Getting Started

If you have made the decision to get started on your new Internet presence, this page will help guide you through the steps taken in order to proceed efficiently.

Step 1 - Prepare Your Information

The first step in getting your business online will of course take some time on your part to get your products and services together in some form of data format for broadcasting on the Internet. For example, any frequently asked questions, a brief description of you and your business for your "about us" page, copy for your home page and any other copy I will need for publishing it to the Internet.

If you are going to include e-commerce, I suggest a simple spreadsheet with item numbers and pricing. If you have images I will need those as well, otherwise I am pretty good at getting product images from your vendors via the Internet.

Here are a few rules of thumb for sending me your information:

• Type your web site copy in upper and lowercase. If you provide me with anything typed in ALL CAPS, it will be published in all caps or you will be billed for me re-typing it.
• Use your spell checker in your software when typing any copy for your web site. When I am typing HTML code, and can easily miss words that are clearly mis-spelled.
• Anything and everything for your web site needs to be in data format. This provides us the means of emailing or snail mailing a disk with your information in a format I can work with.
• When writing copy for your web site, if you are not comfortable as a copy writer, feel free to simply elaborate to the best of your ability and have me edit the final copy to your satisfaction. Keyword friendly copy is included in my services.

Step 2 - Order Your Domain Name and Hosting

Your domain name will be an important element of your web site. It is recommended that your domain name suit your business or company name as well as providing a memorable web address for your customers. To see if your domain name is available, visit this web site and check the domain name(s) you are interested in. If your search responds with "No match for domain", that name is available for you to purchase.

Domin names usually cost about $15 per year. Once you decide on your domain name, go to Universal Design and order your domain name and hosting plan. You will be selecting:

• Your domain name
• Shell web site
• Plan D
• Secure Server (if accepting credit cards)

Step 3 - Send Me Your Deposit and Information

Once you have ordered your domain name and hosting, simply email me the details and elements you want on your web site and the deposit we have agreed on and your project will be scheduled, prioritized, and "in progress". I schedule web sites on a first come first serve basis, that is INCLUDING your paid deposit. I cannot schedule projects in front of other customers who have made their monetary commitment to their web site and my services.

To snail mail your deposit to me my address is available on my invoice. To pay by credit card click here.