About Websites and Webmaster Services


Q: I think I need a website. How much does one cost?
A: Websites come in all shapes and sizes. Complex, elaborate websites can cost many thousands of dollars, but simple ones can be surprisingly affordable.

One important consideration is whether you want to build the website yourself, or have it custom-built for you.

The simplest custom-built websites from FolkDude Creative Services have a minimum up-front cost of $300, plus a minimum monthly maintenance fee of $30 per month.

Or, with the products and services available through FolkDude Web Services, you can actually create and maintain your own website for as little as $9.95 a month!


Q: What's the difference between a do-it-yourself website and a custom-built website?
A:
Imagine that you wanted to build a deck onto the back of your house. You could choose to design the deck yourself, buy all of the necessary lumber and hardware, then do all of the measuring, cutting, assembly, and finishing work with your own hands – or you could simply hire a professional to do the whole job for you. The choice you make will determine the amount of money you'll spend, and perhaps the quality of the results you'll get, as well.

The same idea applies to websites. With a custom-built website, you'll get professional results with no hassle, and your website will receive personal attention from a professional webmaster on a continuing basis.

If you like the idea of doing all the work yourself, then you'll find everything you need (including 24/7 technical support) at our "sister" website, FolkDude Web Services. Using a template-based product like WebSite Tonight!®, anyone with basic computer skills can have a website up and running in just a few hours!


Q: What kind of computer do I need in order to have a website?
A: You don't even need a computer at all!

Your website will actually be hosted on a web server computer in a world-class data center, so the speed, quality, and reliability of your own computer are of no significance.

Of course, if you're planning to do the maintenance work on your website, then you will need a computer with an Internet connection in order to do that – but nearly any type of computer will do the job. If you're able to view this website, then you've got everything you need.


Q: What's a domain name? Do I need one?
A: A domain name is your website's address on the Internet. For example, the domain name for this website is folkdude.com. So yes, you will need a domain name – and choosing a domain name is usually the first step in creating your new website.

For a commercial website, the domain name is often based on the company name, or on the products or services that the company sells. In the early days of the Internet, a domain name ending in .com signified a commercial website, and a name ending in .org indicated a non-profit organization. But over time, more suffixes became available, and the meaning of each one became less specific. While some suffixes do have restrictions on how they may be used, any name that can be registered through FolkDude Web Services can be used for any kind of website.

Enter a domain name:
www .  .
The best domain names are short, memorable, and not easily misspelled. And it's possible for more than one domain name to point to the same website, too – so many people register multiple variations of their domain name, particularly if the name is easy to misspell, or if their business operates under more than one name.

And finally, your domain name must be unique – it can't be one that's already registered to someone else. You can use the handy gold search box to find out whether or not the name you'd like to use is available now.


Q: I want a custom-built website that I can maintain myself. Can you do that for me?
A: Yes! With a custom-built website from FolkDude Creative Services, you can have as much (or as little) control over the website as you'd like.

The monthly maintenance fee for a custom-built website actually includes minor changes to the website at no additional charge. So for websites that require only occasional changes to text or images, it's easiest for you to simply call or email us with the changes you'd like, and we'll get your website updated for you as quickly as possible – usually within 24 hours.

For websites that require more frequent updates, we can design an "admin" section, where you'll be able to log in and update specific, predetermined areas of the site yourself. The "admin" section will be password protected and therefore not accessible by the general public. It will also be easy and safe for you to use – you won't be able to accidentally do anything that might cause the website to malfunction.


Q: I'd like to build my own website, but I'm sure I'll need some help. Can you get me started?
A: Yes! FolkDude's "Get Me Started" package gives you two full hours of personal attention (face-to-face or by phone, depending on where you're located) for only $50. You'll be guided through the process of registering your domain name, creating your first web page, and seeing your new website come to life!

Longer, more inclusive packages are available, too – and in any case, you'll receive personal, one-on-one guidance from a patient, experienced teacher.


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