6 Questions You Need to Ask When You Want a New Website
Are you thinking about a new website but have a couple questions or feel totally lost when it comes to website terminology and lingo? Don't worry, that's totally normal! In this post I'm going to answer six common questions people ask before hiring me.
Why do you exclusively design on Squarespace (rather than WordPress, Wix, etc.)?
There are so many benefits to using Squarespace. Not only does the platform provide professional, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly templates but Squarespace also includes features that usually come at additional costs on other platforms such as SSL security, various e-commerce options, and blogs with unlimited bandwidth and storage. Another plus? Once the site is launched you can update and maintain content without having any coding knowledge!
What’s the difference between my hosting & domain name? Do I need both?
Your domain name is your URL, so for example my domain name is designingtherow.com. Your hosting is the online space where your website lives.
The analogy I always use is this: imagine hosting as your land/property and the domain name as your house. Both serve different purposes but yes, you must have both to have a functioning website!
I have a GoDaddy / Network Soltuions / etc. account already.
Great! Squarespace functions as a hosting service. So, what we will do is replace your hosting plan with Squarespace (if you work with me, you'll get 20% off Squarespace pricing) and “point” your domain to Squarespace (aka stop paying for your current hosting and leave your domain name where it is and I’ll take care of connecting it to your new website for you).
I want to sell products/services through my new website, what do I need to know?
Squarespace connects to Stripe and PayPal to accept online payments. I highly recommend Stripe because it allows your customers to experience a branded and seamless checkout experience. PayPal on the other hand forces customers to have or create a PayPal account in order to complete purchases. When you use Squarespace’s e-commerce function all orders are easily accessible through the backend of the website. From there you can find order details, refund customers, mark orders as fulfilled, and add tracking numbers.
What’s your process and turnaround time?
I’ll work as fast as you do! Meaning, I can’t create a website without your vision and content. Once your contract is signed and your deposit is made, I will invite you to a shared Google Drive folder and we will start putting together your sitemap. A sitemap is a list of the pages you want in your navigation and on your site. Once you are clear on your sitemap, it’s time to get your content ready. That means adding your logo, images, bio, links, product descriptions and pricing, etc. to the Drive folder. Average turnaround time ranges anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on the complexity of the website.
How much will this cost?
I understand that everyone has different needs when it comes to websites! For that reason I have various packages designed to let you select one for the site you have in mind. A deposit of half the final cost is due with the signed contract and the other half 1 month later/at website launch (whichever comes first). If for any reason you are unhappy and decide not to launch your site with Designing the Row, your deposit will be refunded 100%.
Designing the Row is not responsible for your Squarespace or domain name fees. Those fees will be your commitment and are best to stay in your name and full control anyway.
