What do all the jargon and buzzwords associated with web sites mean?

There are a lot of strange phrases used in web design, but we'll try and de-mistify some of it for you...

Domain: This is the address where your web site lives, it will usually start with 'http://www. .....whatever. Every web site needs a domain just like every person needs somewhere to live; if you don't have an address, nobody can find you, and its the same with web sites.

Server: Makes you think of a waitress, doesn't it? Well, that's not too far wide of the mark, actually; a server is a very powerful computer which serves up web pages to internet users like you and me. Each part of the address you type to reach a web page narrows down the location of the server, and then finds the right site on the right server. Then it sends the whole package over to your computer, wherever you are in the world.

Hosting: This is what servers do, they host web sites. Its rather like you renting a room in your house to someone else; if you did that you would be hosting them.

Home Page: Its like the front door of your house; the place where you get in and see what's inside. Every web site needs a 'home' page, and the address of this page is where people will be directed to when they click on a link to your web site.

SEO: Stands for Search Engine Optimisation, and is exactly what it suggests. It is estimated that around 90% of all web sites are invisible to search engines because they are not optimised. SEO is the practise of making your web site visible to the search engines, which will ensure that when somebody types in a search for a service that your company offers, they will find you right up there near the top of the page!
As we said earlier, there is no way to guarantee that you will always be king of the heap right at the top of the search list, but good SEO will make sure that you are always in a prominent position in a search listing.

Flash: Movies! A lot of web sites feature things that move on the screen; slide shows of changing images, things that change when you point your mouse at them etc. A common application for making these things happen is called 'Flash', which uses a special language called 'ActionScript'. Some Webwizards sites use flash to enhance the look and feel of the site, and to make the user's experience more rewarding. All you need to be able to see these effects is a Flash Player, which most computers already have; if your doesn't, you can download one free from www.adobe.com

What do the little 'W3C' logos at the bottom of the pages mean?

Oh, those? They are a mark of quality which certifies that the page you are looking at meets the standards of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They aren't just little pictures that anyone could insert into a web page, they are actually links to a live testing server which will check the page each time you click on them.
Go ahead and give it a try, click on one of the icons and you will see a certificate showing that there are no errors on the page that you clicked from. Webwizards ensures that its sites are error free and are fully validated; this means that your web site will display correctly in any web browser and will not cause any malfunctions to your computer or browser.
Error free web sites also perform better in search engines, its just another of those 1001 SEO jobs mentioned earlier!

Here's something you could try: click on the XHTML icon at the bottom of this page, and after you have seen the certificate for this page, try typing or pasting the addresses of some of your favourite web sites into the address field and then click the 'validate' button.
You will be amazed at how many web sites fail these validation checks !

Why do I need a web designer if I can do this myself?

Good question! Yes, you can publish something online, almost anyone can nowadays; its really not that difficult anymore, but how good will it be?
Do you have the knowledge and talent to build something that will present your business in a professional manner? A badly written web site may actually do more damage to your business than not having a web site at all !
A properly authored web site will perform effectively in searches for the services that your business offers; the importance of good SEO (search engine optimisation) cannot be underestimated!
Using the services of an under-qualified amateur can be hugely damaging to your website, an example if which can be seen here. Its also worth verifying any recommendations or testimonials, since these are likely to be faked in an attempt to part you from your money.

What's wrong with building my own web site?

There are three big reasons that web sites fail to perform properly, and could even damage your business if they are not built correctly:
Doing it yourself: Because 'I know a bit about it, and after all, how hard can it be?'
Getting a friend to do it: Because I know someone who knows a bit about web design, and 'he's a mate and won't cost much'.
Getting a friend's kid to do it: Because he's learning it at school and 'he knows what he's doing'.
Believe it or not, real people with real businesses actually entrust their livlihood to people like this!

I'm a small business, I really can't afford my own web site

A professionally designed and built web site can cost a lot less than you think!
A site containing 5 pages would cost around £350, and could feature a custom designed logo and flash animation, if necessary.
If that's still too expensive, then let's think smaller; a single page 'business card' web site could be online and getting your business maximum web exposure for around £100 !
You will never know until you ask, so why not contact Webwizards for a free quotation today?

Can you promise to get my web site to the top of the Google pages?

The short answer is 'No'.
Nobody can promise the top slot on a Google page, because that service is not theirs to sell. However, Webwizards will optimise your web site for the best possible performance in search engine results. There are 1001 things which can enhance your chances of rating higher than your competitors, and part of our service is to ensure that your web site will perform as well as possible. We re-visit all of our client's web sites regularly to check on their performance and make any adjustments we think will help them to perform even better.
Beware of SEO companies who promise to put you at the top of the Google searches, they're out to rip you off!

If you build my web site, will I be locked into a long term contract?

Not if you don't want to be, no.
Webwizards believe in giving you the freedom to decide how your web site is managed. If you want us to continue to look after your site and improve its performance in line with changes to the search engine indexing methods, we are happy to do that for you.
However, if you would prefer to take care of these things yourself, that's fine too. We are always available to advise you if you run into difficulties, but its your web site and you can decide how it should be managed.

Once I get a web site, how do I get it online?

Webwizards will arrange for your preferred domain to be registered and will host the site for you on our own servers.
If you already have a domain, that's fine too, we will upload your new site to your existing domain for you. We will also maintain your new site, or make alterations to an existing site.

Who decides what my web site will look like?

You do!
Webwizards will design whatever you want, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination! Right at the start of the consultation process, we will ask you to show us some web sites that you like, and some that you dislike. Once you have told us why you like and dislike certain things, we will get a clear picture of what you want your web site to look like. From there, the development process begins and your new web site will start to take shape according to your specifications.