Answers to Common Questions
- What services does ArtBuilders offer?
- How much does a web site cost?
- What are the different types of websites?
- Benefits of hiring a "local" web designer?
- Can ArtBuilders host my website and/or email?
- What is an IP address or domain name?
- What's the difference between a website and web application?
- Can you show me a basic example of a web applications?
What services does ArtBuilders offer?
ArtBuilders is a full-service design & development house. We specialize in creating both static and interactive content that utilize the full potential of the Internet and other interactive digital mediums. Some of our specialties include:
- Website & e-commerce design and development
- Advanced web application programming
- Flash& AJAX programming
- Brand Development
- Print & packaging design
- Content creation
- Illustration
How much does a web site cost?
If you've searched the internet for design houses, you will find a wide range of prices. Some companies may have quoted you as little as $1,000 for a site while others pegged your project at between $7,000 and $10,000. Why the huge disparity? It largely comes down an understanding for what your actual needs are. There are a number of factors that dictate the ultimate cost of a web project. Some factors include:
- Special technology requirements (i.e. e-commerce software, Flash, AJAX, custom admin tools)
- The amount of content the developer is required to originate (textual, illustrative and photographic)
- Number of pages
- Marketing and SEO services needed
- Web hosting and domain name registration requirements
A good rule of thumb is to first determine what type of site you are planning to develop.
What are the different types of websites?
I often get asked by clients to clarify the different types of “websites”. Some time ago I decided that, though the lines may blur at times, there are really 3 types of online sites:
- Websites – These are primarily informational and usually contains some type of persuasive language. Examples include online brochures, white papers or splash pages.
- Social Sites – This encompasses a wide variety community-based sites that encourage a back & forth with the audience. Examples of these are blogs, forums, and photo sharing sites.
- Web Applications – This includes online communication and productivity tools. In a sense it is really web-based software that often is made up of forms and data grids. Examples include web-based spreadsheet programs, invoicing software, and email applications.
Benefits of hiring a "local" web designer?
You may be supervised to learn that there is very little benefit to restricting your hiring to local talent. Most web site projects these days require very little, if any, face to face meetings. Communications are handled using the Internet, email, and conference calls. This helps reduce overhead while speeding up the development process. Even very large scale web applications are often sourced to remote teams of developers (this sometimes includes a project manager who travels between locations as required).
Can ArtBuilders host my website and/or email?
The short answer is "yes". In general we do not host for profit but convenience. Having the site on our servers makes it easier for us to do routine maintenance and help you with any problems that may arise. However, this is not mandatory. If you would like us to host your website, drop us an email and we can either set it up or transfer your existing site.
What is an IP address or domain name?
- Every machine on the Internet has a unique identifying number or location address. This is referred to as an IP Address. A typical IP address looks like this: 111.32.61.137. When you have your website hosted, the host will assign this number.
- A domain name is the specific name and extension used for your site. For example: artbuilders.com. Although visitors could access your site using only its IP address (see above), to make it more memorable, a system has been set up that allows site owners to assign names to IP addresses. It's more flexible than using only an IP address in that if you ever transfer your site to another machine ("server") you can also transfer the domain name as well.To request a domain name you go to a domain name "registrar" or have you web designer handle it for you (as it may require quite a bit of searching in order to find an available domain name).Once it's secured, the web designer can associated it with the IP address or location of you hosted site.
What's the difference between a website and web application?
Websites are primarily informational and usually contain some type of persuasive language whereas web applications are more like a web-based software, communication or productivity tool.
Can you show me a basic example of a web applications?
Here is a simple data grid and form-based example of a web app.