question 12

Why are some web designers more expensive than others?

Accepted Answer

Some web designers, especially those who are new and inexperienced, feel that the only way to get business is to be the cheapest. Unfortunately to be the cheapest often mean that corners are cut on quality, service, features, and attention to detail. That would certainly save you money, but you're unlikely to be happy with the results.

Question 13

Do cheap web designers provide good value?

Accepted Answer

Understandably you won't want to spend more money than you have to, but it could be wise to avoid entrusting the design and management of your website to inexperienced or part time web designers who can only attract business by being the cheapest. Unfortunately to be the cheapest often mean that corners are cut on quality, service, features, and attention to detail. That would save you money, but you're unlikely to be happy with the results.

Question 14

Will my website work properly on a mobile phone?

Accepted Answer

Provided that your website has been designed to be responsive, it should work correctly on a range of screen sizes and devices, from mobile devices to large desktop monitors.

Question 15

How will I know that my website will work properly on mobile phones?

Accepted Answer

Provided that your website has been designed to be responsive, it should work correctly on all screen sizes and devices, from mobile devices to large desktop monitors.

Question 16

What is a responsive website?

Accepted Answer

A responsive website is a website which has been designed to display and function correctly on a range of screen sizes and devices, from mobile devices to large desktop monitors.

Question 17

Will my website be mobile-friendly and responsive?

Accepted Answer

Because mobile phone users account for more than two thirds of people using the internet, making your website mobile-friendly and responsive is essential, and should come as standard with most web designers.

Question 18

Are all websites responsive?

Accepted Answer

A Responsive Website is a website which is designed to work on all screen sizes and devices. Because of the increasing numbers of people who use their smartphones to access the internet, it makes sense that all websites should be made to be responsive. However, some websites which are intended to be responsive have not been correctly designed for use on mobile devices. This is usually due to an oversight or lack of experience of the web designer.

Question 19

Does my website have to be built using WordPress?

Accepted Answer

No, your website doesn't have to be built using WordPress. There are many other options such as Wix, SquareSpace and other website builders. Website builders such as WordPress and can be really good to get to online cheaply, and even allow you to make some of the updates to the website yourself. But there can be limitations, especially in the hands of novice web designers who use WordPress. Many of their websites can be slow on mobile phones, and depending on your needs and what you want to achieve with your website, you might find those limitations can hold you back.

Question 20

What are the pros and cons of a WordPress website?

Accepted Answer

Website builders such as WordPress can be really good to get to you online cheaply, and even allow you to make some of the updates to the website yourself. But there can be limitations, especially in the hands of novice web designers who use WordPress. Many of their websites can be slow, especially on mobile phones. You might find some of those limitations hold you and your business back, so it is therefore worth understanding some of the pros and cons of WordPress before committing.

Question 21

Does TargaWeb use WordPress?

Accepted Answer

No, TargaWeb doesn't use WordPress. There was a conscious decision NOT to use WordPress for a number of reasons, largely based on many years of design and development experience and the desire to offer websites which are more flexible and scalable.

Question 22

Who is responsible for writing my website content?

Accepted Answer

Some people feel that the web designer should produce the content as part of the deal. In reality, you're likely to be more of an expert is your business than your web designer, so it makes sense for you to produce your website content. However, if you don't have the ability to create adequate content for your website, most good web designers can help. The important thing is that you approve your website content before it goes live. After all, it will be your business that the website represents.

Question 23

How much content do I need to create for my website?

Accepted Answer

The amount of content you need for your website will depend on the type of business you have, and the services or products you offer. Think of what a customer wants or expects when they arrive on your website. Do they want to buy a product, find a service, research a subject, make comparisons, be educated or entertained? Once you have a clear idea of why people would come to your website, then ask how easy it is for them to find what they're looking for. Don't add more content than you need, but don't compromise on important information either.

Question 24

How can I register my own domain name?

Accepted Answer

Registering a domain is quite easy. Most hosting companies have a facility which will enable you to search for the availability of your intended domain, and they will return a list of results, prices and alternative suggestions.

Question 25

How can I find out when my domain name expires?

Accepted Answer

You usually have two easy options to find out when your domain expires: (1) Your web designer or the web agency you use should be able to tell you, so just ask. (2) You can go to 'https://who.is/' and enter your domain name in the search box. Amongst other information displayed, you should find the expiry date under the 'Important Dates' section.

Question 26

Can you help with domain registration and hosting for my website?

Accepted Answer

Yes, TargaWeb can assist you with domain registration and recommend reliable web hosting services suitable for your needs. We can also handle the setup and configuration of your domain and hosting, ensuring a smooth transition to your new website.

Question 27

Is my website secure?

Accepted Answer

If you can see a locked padlock symbol in your browser's address bar, or you can see that your web address (your URL) uses https instead of http then your website is secure.

Question 28

What does SSL mean?

Accepted Answer

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. Having a valid SSL Certificate for your website will provide that level of security you need, and will allow your web address to use https instead of http

Question 29

Does my website need a Privacy Policy page?

Accepted Answer

It is a legal requirement that any business which processes personal data must have a privacy policy. If you are a website owner you will need to provide access to a copy of your privacy policy at the time you collect people's personal information. If your website does not have a privacy policy page, speak with your web designer. Even if your web designer insists that you do not need one, if you capture and process personal data it will be your responsibility to provide a privacy policy.

Question 30

What is GDPR?

Accepted Answer

GDPR stands for (General Data Protection Regulation) and was introduced on May 25 2018 by the European Union (EU) to which is is a set of rules that govern how organisations handle personal data individuals within the EU.

Question 31

Can I be spammed through the contact form on my website?

Accepted Answer

There are some very unscrupulous people who will try to spam and scam any target they choose, whether it's a bank, social media platform, clone an account, or target manipulate users phones or laptops. However, your web designer can take steps to reduce spam and malicious communication by people who attempt to send things through web forms which could be potentially harmful. These include detection of malicious, obscene or offensive content, cross site scripting (XSS) prevention, etc.

Question 32

What security do you have on your contact forms?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the number of automated form submissions, TargaWeb uses bespoke method which generates two random numbers which the user simply needs to add and submit the answer in a form field before the form can be submitted. The form will only be able to be submitted if the correct answer has been entered. TargaWeb has also applied steps to handle the submission of maliscious content, links or scripts. This aims to identify and treat links, prevent certain characters and code from being submitted, and filter out obscene language.

Question 33

What is Cross Site Scripting (XSS)?

Accepted Answer

Cross site scripting, also known as XSS, refers to malicious activity carried out by unscrupulous visitors to a website adding JavaScript to form fields or search boxes.

This JavaScript can subsequently cause things to happen on the user's phone or computer, usually with harmful intent.

Question 34

How long does it take for SEO updates to take effect?

Accepted Answer

SEO efforts, when done correctly and methodically, should be able to show measurable results within a 4 to 12 month period. Your website needs time to establish itself, and search engines will need to determine how well your website and the individual pages it contains compares to the vast number of websites already out there and currently ranking for keywords that you intend to rank for. So you'll need patience, but also an SEO strategy.

Question 35

Can you get my website to the top in Google search results?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, it can be quite easy to get you to the top in Google, especially if people are specifically searching for your business name. But if people are searching for services in a specific town, city or area such as 'plumber in london' or 'electrician in Derby' the effort needed to get you to the top of those searches is considerably more, and of course comes with no guarantees.

Question 36

If SEO needs patience how does Google display the latest news and sports?

Accepted Answer

Google has a way of categorising certain search topics and search terms, and it can make use of different features based on industry and, in the above examples, news and sport. This special ranking feature is called QDF, which stands for Query Deserves Freshness and aims to serve up to date information in its search results.

Question 37

What does SERPs mean for search engine results?

Accepted Answer

SERPs simply means Search Engine Results Pages. SERPs is a term which you may or may not have come across, but you use them a lot... probably every day. Run a search on Google and then look at the list of search results displayed on the pages in front of you. Those are the SERPs!

Question 38

How can I make my website more customer focused?

Accepted Answer

It is a common mistake for many businesses is to think that every person is a potential customer. In some cases that may be true, but in most cases it is worth businesses targeting narrower groups or types of people. This may be based on age, sex, location, interests, habits, people with children, people with elderly relatives, pet owners, cyclists, car owners, people going abroad, etc. By knowing who your target audience is, you should then ask yourself what do they need or want from a visit to your website?

Question 39

How can I make my website more user friendly

Accepted Answer

By knowing who your target audience is, you should ask yourself what do they need or want from a visit to your website? Most business owners are 'too close' to their website to have a truly objective opinion, so a simple suggestion is to ask friends or family to play the role of a potential customer visiting your website, and give you their honest opinion about their experience.

Question 40

Can you help with my social media activity?

Accepted Answer

Whilst Targa doesn't directly handle social media for clients, we can link to your social media pages, and, if required, embed specific postings onto your website.

Question 41

Can I have my own business email address?

Accepted Answer

If you're asking if you can have an email address based on your domain name, sure. The general feeling is that an email address based on your domain name looks more professional than, say, a Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail email address.

Question 42

How do I access up a business email on my computer?

Accepted Answer

Many computers provide a simple ways access to their Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo emails. However, for email addresses which are based on your domain name, there are some additional details required, because those emails need to be sent and received through via your hosting company. You're like to need the specific IMAP or POP3 settings for sending a receiving emails, and the 'port' numbers, such as 993 for outgoing emails, and 465 for incoming emails. If in doubt, your web designer should be able to help

Question 43

What does front end web development mean?

Accepted Answer

A front end web developer is typically responsible for the visual aspects of the website that the user sees and interacts with. Their areas of expertise in designing and laying out web pages are likely to include HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Question 44

What is the difference between front end and back end developers?

Accepted Answer

Front end developers are typically responsible for the visual aspects of a website that the user sees and interacts with. On the other hand back end developers are more likely to be involved with the coding the dynamic elements of the website which allow users to have a personal experience based on their type, location, selections made, and many other factors which could result in specific messaging and features being displayed during their visit to the website.

Question 45

What would happen if my web designer stops trading?

Accepted Answer

What happens if your web designer stops training will depend on that web designer. For your peace of mind, try to find the answer to that question before you commit to a specific web designer or agency. Bear mind that some businesses suddenly cease trading without giving their clients any prior notice, so it would be wise if your chosen web designer has routine safeguards in place, such as providing you with a monthly backup of your website in case of an emergency.

Question 46

Will my website be backed up in case of a problem?

Accepted Answer

Your website should always be backed up. It will obviously exist on the hosting server, but the latest version will always be backed up separately in case anything goes wrong.

Question 47

Can I have a copy of my website on request?

Accepted Answer

Being provided with a copy of your website on demand will depend on your web designer, and their willingness or ability to send you a copy of your website. In some cases there might be something in the contract that you have with your web designer or web design agency which states that they own the website. In that case, despite what you might have paid them for the design, development and upkeep of your website, they are not contractually obliged to send you a copy.

Question 48

Minimum viable product - What does MVP mean?

Accepted Answer

MVP stands for minimum viable product. In website terms this could apply to a large project which will take a long time to build, but very often the company cannot wait before every requirement has been implemented and all fine tuning has been done. So the initial release will usually be considered with the MVP in mind, and subsequent releases could expand or enhance the features and functionality of what was delivered with that initial release.

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Your Questions Answered

Questions about website costs

How much does a website cost to build and maintain?

How much will it cost to update my website?

Why are some websites much cheaper that others?

Is it worth saving money on a cheap website?

Questions about fixed price websites

What are the benefits of a fixed price website?

How can I get a website built for a fixed price?

What is the cost of a fixed price website?

Who can build a website at a fixed price?

Questions about the web design process

What is the process when having a website built?

How long does it take to build a website?

How long will it take to complete the website development process?

Questions about web designers

How do I choose the right web designer?

Can a website be transferred to a different web designer?

Why are some web designers more expensive than others?

Do cheap web designers provide good value?

Questions about ongoing support

What ongoing support and maintenance services do you offer for my website?

Questions about websites on mobile

Will my website work properly on a mobile phone?

How will I know that my website will work properly on mobile phones?

What is a responsive website?

Will my website be mobile-friendly and responsive?

Are all websites responsive?

Questions about wordpress websites

Does my website have to be built using WordPress?

What are the pros and cons of a WordPress website?

Does TargaWeb use WordPress?

Questions about website content

Who is responsible for writing my website content?

How much content do I need to create for my website?

Questions about website content done for you

Can I have a website built from scratch, including all the content?

Can I hire a web designer who also creates the website content?

How much does it cost to get a website designed with content included?

Can a web designer write the content for my website?

Can you recommend a content writer for my website?

Questions about hosting and domains