Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to live in Long Island in order to use your web design services?
What is a URL?
How do people find my URL or web site address?
What is a Search Engine?
Do I have to type http://www.yourwebsite.com every time I go to a web site?
What is a Browser?
Are the Internet and the World Wide Web the same thing?
What is a Domain Name?
How do I purchase a Domain Name?
What is an ISP?
What is a Server/Host?
How much does a Server/Host cost?
Why do I need a web site?
What is a Webmaster?
Once my site is up on the Internet do I still need a Webmaster?
What is a Database and do I need one?
What is a shopping cart?
Do I need a Shopping Cart on my web site?
What steps do I need to take before you create a web site for me?
What is HTML?
What is Flash?
What is an E-business?
What is a Banner?
What is a Logo?

Do I have to live in Long Island in order to use web design services?

You do not have to live in Long Island to benefit from our web design services. We can communicate via email, telephone and mail to help with your internet needs.

What is a URL?

A URL is short for Universal Resource Locator. URLs are used to find web sites, files, and many other things on the Internet. A web site address is an example of a URL. Think of the Internet as one large city of never-ending streets and each address on each house on every block is a web site. An example of a URL is http://www.yourwebsite.com


How do people find my web site?

You can find a web site by simply typing the URL into the address bar of your browser. For example, by typing http://www.yourwebsite.com in the address area of any browser, the person would see your web site appear. You can also locate web sites by using a search engine.


What is a Search Engine?

A Search Engine is a tool to help you search for information on the Internet. Some common Search Engines are Yahoo, Lycos, and Google. To use a Search Engine, go to the search engine's web site, type in key words or phrases you are interested in, and click the search button. The search engine will returns a list of related web sites and web pages with a short description.


Do I have to type http://www.anywebsite.com every time I go to a web site?

No, you can just type www.anywebsite.com and most times just anywebsite.com.


What is a Browser?

You are currently viewing our web site in a Browser. A browser is a program that gets and displays information from the Internet. The most common browsers are Internet Explorer, Netscape and AOL.


Are the Internet and the World Wide Web the same thing?

Yes they are!


What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is the URL that locates your web site on the Internet. For example, if your company is called Sarah's Gift Baskets, you could use the domain name www.sarahsgiftbaskets.com as your web site's domain name. The most commonly used domain names end in .com, .net, .org. Other domain names can end in .edu, .gov, and more.


How do I purchase a Domain Name?

You can purchase a domain name from online stores that sell domain names. There are hundreds of online companies that sell domain names. Prices may vary from as low as $7.99 a year to $35 a year and higher. LIWDC can help you purchase a domain name.


What is an ISP?

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. An Internet Service Provider is a company that gives you access to the Internet for a monthly fee (usually from around $22-$50/month). Examples of Internet Service Providers are America Online, Optimum Online, and Earthlink.


What is a Server/Host?

A Server/Host is a computer that stores all of your web site information (usually for a fee) so that customers can access your web site quickly and effectively 24 hours a day. LIWDC does not host web sites. There are many companies that sell hosting services. We can set hosting up for you or we can tell you how to do it on your own.


Why do I need a Host?

There are several reasons you need a host. Most importantly, your web site has to exist somewhere on the Internet so people can find it. A host keeps their computers on all of the time, and therefore your web site can be found 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are several other important reasons for having your site hosted by an established hosting company. A host will make sure that your domain name works properly so that your web site can be found. A host also provides you with powerful computers and technology to help your web site run properly. A host also provides security at the location of their computers, which can be anywhere in the world. Other features of hosting may vary from company to company as well.


How much does a Server/Host cost?

Hosting fees can vary greatly depending on what you need. Hosting companies typically charge a monthly fee (from $5/month to $20/month or greater).


Why do I need a web site?

The underlying reasons businesses have a web site is to save time and save money. The Internet is a powerful information tool. It is fast, far reaching and cheap to use. Let's take a look at the more popular uses of web sites on the Internet.

Many businesses sell products and services over the Internet, also known as online stores. Web sites are being used to process orders through the use of secure credit card transactions.

Groups, organizations or communities use the Internet to share information with it's members through tools such as message boards, newsletters, and through using log in names and passwords.

Many companies often discover that a web site is a faster, more economical way to make information available to clients, customers, distributors and employees. Instead of spending lots of money on newsletters, brochures, and catalogs and then even more money to update them, information on a web site can be updated, added or changed in a matter of minutes and that information is available instantaneously to all of your clients, customers, distributors, and employees.

Just as important as the above reasons, web sites are needed for having an online presence. A simple and easy to remember web site address is a very handy paper-less business card in any non-business or business related situation.

There are many other purposes of web sites, and new ideas are evolving all the time. LIWDC is here to help you develop your web site and take advantage of the power of the Internet.

Fact: More than half of American households and more than half of all Americans are now connected to the Internet., according to a Commerce Department Study.


What is a Webmaster?

A Webmaster is typically the person who sets up, builds, creates and maintains your web site.


Once my site is up on the Internet do I still need a Webmaster?

Well we can teach you how to maintain your own web site or you can simply pay us a low monthly fee to do it for you. Maintaining a web site is not difficult but it can be time consuming and time is something you may not have a lot of. Also, if you accidentally change or delete something important it may end up costing you more money in the long run to fix it.


What is a Database and do I need one?

A Database is a place to store information online whether it be a list of all clients, a list of products, or simply a place to store graphics and other text related files. A database keeps this information neatly stored and easily accessible when needed. The people who most often require a database are typically those with a large inventory of products or a very large clientele.


What is a Shopping Cart?

A shopping cart is what you use at a grocery store to hold the items you wish to buy. Similarly, on the internet, a shopping cart is a feature of an e-commerce web site which allows you to hold the items you wish to purchase. With a shopping cart, you can add and remove items from the shopping cart. After shopping you proceed to the checkout where you pay for the items you wish to purchase.


Do I need a shopping cart on my web site?

If you are selling multiple products online and you wish to give your visitors the ability to manage their shopping cart items, then you will need a shopping cart. A shopping cart makes buying online easy.


What steps do I need to take before you create a web site for me?

1. Ask yourself the following questions: Why do you want a web site? How can others benefit from your web site? What services or information is most requested from your organization?
2. Next, gather any information relevant to the above questions such as logos, pictures, graphics, text, brochures, catalogs, or even some notes you may have taken.
3. Look for web sites online that may be selling the same type of product or advertising the same type of service. Look for content, features, designs and layouts you like and don't like and be sure to take some notes.
4. Give us all of this information and we begin to work together.

Fact: The most common misconception about someone building a web site for you is that we do all the work. A lot of information must come from you, the client. For instance if you are a plumber, we wouldn't know what to say on your home page about plumbing but you would.


What is HTML?

HTML, or hypertext markup language, simply instructs your browser on how to display the text, colors and graphics of your web site. HTML is a mark up language made of a defined set of tags that creates most of what you see on the internet.


What is Flash?

Macromedia Flash is the standard for creating interactive web sites and animation on the Internet. Using Flash in a site allows for enhanced graphics, animation, user interaction, and sound. We can create an entire site in Flash, or just small animations for portions of the site; multimedia presentations and even catchy introductions.


What is an Online Store or E-business?

In addition to information web sites, the internet offers the ability to open an online store. Using databases, shopping carts and secure features, we can create an e-commerce site which will expand your customer reach from regional to international. Your online store will safely handle private customer information such as credit card information. In the blink of an eye or click of a mouse, your e-commerce web site can sell products and services over the internet.


What is a Banner?

A banner is simply an advertisement of your company in a selected area on a web page. An enticing, fun, interactive, yet direct and informative banner is what makes people click! Give us the details of what your business is all about and we will tailor your banner ad to get right to the point!


What is a Logo?

A logo is the most recognizable factor of a corporate image. Your image should not only be appropriate but above all it should be memorable. We work to design a logo that not only successfully portrays your image, it will also be impressive.