Research and purchase a domain name
We can help you find and register exactly the right name for your website.
.com is probably the best choice, but what do you do if your name is already taken? We can register a variation or choose an address with a different domain name ending. There are now over 350 domains to choose from. You might choose .club, .email, .photography, .accountant, .cafe, .bargains, .tv, .guru, .pizza or something else.
Hosting
We host sites with Dreamhost. We have found their hosting to be very reliable. Bandwidth and storage space are not an issue. We have been consistently pleased with their performance. Sites are served up fast and with redundant internet connections and power supplies, downtime is minimized. The last time we had noticeable downtime for any of the sites we host was in 2007. DreamHost now pays us to refer you.
Blog Hosting
It doesn’t have to cost much at all to get started as a Blogger. You can have a Blog on DreamHost for as little as $2.59 a month. They install WordPress for you and even register your Domain Name for free!
Compare Hosting Prices on DreamHost >
Set up a WordPress site
WordPress is a great option for a blog, website or ecommerce on-line store.You build it: Tell us what login and password you want and we will set up a WordPress site for you to build your website, blog or on-line store yourself.
We build it: We can install whatever Theme you choose and customize it with your copy, photos and custom menu.
Set up an on-line store
WordPress is free open-source web-based software you can use to create an eCommerce website. Free and not-so-free Themes and Plugins allow you to run a complete shopping cart on-line store. WooCommerce is the most commonly used free eCommerce plugin. It launched in 2011, but it now powers 30% of all online stores. It allows you to sell physical and digital goods. It configures to free shipping, flat rate shipping, even drop shipping. You can accept major credit cards, PayPal, BACS (bank transfers), even cash on delivery. You control taxes, stock levels and customer accounts.
On-line Catalog: You don’t have to have security and a payment gateway to have an on-line store. You can have a website that is a catalog for your store, then accept orders by phone, much as a print catalog does. This model is successful for items that are complicated to sell, with many parts or custom configurations.
If you’ve read wonderful things about some other on-line store, I’m sure I can figure that out, too. These are the ones I have experience with.
More about setting up an on-line store >
Set up custom email addresses
Even if your business does not have a website yet, using your business name as your email address gives your business a more professional look. You can use a number of email addresses, for example sales@yoursite.com, customerservice@yoursite.com or accountspayable@yoursite.com. Each email address may either have a separate mail box, or you may forward them to a single account. Using Outlook or another email program, you can collect email from all of the accounts and then select which account to send from when you send or reply to email.
More about custom email addresses >
Write copy that works for site visitors and Search Engines
This is where a lot of web projects fall apart. Writing the words for each page of your website and writing logical captions for your photos can be the most difficult part of your internet project.
design42 can:
- Write the words for your website for you
- Edit the words you have written
- Interview you, then write your copy
- Work with you writing your web content
- Edit your translated words into American English
The most important thing on your website is the words. Search Engines see words. Photos are important, but words are persuasive. If you want to generate sales, you need clear, powerful, persuasive copy on your website.
Social Media
design42 can work with social media platforms to help create and maintain your company’s brand. We work with you or your team to manage successful Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest accounts.
We design, schedule and manage advertising across social media platforms so that your products or service reach a wider audience.
We post regularly, build audience, interact with followers, and direct those interested to your website. This keeps customers engaged and interested.
Let design42 help you create a strategy to accomplish the most impact, while staying within your budget.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is an excellent tool for some businesses. I can set up your account and create a template that is consistent with the look and feel of your website in an hour or less.