Medlicott Design

How do I get my own website name and what does it cost?

To buy and own your own domain name (e.g. www.myownname.com or www.myownname.co.nz) will cost you about NZ$40 pa + GST. Medlicott Design can help you through this process. To check if the name you want is available visit the Domain Name Commissioner to check out your options.

• What should I look for in a website host or provider?

There are many factors to look at when you are choosing your website host or provider. Below I outline some aspects of web hosting that you should think about.
(Medlicott Design can arrange a host to suit your needs and budget for you if this all seems outside your sphere.)
• Don't Use The Cost As Your Main Priority!
  Like "monkeys and peanuts" if you pick your host only on cost, you run the risk of ending up with a host that will provide you with a connection to the Internet and little else in terms of support (and even that connection may be running at maximum capacity or have uptime issues). This will often be the major issue with free host providers, but once again you are paying for what you get.
• Don't Confuse Stability and Size
  Just because a web hosting company is big, does not mean it is stable and secure. Ask simple questions like, "How long has the host been in business? Is current ownership the same as always?" Find out what their former/current clients say about them. Can the host provide references from clients who can tell you about their experiences using that company? If they don't wish to answer, I suggest you direct your enquiries elsewhere. After all, you don't want to have to set up your host again, and pay out twice in a short period.
• Is the hosting shared?
  Shared hosting means that you are sharing one server with a number of other clients of the ISP. Although you maintain your site and your account, the host can afford to charge you little. This happens because many customers are paying for use of the same server. Since companies other than yours are using the resources of that server, heavy traffic to one of the other sites on the server can slow the performance of your site.
• Check what other types of sites they host. Do they allow adult or sp@mmer sites?
  This may effect the chances of your website being added to search engines. If a network gets 'blackholed' for spamming then your ethical website could also be in trouble.(Getting blackholed means that other networks will refuse e-mail originating from IPs that are blacklisted.) This website checks for networks that are blackholed! Blackholed sites ->->
• Check what programming and software they support?
  Do they support cgi, php, asp and flash. Do they host on Linux or Windows? What type of stats package do they use, and ask to see a sample. Do they support shopping baskets, databases, messageboards, forms, and email? How many email addresses are you likely to need? Can they supply? If you are not sure what these terms mean, don't worry, but they will all be things that your website will eventually need, whether you are a learner or hiring a website developer.

• Why Is Being High In Google So Important?
  Google is currently the world's number one search engine, due to the fact that about 70% of search's performed daily on the Internet, are done using the Google search engine. The reason that most people search on Google is because for a while now they have been consistently returning the most relevant results. The importance of being listed on Google is obvious then if you wish for your target market to find your business, club or organisation website.

• Do Other Search Engines Not Matter Then?
  The other search engines, especially Yahoo and MSN do still matter. As in all walks of life, different people have different preferences, and even though more people may use Google, in your particular niche or market, buyers may favour a different search engine. Often, if your business only caters to a specific region, local search engines may be better. The answer is to attempt to be listed in the three major search engines (Google, Yahoo,MSN) and then in as many relevant local search engines as well. Medlicott Design add New Zealand websites we have created to about 20 local search engines and directories, as well as optimising them for Google.

• What is search engine optimisation and why do I need it?
  Search engine optimisation is the first keyword that should be in the mind of any website designer. Many businesses when establishing their first website become obsessed with the aesthetic qualities of their web pages. Although this is commendable, unless the customer can find the web site in the search engines, it is doubtful whether the business will attract many new clients. Those finding the particular website on the Internet will already know about the business, or have found the company through alternative advertising means, such as newspapers and magazines where they can copy the address down. Generally in business, 'word of mouth' is the best advertising. However with all those similar names on the Internet, your site needs to be optimised as well as possible so that when that potentially new customer looks up the name he "heard from a friend" he has a good chance of finding it.

All websites are built for people to find, whether a personal, club, organisational, business or e-commerce web site. Having your site optimised means having it built to target your market, and as such being easy to find in the appropriate category of search. This is the art of SEO, and often overlooked. Pictures and fancy tricks may look good, but think about it yourself. If you are looking for information on the Internet, do fancy effects do anything for you, or do you move on to the website that gives you the information you require? Most of us move on.

Medlicott Design actively encourages the client to place more emphasis on search engine optimisation than just on the aesthetic qualities of a website. This will hopefully enhance the clients ROI, which is after all the reason a business gets a website.