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Frequently asked questions

Got some questions? To read the answer to each FAQ below, click on the text to reveal or hide the text.

What are your qualifications?

In terms of formal qualifications I have a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Internet Studies (Design Major) from Curtin University.

In addition I have been building and producing websites and undertaking print layout and design work on a professional level for approximately a decade.

I've been operating my own small business since 2001 and also have ten years experience of working with the not-for-profit sector.

How much will my project cost?

The best way to get an answer to this question is to fill in as much information as you can using my handy quote form. I will then get back to you with either a quote or an estimate for your job, depending upon its complexity and the information you provide.

Every project and every client is different. I firmly believe that 'off the shelf' web solutions with fixed pricing up front are unlikely to provide the best outcome in most situations. Chances are that you will end up with a site which isn't really going to work for you or stand the test of time.

My approach is to understand your needs and propose the best solution or range of solutions based upon the information provided. That way you'll end up with a website which is a much better fit to your specific situation.

How long will my project take?

Again, every client and every situation is different. Web projects can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months depending upon their complexity and how much of the groundwork is already done.

Print projects may have a shorter turnaround time, but each project will still vary depending on design needs, scale of the document, etc..

I can discuss timing with you at the point I provide a quote or estimate for your project which is based upon any deadline you may have, the complexity of your requirements and also my availability.

It is very important that web projects in particular are properly planned before building work starts. This helps to ensure that all requirements are pinned down and solutions are found to any issues. Time should always be allowed for this process.

The building phase also requires time - even for the most simple site - to create the design using HTML and CSS, move in all content, implement any required functionality and to thoroughly test the site.

Projects which need to be completed with a very tight turnaround time may attract an additional charge for the long hours which may be involved. Please discuss your situation with me to determine how feasible it is or fill in my quote form.

What guarantee or warranty do you offer for your work?

I guarantee that your site will tested to layout and function well in all major modern browsers which are current at the time the site is being built.

Any faults to layout or functionality which are found in these browsers or in general within six months of your website going live will be corrected by me within a reasonable timeframe free of charge. Any existing faults should become apparent by that time.

This does not include any issues arising from software needing to be updated or new browsers being released. It also does not include errors in content which you have originally provided or ongoing site changes.

How long can I expect my website to work for?

Notwithstanding very major changes to web browser functionality, a well-built website should continue to function well into the future. After all, there are still sites online now which have barely changed since the '90s and they still basically work, even if visually they look awful to modern web users!

Since that time web browsers have improved enormously and most modern browsers now adhere to established web standards, resulting in more consistent site layouts. This means that standards compliant site designs being built now should continue to layout as expected in modern browsers for years to come. And, yes, I work with standards compliant code.

However, it is a good idea to review your site in terms of its underlying code, visual design and functionality every few years to make sure that it is still working as well as it should in the current circumstances. Most sites can do with a bit of freshening up in at least a visual sense every four years or so, depending on your audience and circumstances.

When and how do I pay you?

You can pay me easily via direct deposit if you are in Australia. If not, you can pay me via Paypal but there may be an additional cost to cover fees.

Generally speaking I will require a deposit to be paid up front for your project. This ensures that my time is then booked in for your project and we both have a commitment to the work.

For some projects there may be agreed 'milestone payments' to be made during the project which should be made once certain dates or date ranges are reached, with the idea being that key project milestones are to be met at the same time by one or both parties.

Payment dates are generally agreed prior to commencing a project. These dates are a way to help keep your project on track in terms of timing for both parties.

Who will maintain my website?

All websites will require some sort of maintenance, whether just occasional content updates or very regular changes and upgrades to functionality.

Ongoing maintenance of a website is not included in the initial cost of building. Instead, how ongoing maintenance of your site will take place is something to be determined during the planning phase for your site.

You may opt to have a content management system (CMS) in place which will allow you or your staff to easily update content. Otheriwse I or someone else with web design/development skills will be able to make changes for you into the future if requested.

Note that even with a CMS, you will still generally need a web professional to keep the software up to date - again, I can help you with this into the future or you may opt to have someone else work with you on this.

Note that you will have access to the source files of your website, meaning that it is always up to you to determine or make changes to how ongoing maintenance will happen.

Will you host my website?

For the majority of sites the answer is 'yes'! For my clients I can provide a very reliable and easy to use website hosting package which is suited to your needs.

If you are not a client, then please get in touch to discuss your needs.

I have three basic packages available as standard, but can also create a customised solution for your project if required. The packages are:

• Basic hosting account - AU$168 per annum*
  • 100mb storage
  • 1gb bandwidth
  • Email accounts: 5
  • Databases: 1
• Mid-level one hosting account - AU$236 per annum*
  • 500mb storage
  • 5gb bandwidth
  • Email accounts: 20
  • Databases: 3
• Mid-level two hosting account - AU$294 per annum*
  • 1gb storage
  • 10gb bandwidth
  • Email accounts: 50
  • Databases: 6
• Top-level hosting account - AU$394 per annum*
  • 5,000mb storage
  • 50,000mb bandwidth
  • Email accounts: unlimited
  • Databases: unlimited

Let me know via the quote form if you wish to discuss organising hosting with me as part of your project. I can let you know which package I feel will best meet your site requirements.

*These prices are subject to change.

Will you register a domain name for me?

I can certainly help you to organise your domain registration, however, do not offer a service where you will register it through my business.

A domain name is often a critical asset for a business or organisation and I feel it is always best to organise it separately to your hosting, design and other web services. That way if anything might go wrong in those areas it will never impact upon your domain registration.

If you're looking to register a domain name going through a trustworthy and respected registrant business is very important. I recommend MelbourneIT for domains ending in .au or GoDaddy for other domain names.

Can you build me an online shop?

Yes! I run online shops myself and can advise you on the best way to go about this in your circumstances.

Generally speaking I will suggest using a web-based service such as Shopify to operate an online shop. This will mean monthly fees, but it will also mean that your shop will always be secure, functionality will constantly be improved behind the scenes and it will always up to date. There will also be an army of helpdesk staff to assist you with any problems.

In addition Shopify allows for full template modification, meaning I can work with you to make sure your shop will look exactly as you would like it to.

How can I accept online payments?

Generally I advise clients that Paypal is the best and easiest way to receive payments online Paypal is a very secure and highly trusted payment service and can offer protection to both sellers and buyers alike.

Payments can now very easily be made by credit card using Paypal's services without the person making the payment needing to sign up for a Paypal account. In addition people with a Paypal account can easily use it to make online payments.

I suggest you have a look at Paypal, including its fee structure, and determine if this will work for your business. If you think it will, then it's never too soon to set up a business account and have it verified. Note that there are no ongoing fees for having a Paypal account - just fees for payments received.

The alternative is setting up internet merchant accounts with various credit card companies (note that an internet merchant account is different to a regular merchant account). Then a payment gateway account will need to be set up for payments to be procesed through. There are likely to be fees for the merchant accounts as well as ongoing fees for the gateway. It will depend on the nature of your business as to whether the fees will work out lower than Paypal's fees.

What browsers will my website work in?

Cross-browser compatability is essential when it comes to web design. I always test in a variety of modern browsers to ensure everything lays out and works as expected.

Also I work with web standards compliant HTML and CSS which is much more likely to work seamlessly with all good modern browsers, meaning even those I don't generally test in are unlikely to throw up any issues.

The browsers I test in by default are Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8. I test these browsers in both Mac and PC versions if both platforms are supported. If you specifically need to support any other browsers then just ask.

Testing in Internet Explorer 6 is optional - see below for details.

Will my website work in IE6?

This is optional. If you feel it is important that your site function and layout in a reasonable manner in IE6 then I can work to ensure this is the case for an additional cost.

However, Internet Explorer 6 is now very old, badly non-compliant in terms of web standards and seriously lacking in terms of security. Testing and hacking code specially for this very difficult browser will generally add hours to a project, meaning additional costs.

Rather than inflicting these costs on everyone, you can decide whether you wish to incur these costs or not depending on your audience and needs.

What is SEO or search engine marketing?

SEO is 'search engine optimisation', also known as search engine marketing.

This involves a variety of steps which can be undertaken to help improve a website's ranking in search engines, such as identifying and making good use of keywords, building links to your sites from other sites and more.

Ranking better in a search engine means coming up earlier in search results pages and therefore in increased visibility and traffic - and that should mean benefits to your business!

Search engine marketing involves ensuring your site is built to be 'friendly' to search engine software, making best use of keywords that your customers or audience are likely to search for and also building a network of relevant links to your site across the web. It is always best to incorporate an SEO strategy from the ground up when building a website.

Who owns the copyright to a website or print project?

I'm glad you asked! This can be a difficult area when it comes to any form of design which is created on a freelance or contract basis as the copyright of any design elements will always belong to the freelancer by default.

However, for my work, once payment has been received in full I will issue you with a transferable licence to use the visual design elements I have created in perpetuity. Basically this means you will be able to use and modify the design elements in any way you choose as part of the ordinary operation of your business.

The limitation the licence will have is that you cannot resell or giveaway my work to be used by anyone else for another purpose. So, for instance, you couldn't upload my design to a website selling templates for use on other websites. You could, however, sell your business and transfer the licence to the new owners so they can continue to use it just as you have.

Any elements you have provided for use in your project will of course remain the property of the original copyright holder. This includes any content, photographs, artwork, etc. which you own yourself.

I guarantee that I will never re-use completed visual designs which I have created in another project, so you will never suddenly find I've built a site for a competitor which looks exactly like yours!