Frequently Asked Questions of Web Developers
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Build My Own Website or Hire a Professional?
Even though “should I build my own website” isn’t a frequently asked question that we get very often, we believe it is the number one question that most of our clients ask of themselves when considering a website for their business.
Building a static website a may not be as complex as it once was (and all of the high-priced designers gasped). Nowadays, with the availability of ready-made templates and user-friendly drag-and-drop web builders like our WebDawg Builder, anyone can create and publish their own website with a little upfront investment and some trial and error. However, successfully launching a website involves more than just building it.
Here are some essential components that go into publishing a successful website:
- API services
- Google Search Console
- Google Business Manager
- XML sitemaps
- Analytics, along with other necessary integrations for a modern website
- SMTP Mail connectivity
While it’s true that many of these tasks can be accomplished with some research and effort, it’s important to consider the time, frustration, and potential mistakes that can arise from handling them yourself. As a small business owner, spare time is often a luxury you can’t afford.
Creating a website is like constructing a house; it usually ends up being more costly than initially planned. While the web development aspect can be set up for free or at a low cost, the “free” themes and plugins often come with limitations, requiring additional purchases to access full functionality. Premium themes, plugins, licensed images, and other extras may be necessary to achieve the desired results.
Moreover, optimizing your website for search engines like Google and Bing is crucial for its visibility. This involves various tasks, including web hosting, DNS and domain management, SEO optimization, schema markup, server speed optimization through caching, CSS and HTML validation, and more. Integration with social media platforms and Google My Business is also important for a comprehensive online presence.
Real Frequently Asked Questions 🙂
Our hosting and emergency services are available 24/7. Our business hours are 9 AM – 5PM.
Yes! We love it when our clients take control of their website and learn to manage it on their own. We’ll provide you with a set of comprehensive video tutorials to help you learn your way around, as well provide you with a training session to help get you on your way. We also offer professional website management services if you’d rather we manage it. We can affordably provide on-going support for all of our clients.
Usually it is the client who writes the copy. After all, you are the expert on your business, so it’s usually best if it comes from you. Don’t worry if you’re not a great writer, North Georgia Web is owned by a master librarian, who will edit anything you write to make sure you look and sound like the expert that you are. We also offer professional copy-writing services for an additional cost.
No, but for the most part, yes. The simple truth is: WordPress is the best solution for well over 95% of the clients that we interview. WordPress websites, by far, offer our clients the highest success rates, lowest design costs and the easiest transition into self management.
This being said, NGW is a full service design company that can do custom builds that are hand-coded or using Bootstrap, ColdFusion, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, OpenCart, PrestaShop, Shopify, CS-Cart and more. If you are interested in an alternatively coded website, please call us at 706-972-7737.
The horrible answer: It Depends on the project’s scope and depth.
The long answer: Our prices depend on so many factors, it’s impossible to say in one sentence. We do know this one fact about our web design prices, nobody has ever beat our prices when we are giving out bids. That day may come, but as of 2023 it hasn’t.
To get a better idea of the cost of what you want to build, give us a quick phone call. We’ll ask you a few questions about the nature of the site, what sort of interactivity the site will have, your graphic design needs, etc. Then we’ll be able to give you a ballpark figure.
We have been building and marketing websites since 2008. First we designed and marketed our own websites through our company Aunica Media. In 2012 we sold Aunica Media and semi-retired in Ellijay Georgia. So we have been offering professional web services for hire since late 2012.
Yes, there are a few here. We are happy to give you more references when we speak.
Yes. We can handle all phases of web development.
What a great question! We offer two options for website design: custom-built and template designs. Our template designs are primarily used for our website leasing programs, while all other projects involve custom-built websites. The key concern for many of our customers is whether their website will have a unique look and feel. The answer, regardless of the design approach chosen, is yes.
Now, let’s talk about the reality of most “custom-designed” websites. As designers, we utilize pre-designed code libraries such as Bootstrap, JavaScript, and others. These libraries contain a wide range of ready-made elements like boxes, sliders, and more. It’s a cost-effective and practical approach that allows us to keep our production costs reasonable and remain competitive.
Unless your website requires a truly revolutionary design with unique functionalities or data handling, it’s important to understand that most websites are created by assembling prebuilt snippets and wireframes. However, the areas where genuine uniqueness shines in custom-built websites are the media, artwork, and written content. These elements are carefully crafted to make your website stand out.”
Absolutely! In fact if you do a Google search right now for “web design in Ellijay” you will see that our search results are spot-on. We can do the same type of search engine optimization for you and your business; and for less money than the competition.
When we develop your website, we want to be clear that once we hand it off to you, it becomes your responsibility. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Now, this may sound blunt, but it’s the reality for almost every web designer out there, except for a few exceptions like us. At NGW, we value transparency and ensure that our customers are aware of this right from the start.
Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: the cost of managing and updating your website. This is where we truly outshine the competition!
Since we take care of hosting, domains, and website design, we are able to offer management packages that are a perfect fit for 80% of the websites we build, all for just $59 per month. (Please note that our pricing may have changed, so be sure to check our website management packages here.)
When you choose us to maintain your website, you’ll enjoy free hosting, free domain registration, and free updates. If you compare our offerings with others in the market, you’ll see that we surpass the competition in this regard.
For leased websites (template websites) the average turn around is 2 weeks. For custom websites the average is 6 weeks. All of the above answers are wrong, because all websites are different and our workloads change frequently. However, they are pretty close.
At NGW, we don’t adhere to a strict “formal” revision policy like many other web design studios. Our approach is simple: we are highly motivated to execute your vision precisely as you desire. In fact, our policy is straightforward – we insist that you only make payment once you are completely satisfied. There’s no need for a complex policy when our goal is for you to be absolutely thrilled with your website, while also ensuring we receive fair compensation. It’s a win-win combination that drives our commitment to excellence.
