This is a question that is asked by anyone who is serious about having their business promoted on the internet.

But in essence a web designer’s answer could be just like this: ‘How long is a piece of string?’

But let’s see if I can break it down into a simple explanation that can help you find your way through the minefield of web design. I want to look at three elements that are required when it comes to getting your business on the Web – domain name, web hosting and web design.

1. Domain Name

The first thing that you need to do is to decide upon a domain name for your business (www.yourbusiness.com.au). If you purchase two year’s registration under $100 you’re doing well. My advice is that you don’t buy any longer than two years. I once bought a domain for five years, and then promptly forgot about it, and when the five years was up, someone actually took the domain and I was unable to get it back for a number of years.

2. Web Hosting

Web Hosting is like renting office space. However, in this case you are renting space on the Internet for your website. There are all sorts of packages out there, but from my experience cheap is not always best. Let me explain. Before I owned OE Design I had one of my websites hosted by a company based in Brisbane. It was cheap and customer service seemed fine until one day. That particular day I was using my website to raise finances for an orphanage in Uganda, and mid stream of that fund raiser my web host decided to shut me down. There was no warning and it was days before I could get my site up again assuring them that I had not been spamming but had in fact been communicating with friends from all over the world.

The other thing that you need check is that if you have a content management system that runs your website – make certain that your host supports all the languages (html, php, MySql etc.) that are used on your website. Also make certain that the company you are going to deal with provide you with great ongoing technical phone support. Because rest assured, that if you don’t check on this, when you need help – and you will – it won’t be there.

3. Web Design

The price of a website will be determined by the number of pages that you have and the complexity of the site. I have seen great websites that required an investment of under $1000 and I have seen poor websites for the same price. And then I have seen unmanageable websites for under $10,000 and amazing websites for the same price. So do your homework.

Just know this. Once you add flash, forms, ecommerce, product catalogues etc. the price is going to go up – but the best thing to do is to shop around, compare not only prices, but also quality of work by checking out their portfolio and their testimonials. Look for company’s that provide interest free payment plans, who offer a guarantee and anything else that makes them stand out from the crowd. And also if the designer doesn’t have a well designed website. Well let your commonsense prevail.