FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WordPress.com is the blog platform that most people think of when you mention WordPress. It is a free point and click website creation tool hosted and managed by WordPress. It is possible to have your website up very quickly this way. The look and feel of the free version is limited. It has built in limits and is the “web real estate” of WordPress when all is said and done.
If you want more control of the look and feel of the site, you can pay a yearly fee. This gives you the freedom to create the look and feel via the colors and fonts that you prefer. There’s also a business option which gives you even more freedom, within limits.
Your wordpress.com site comes with built-in plugins that allow for the basic functionality that we have come to expect with our blogs and websites. Neither the free and premium versions allow you add more plugins. The business premium version does, again, with limits.
The self hosted WordPress software (WordPress.org) is just that. You choose the host or server you wish to house your site on, download and install it onto your server (or host). The software is open source and free.
It requires that you purchase a domain name (or an address) for your website, along with hosting, or the place that holds all of the content of your website. So the domain name takes people to the place where your website lives in the same way that a street address identifies the location of a building.
Why would you want the self hosted version over the blog platform owned by WordPress?
- Creative Control
- Setting up your own corner of the internet
- Creative Control - think of it as the difference between renting your home and owning your home.
The domain name is the name you type into the address bar of your computer or mobile device. It looks like https://www.yourdomain.com and tells the browser where to go to fetch the contents of your website. It is like the street address.
The hosting company is the server that holds all of the files that the browser calls up.
I work exclusively with Websavers.ca for my hosting needs and strongly recommend that my clients do as well. The importance of a good hosting company cannot be over stated. Go here for why I’ve chosen them exclusively.
Why do I love Websavers?
They are responsive to the needs of their clients. That translates to quick response time to any support tickets I initiate.
Shared servers are not filled to capacity allowing for increased speed and safety.
They have a great backup system that is easy to use, both the backup process and the restore process if that should be necessary.
Websavers has a great maintenance package -
There is a comprehensive and easy to follow knowledge base. If there is anything that does not make sense, they readily explain further.
Websavers is cost effective.
These guys do the intangibles so well! For me that includes not once ever making me feel as though I had a knowledge deficit (And I do regarding the details they manage ) … just a simple pointing me in the right direction and a willingness to explain as deeply as I am able to take in. When I ask them for why, they tell me. Willingly.
For more info click on the two links below.
https://websavers.ca/about#reasons
https://websavers.ca/about#our-team
Maintaining your website is as important as a maintaining strong user names and passwords for security reasons.
Simply put, software updates are often mini security fixes. If you don't regularly update them, it's a bit like leaving the window on the first floor of your home or business unlocked. It's an easy way in to your website.
If you are comfortable with updating the software on your site and backing it up regularly, you may not need one. If you aren’t you definitely need to pay someone to maintain your website. I consider it to be part of the cost of doing business.
I am comfortable with doing my own maintenance and still, I have a maintenance package with Websavers. It is worth every cent in peace of mind. I know that if my site is hacked, or it something goes wrong, all I need to do is let the Websavers Team know - and - chances are high that they will know before I do and take care of it and then notify me.
Without the plan, if they discover the hack before you do, they will disable the site so as not to share damage, notify you, and present you with your options.
This, btw is one of the reasons I work exclusively with them. They are total geeks about this stuff! And they're nice about it!
No. I cannot give you that guarantee. And neither can anyone else.
That said, there are measures that can be taken to minimize risk, starting with a strong user name and password. That is the single most important thing you can do to keep your website safe. I know that if you’re like me, you’re probably sick of hearing that. Nevertheless, it is what it is. It is one of those just do it things. Really. Just do it.
I recognize that strong passwords can be a true pia. I use a password keeper like Last Pass to manage all of the complex passwords I need to keep track of. With that, I only need to remember one very strong, complex password. It is one of many options. It is my favorite and for one device it is free. To use it across your devices, you pay an minimal annual fee of $12.00. That's incredibly useful when you are away from your computer and need to make a quick easy edit to your site, for example.
I also trust the maintenance and security of my site to the experts at Websavers. They are committed to the safety of the servers holding the websites they host. I pay a monthly fee for the added peace of mind. It’s like having hack insurance with benefits. They will secure your site, speed it up and keep it running headache free.
I cannot guarantee that. Search Engine Optimization is a constantly evolving science and it's own science. It depends on several coexisting factors.
If you choose your key words skillfully and train yourself to think like your customers when creating titles for your posts and pages, ie- what would someone looking for the type of service or product you offer type into the search box - you are a step ahead of the game.
Search-ability also depends on how much content you are willing to consistently create. A consistent blog that is bringing people to your site is imperative. I set you up to do that. You take it from there!
So short answer? It depends on you.
No. I provide the framework the showcase your content and you provide the content.
That said, I am extremely effective at providing a second set of eyes on your copy and helping you find a way to say what you are really trying to say. I create your website around your content, your message. If you are open to feedback I am happy to provide it.
If writing is not your forte, please let me know. I am happy to provide you with a list of great copywriters.
No. I will provide you with image resources. I will also provide you with the optimal image size that I need for each image we use in your website.
You are also welcome to use your own images. Keep in mind that the phone camera images don't always provide the best quality of image. You may wish to consider hiring a photographer for a photo shoot. One exceptionally skilled web designer I know hired someone to follow her around all day and shoot photos in all possible contexts. She now has her own repository of high quality images to pull from for just about everything.
As part of your package, you will receive training specific to your site that will show you step by step how to add content, how to update images and how to keep the site up.
I will show you what areas of the site you should leave untouched, as well as the areas where you can change to your hearts content without impacting the framework for your content.
I remain accessible to you for up to 30 days after the site goes live to assist you in navigating your new site. If you want ongoing support, we can talk about what that could look like for you.