Frequently Asked Questions
Building your brand can be a daunting experience, especially for those who aren't internet-savvy. I won't leave you in the dark, so don't be afraid to ask questions.
What is web hosting?
Think of your website as an apartment. The web host is the landlord that provides the physical space to store your content. Your website's text, images, video, etc. make up the furniture that uses this space. The more "furniture" you have, the more space you need.
What is a domain name?
A domain host provides your domain name. For example, "www.jessicakizmann.com" is this website's domain name. Visitors type this address (also called the "URL") into a browser's address bar to locate the website. A domain name is like the street address that points to your website apartment.
If you already have a domain name, I'll make sure it points to your new website when it's been completed.
If you don't have a domain name, you can register one free for the first year with an annual web hosting plan. After the first year and for month-to-month web hosting plans, domains generally cost around $20 per year.
What is Squarespace and why do I need it?
Squarespace is the web host where your website will live. They provide the web hosting space to display your content. Every Squarespace site is stored on their servers, similar to how physical stores rent space in a shopping mall.
I chose Squarespace to build websites for a variety of reasons:
1. Reliability: Squarespace's uptime and server-reliability is near 99.9%. This means your content will almost never go down.
2. User Experience: The user interface is easy to learn and use yourself. After I set up your website, you'll be able to login to the account and make changes with zero technical knowledge.
3. Support: Squarespace offers award-winning, 24-7 customer service via e-mail and live chat for free. You won't need to pay for further assistance after your project is complete.
4. Trust: I worked at Squarespace for four years and helped shape the platform as well as guide their support team. I know I can trust them to provide the best possible service to you after my work is done.
What happens if I need help after the project is complete?
After the website has been launched, I'll give you a quick run-through of how to login and manage your website from the backend controls. This will come in handy if you want to make some minor (or major) changes down the road.
Beyond that, you can reach out to Squarespace's dedicate support team for any additional questions you might have. Their team is available 24/7 and generally answers within an hour (if not immediately). They will be there to assist you with any of the standard functionality offered by the Squarespace platform.
If you need further updates down the road and don't feel comfortable doing them yourself, let me know. For an additional monthly fee, I can provide webmaster services for minor updates (adding text, updating a menu, posting a blog, etc.). For a complete redesign, we'll create a new project and work out a price.
I don't have any high resolution photos, what do I do?
Websites can only be as beautiful as the content available to display. If you do not have quality photographs to represent your business, there's a few options:
Stock Photography: I have a large database of free stock photography available. However, since these images are free, you're likely to see them used across the web. I recommend paying for stock imagery, to ensure the images are not as widely used.
Custom Photography: Many businesses choose to hire a professional photographer for website images. This is the more expensive route, but it will be more beneficial in the end. Showing real images of your business will create trust and draw in more customers. I offer photography packages but only to those within the NYC Metro area.