FAQ

1. Why do I need to have a Website?
If you have a business and are not on the Internet, you're already at a severe disadvantage. Even if your website doesn't have a store, it gives you a 24 X 7 contact point to put your name, your products, and your services out there for potential customers. Every day it gets harder to find an ad or business card without a website address on it. Just as your customers expect you to have a mailing address and telephone number, they also expect you to have a website and email address. The Internet continues to grow, and it isn't going away. No other form of advertising offers you such a tremendous level of market access for less than $1.00 per day.
2. The Internet as we know it is being threatened.
When we log onto the Internet, we take a lot for granted. We assume we'll be able to access any Web site we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed, whether it's a corporate or mom-and-pop site. We assume that we can use any service we like - watching online video, listening to podcasts, sending instant messages - anytime we choose.

What makes all these assumptions possible is Network Neutrality.


3. What is the Web Development Process?
• Hire your Design team.
• Decide what you want your site to be called.
• Procure your Domain Name.
• Gather Requirements.
• Sign Agreements
• Make Hosting decision.
• Wait impatiently for the next meeting with your Designer.
• Test your site.
• Launch.

This is a simplified version of a very complex process. My favorite in depth (but fun) explanation of this process can be viewed here at Pingmag.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is that which identifies a computer or computers on the internet.

This name appears as a component of a Web site's URL (that's the address you type in at the top of the browser to get to the site), as in www.google.com. This type of domain name is also called a hostname or registered domain name.

These names are also used for other purposes in the Domain Name System (DNS), for example the special name which follows the @ sign in an email address.

How much does a domain name cost?

To have a Web site, you must own the domain name. Unlike the name of a person, there can only be one of the name you choose. There is only one google.com.

There is an cost for the name, which is only rented to you in one-year increments. The cost can vary from $1.99 to thousands of dollars. For instance, if you wanted to buy the name brittneyspears.com, you would have to bid for it. If another person or company already owns that real estate, they have to be willing to sell it, and you have to be willing to pay the going market rate.

Most of the time, however, the name you want is not already taken. Whispergrass will be happy to procure this name for you at a reasonable rate.

What is a Host?

A Web Host (much like a host in the regular world)gives your Web site a place to stay, waiting to be summoned to a computer screen. It consists of a server or group of servers (special computers). This space is also rented to you a varying rates. At Whispergrass we offer reasonably priced hosting through a reputable 24x7 monitored server.

What are Requirements and why are they necessary?

Requirements are the equivalent of the blueprints for your Web Site. By spending time at the beginning planning what you want built, you save time and money in the long run.

A competent Project Manager will find out, not only what color you want the page to be, but every detail of every page you want to have designed and built for you. When the requirement gathering phase is complete and the agreement is printed, the Designer and you sign and agree that the designer will build what is described in the Requirements for a specified amount of money.

It is important to spend as much time as possible getting the blueprint right, because any changes you want to have made will cost extra money. The objective is to get you what you want in the shortest amount of time for the least amount of money.

Glenda Glayzer will happily guide you through this process.

How is writing for the World Wide Web so different from other writing?

When we surf the Internet, we are impatient. Writing for the Web requires that we be to the point. But that isn't the most important thing. Google and other search engines find their targets based on "Keywords" within your content. Optimally, you want your page to come up near the top of the search. Unless you want to pay the advertising fee to be top dog, you need help with Keywords.

What is Knowledge Transfer and why is it important?

Yes, it's just what it appears to be, but not as easily accomplished as one would think.

When your blueprint is being executed for you, the only thing important to you is the way it looks and if it works. However, after the site is built and the Designer is paid and gone, what happens? What do you do when you want to change a word or a picture, or find something not working?

At Whispergrass, as we are building your Web Site, we are writing down the steps we take, documenting where all of the pages and pictures are on the server. At the end of the process, we will turn over to you a document explaining what we did and how your technical team can change your site.

Email: info@whispergrass.com
We look forward to meeting you.

Copyright Whispergrass Artworks 2007.  Site designed and hosted by the cooperative at Whispergrass.