Web hosting – how to get an online presence and why do I need a website?
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that allows you to have a website that is publicly available 24/7 on the Internet. This is often your first touch point with a potential customer, so it should be representative of your brand, should state clearly the service that you can provide, preferably with photos or video and also display your contact details. Customer testimonials are a big bonus.
Do I need a domain name?
These days, especially if you are a business owner, it is imperative to protect your online identity. Even if you don’t have an online presence yet, you should still register a domain name to protect yourself from cybersquatters. You can register a domain name yourself, or we can do it for you for a small fee. Either way, the domain name will become your property. If you have an ABN, you can register a .com.au domain name. Alternatively, if you just want to blog under your own name you can set up an .id.au domain.
What do I do next?
Once you have a domain, then you should consider a website and someone to host it for you. This is where we come in. We can create a website based on the popular WordPress platform for you or alternatively, we recommend Bloom Web Solutions (based in Woden) or 23 Creative (based in Mitchell) if you want a full-featured or e-commerce website and we will host it for you for a low annual fee of $330.
Do you have some examples of websites that you’ve built?
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Yes, see above. Simple, yet powerful. Highly customisable and surprisingly easy to maintain.
I already have a website but it’s difficult to manage and I want something easy that I can update myself. Can do I do this?
Absolutely! WordPress is very easy to use and highly customisable. There are tons of free themes and plugins, allowing you to setup your site in the way that you want it. We will setup the site with a standard theme and a set of useful plugins and you can be up and running in next to no time.
I already have a domain name registered with a different provider. Does it cost anything to switch to you?
No, we don’t charge any fees to port your domain to our servers. However, there may be a small charge incurred during the porting process to extend the registration of your domain name. Your existing providing will be able to supply all the information we need and once we have that, your site should be live within 24 hours.
What about email?
Good question! If your email address is Bigpond, Hotmail or Gmail, then you are advertising Telstra, Microsoft or Google and not your own business. As part of the deal you get up to 5 email addresses and 1Gb of storage, with your own name, for example enquiries@yourcompanyname.com.au, giving yourself and your business a professional look.
