“I want a website, where do I start?” If this is you, read further.

“I want a website, where do I start?” is a common question. Getting a website up and running can be a daunting experience, but it really doesn’t have to be. Most people get overwhelmed when they ask for a website but then get asked about a domain, hosting, pages, SSL and the list goes on… In this article, we would like to clear all that out and explain all the different aspects of getting a website up and running.

What do I need?

Let’s dive into these different necessities, what they are, why you need them, and how you get them:

• Domain
• Hosting provider
• Designer and Developer
• SSL – Optional, but Highly recommended.

Domain

What is a Domain:

A domain or domain name is a user-friendly name that is associated with a numerical address of where to find your files on the internet. See our post What is a domain.

Why you need a Domain:

This will be the network address of where on the internet your website will be.

How do you get a Domain:

You can buy a domain at a number of websites, they cost between R80 and R265 for a common extension, but normally the company that does your website designing and development will be able to secure one on your behalf.

Note: Don’t stress, we got you…

Hosting

What is Hosting:

Hosting is a device, usually a server that will store the physical website and email files. This is where all the emails and website files will be saved.

Why you need Hosting:

This one is self-explanatory, your files will be saved here.

 How do you get Hosting:

Again, you can order hosting from a number of providers online. This is billed monthly. Again, your website development company, such as Vital Dev (Pty) Ltd., will be able to provide hosting for your website.

Note: So that is a domain, AND hosting from my website company, not bad!

 

Designers and Developers

What is a Designer and Developer:

The designer and developer, often the same person, but not the same job. The web designer is the person to design your website. They will design the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX), and the developer will turn the designer’s art into a real website. To learn more on the difference between the two, read this article: The Difference between Web Design & Web Development

Why you need a Designer and Developer:

You need a website, right? And there are skilled professionals that can take these processes off your hands.

How do you get a Designer and Developer:

There are a LOT of website designers and developers out there. One Facebook post on a group requesting these services and you will get 100s of comments full of capable developers, some cheap, some expensive. The key is to find the right company for your business needs. A website is not as simple as buying a pair of socks i.e. one size fits all. A website is often the first impression that potential clients have of your company, make sure it’s impressive!

This is why you need someone trustworthy and someone that will stick around. You will need changes after the website has gone live (even if you think you won’t… you will…)

Make sure that the company caters for this kind of work after the site has gone live, and also caters for any interruptions or crashes that the website might have (This happens! You can’t ignore it, to just save a few bucks)

Another thing to consider is backups. How many backups does your developer make during a month? in what frequency? These things are super important when choosing a website design and development company. To read more about this, go check out our post about Can I build my own website?

SSL Certificate

What is an SSL Certificate:

Why you need an SSL Certificate:

We highly recommend an SSL. This is like car insurance, when all is well you don’t want to pay until your car gets totaled, then you wish you had one…

 How do you get an SSL Certificate:

An SSL can be bought at most hosting providers, and they range anything from R230 up to R3600. Your development company should also be able to generate and install your SSL on your domain.

Note: Our packages include SSL Certificates!

I thought you said not to worry? this is a LOT of info…

Yes, it is a lot of info, because in this article we aim to educate you on all the different aspects of what you need, and why you need it to get a website up and running. In conclusion, if you want a website, and you contact us using the contact form below, we will do the following:

• Check availability and register a domain for you
• Host your website and emails on a monthly basis
• Create all the email addresses that your heart desires
• Design a website for you
• Develop this website for you
• Do monthly backups
• Give you a dedicated amount of hours per month to allow for changes
• And generate and install an SSL on your domain (Note: Our 1 Page website package excludes an SSL)

So what we are trying to say is it is really nothing to worry about, we will do the heavy lifting for you. You can just sit back and relax, knowing that you have skilled designers and developers getting your website ready for you!

If you want more info, feel free to fill in the form below and we will get back to you ASAP!