0
I Need A Website – Part 3
Ok… You’ve made it to Part 3 (View Part 1 or Part 2)
Now what? Well, hopefully by now you’ve got yourself a new bright and shiny website. I hope its everything you thought it would be. As a designer, that’s our job – to make your vision a reality. Now that you’re off and running, I’d like to talk about some ongoing updates, maintenance and other costs you might find yourself with.
First, Updating. Hopefully as part of your design, you also have the ability to easily edit, add or delete content on your own. You don’t want to be paying a web designer’s rate to personalize your site – especially if you’re wanting to add to it often. If you’re reading this before getting started on your website, MAKE SURE YOU REQUEST THIS UP FRONT! Your needs may also change over time. Maybe 6 months down the road, you decide you’d like to sell items from your website. That is something you’ll need to hire your programmer / designer again to add those features.
Second, Maintenance. Over time, your site may require updates to keep it in compliance with other computer and web browser updates. Browsers are always updating and “trying” to recognize more standard code and programming language – that doesn’t always happen as planned though. Be prepared to have your site refreshed and maintained by a programmer or designer. I wouldn’t expect to do this more than maybe once a year.
Third, Renewals. As was mentioned in Part 1, your domain and hosting will need to be renewed each year (or you can pay for a few years in advance and receive a discount). Hopefully at this point, if your site is a business website, you’re already pulling in a profit and can afford to keep the website Updated, Maintained, and current on your Renewals.
I’m sure I’ve left some things out, but hopefully this is enough to get you started and informed enough to make an educated decision when beginning your next web project. Make your vision a reality. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or leave me a comment.
Thanks!
