Buyer Beware

The advertisers are neglecting to tell you about the annual fees for domain name registration and web site hosting fees, and are also failing to tell you what you get for your design fee, and what the cost will be to update or change your site, and who will be working on your site. Some hosting or design companies only allow 5 pages and then limit the content (amount of text) you can put on the page. But, most importantly, after you have paid $1000(s), and you are still dissatisfied, you decide to change to a competent, honest and/or web developer only to find out that you do not own your web site. Then, you must either stay with the original company, or start over with a new dot-com name.

THE FACTS AND INFO

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE
TO HAVE A WEBSITE?

DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION -You select your DOT-COM name i.e. YOURNAME.COM for your website. You have to register this name and pay an annual fee to the domain registration service. Generally, this ANNUAL FEE is $35, but many services require a two-year sign on. Companies that offer domain names for drastically less than this fee do so by making up the difference somewhere. Usually, they sell your domain info and email info to bulk mailers that generate SPAM mail (unwanted advertisements). Bizness Concepts, Inc. will take care of domain and/or transfer of your domain for you if you wish.

SITE HOSTING FEES -Your web site must be stored by a web host. This is how the world is able to go to your site. There are thousands of hosting providers and the ANNUAL FEE can vary from $5 to $100(s) per month. Usually the more inexpensive hosting companies make up the difference using other methods, such as selling email addresses, etc. Some companies both design and host your site. However, some of those companies are reluctant to allow you to switch services and may even hold your site hostage even though you may own the rights to your site. Usually it takes 3-7 days for all the electronic paperwork to be transferred from one host to another host.

DESIGN FEES -You should be careful to find out exactly what you are getting for your money. Many designers quickly create a "cookie cutter" site, which is very plain and generic or comes as one of the 100's packaged sites in a development program, then assess additional charges to make the site meet your expectations. Some designers collect your money, create the "cookie cutter" site, and then forget about you and the various viewers coming to your site (Web TV, different browsers such as Netscape, MS Internet Explorer, AOL, etc.).

WEB SITE DEVELOPER - Some web development companies [webmastders] employ individuals with minimal experience levels, or have a very high turnover rate. If that person leaves the developer company, your site may not be worked on again for a very long time, meanwhile people come to what exists of your site and are so disappointed with the lack of content or change and they don't return.

WEB SITE OWNERSHIP - Your contract with the web site developer should clearly state to whom the site ownership rights belongs. That should be YOU.

WHY CHOOSE BIZNESS CONCEPTS
TO DESIGN YOUR WEB SITE?

Deanna Lilly is Bizness Concepts. I have an extensive computer and graphics background and every step of the way, I will provide the type of service that you deserve. I am also a part-time instructor for all Microsoft Office Software, Corel, Lotus and other business application software packages. I not only conduct my business in this area, I live here.

SERVICES OFFERED BY BIZNESS CONCEPTS

DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION - registration or, or transfer of your domain name to the web host.

SITE HOSTING - I use an economical and reliable host that gives you up to 19 email boxes with each site (dot-com domain) for just $10.00 per month, payable one-year in advance.

DESIGN FEES - My basic design fee varies from $350 (10 pages) - $2500+ per web site, with a subsequent annual maintenance fee of $250-$1500+ (beginning in the second year) to maintain and update the site. My fee includes any original artwork required for a web-logo and backgrounds, graphics scanning (copying of photographs to a website viewable format) plus text content repurposed for web reading. You may also request changes to your pages at any time of the year at no additional cost. Major changes such as a complete background, setup and logo change are subject to an additional charge and will be separately negotiated. My goal is to design a web site that will be original, attractive, convey your message, attract customers and be viewable on the many different browsers (web viewing programs) used by the public, and will be found in search engines. My best advertisement is the testimony of my clients. I will gladly provide references or visit www.BiznessConcepts.com

WEB SITE OWNERSHIP - You are the owner of the web site and all its contents designed for you and you are free to do with it as you choose (providing all services have been paid for in full). Anyone who refuses to release your website and it's contents to you may be liable under the deceptive trade practices laws. Be sure you have a contract, and that the contract does not remove ownership of your website from you.

DO YOU NEED A DOMAIN NAME? - Many business owners are convinced to jump on the website bandwagon only to find they have spent big $$$ for very little traffic. Perhaps all you need is a strong local presence to make the area public aware of your business. Bizness Concepts, Inc. is in business to make the customer happy, and will honestly let you know if you do not need a domain name but would benefit from a coop listing such ArbutusBiz.com, or ParkvilleCarneyBiz.com.