Please contact us for a free consultation to determine your specific requirements in a website solution.

1. A website content management system (CMS)

   A website CMS is software that help you manage your website information (content) easily. Every new website today should be built on a content management system, and existing website should be overhauled and moved to one. If you don't know about content management systems, take the time to learn more about the hidden problems in building, owning and running a website before you buy a website solution, you will save yourself a lot of headache, pain and money. If you are a newbie to websites, watch our video to learn all you need to know BEFORE you spend your money. Take the time to carefully research and pick the right website CMS solution for your new website, and you will be rewarded with real control over your website content, reduce operational / maintenance costs, and a website that is able to meet your growing needs.

2. A website domain name (Internet address)

   A website address is the unique address of the website on the Internet. This is called a domain name. You can buy a domain name from just about domain name provider (or domain name registrar) on the Internet, at any time, as long as the price is right for you. However, before you do,

   1) Make sure that the registrar you buy from also provides you with complete DNS service and online access to manage the DNS services. Otherwise you may end up having to pay more for the DNS service. DNS stands for Domain Name Service and without it, you cannot configure your domain name to work on the Internet. Many domain name service providers advertise very low prices, without including the DNS service in the registration price, and will later require you to buy the DNS service at an additional, often more expensive cost.

   2) Make sure the registrar you buy from do not have terms that gives them ownership control of your domain name. Many unscrupulous registrars will not disclose clearly that they reserve proxy rights to your domain name, hence you have no control over the domain name should you decide to stop using their services, such as hosting, in the future. Avoid vendor lock-ins, and protect your rights by reading the terms of service carefully before you purchase your domain name.

3. Website hosting service

   A website hosting service is basically space on a web server that will serve as the home for your website on the Internet. When you purchase hosting, you are renting the space you need on a web server that is connected to the Internet for your website. Just as in renting a home for yourself, website hosting is a monthly commitment that you pay for on a monthly basis. There are many service providers providing web hosting services today, and many offer very cheap prices. However, unless you are an experienced web developer and know exactly what kind of website you will be putting in the hosting space you buy, you should not buy web hosting service, until you get a detail requirement from your website developer. All hosting services are not equal. The type of hosting service you need for a basic static website is quite different from the hosting service you need for a dynamic applications or CMS-powered website. Protect yourself from vendor lock-in and exploitation. Avoid buying non-refundable, pre-paid website hosting bundles commonly offered now by hosting providers. 

4. Website design

   Website design is all about putting your best face forward in a very competitive online business marketplace. A good website design makes it easy for you to communicate your messages clearly and effectively. A good web design is the foundation for all your online efforts, from marketing, sales, to customer service. A bad website design will cost you time and money.  

   When it comes to web design, it's not how much you spend, but rather, what you spend on. Many spend on web design services that has no cohesive strategy or clearly defined goals. Even many more choose DIY (do it yourself) tools hoping to save money. Either option is foolhardy. If you are online for business, you need professional web design. 

   You should understand the difference between designing your complete business website  brand  and creating individual web pages (content) on your website. You want professional help with the former, and create a design framework for the later. This will allow you to save money in DIY efforts in creating and managing your content, but make sure your brand and corporate communications needs is professionally met in your overall website brand design. Spend the time to partner with a good web design firm to help guide your corporate branding and design, and you will set yourself up to grow.

   Professional web design service is a time-based service, that is billed to you on an hourly basis.

5. Website development
   

   Website development is about making your website more useful for you and your website users, i.e. customers, partners, employees. As a simple definition, a website is useful, when it can do more than simply show website visitors and users the static information that you publish on it. To make your website do more than be a information white board, you need website applications. For example, a catalog manager, shopping cart and order manager in order to sell products online.

   Website applications are not cheap, or easy to build; for this reason, a good way to get website applications more affordably, is to build your website on a content management system. However, if you want to develop custom or proprietary web applications, you need web professional development services.

   Professional web application development is a time-based service, that is billed to you on an hourly basis. 

6. Ongoing technical support

   Depending on the type of website you build, you may or may not need ongoing support. For example, if you are simply running a blogging website, you can probably run your operation all by yourself using the DIY tools available to you in your website CMS. However if you are running a business infrastructure providing services to customers, employees, and partners, chances are you probably will need to implement complex processes that allow your website to be even more useful to your users. In which case, unless you have an in-house website operations department, you will need a strong technical partner to work with you as your needs evolve.

   When considering technical support, remember, the best service provider is the one that built the system you are using. It's that simple. Make sure you are comfortable with the support service level agreement, especially the support response window. The best support is one provided when you need it. 

   Professional tech support & project management is a time-based service, that is billed to you on an hourly basis. Every company offer technical support differently. Learn more about our personal project manager model and what AJIBOYE can do for you.