FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Common website design and development questions.
We have provided the following answers to some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive. If the question you have is not addressed on this page or you would like to further discuss your scenario, feel free to contact us and we would be delighted to assist you.
- How much will my website cost?
- How long will it take to create my website?
- Will I have complete ownership of my website?
- How does eCommerce work?
- Am I required to use Allmar Technologies as my web host?
- May I move my website to any web hosting provider of my choice?
- How can a website increase productivity?
- What technologies does Allmar Technologies use to develop websites?
How much will my website cost?
Every small business owner has different requirements and expectations for their website and because of this it is nearly impossible for us to answer this question fairly without meeting with you first to determine your particular requirements. However, we do provide a free on-line website cost estimate calculator that you may use to get a feeling for approximately how much your particular website project might cost. In addition, we also provide free website consultations.
How long will it take to create my website?
Without us knowing your requirements for your website, we are unable to determine it's complexity. Therefore, we are unable to accurately predict the amount of time required to complete your website project. However, on average, most websites are completed within six weeks, simple websites can be completed within three weeks and more complex websites can take months. That does not mean that it will take weeks or months before any particular web page of your website is ready for publication but rather it is a time line for your entire website project. As single web pages and/or functionality is completed, those aspects of your website are moved into production.
Will I have complete ownership of my website?
In most cases the answer is yes, you will have complete ownership of your website upon completion. There are circumstances that certain elements of your website are registered to you under a license agreement which will limit what you are allowed to do with those elements, particularly involving the resale of said elements. For example, if you were to supply us with photos to be placed on your website, the photographer that took the photos may place limitations on how you may use those photos. In this situation you are granted a license to use the photos and if you chose to utilize the photos outside of those limitations you may be required to pay the photographer royalties.
How does eCommerce work?
To address this question we have created a how eCommerce works web page for you.
Am I required to use Allmar Technologies as my web host?
Absolutely not. We would prefer that you do use our web hosting service but it is not required. If you would like to use some other web host provider besides Allmar Technologies, we will even help you chose a reliable host. Please be aware that web hosting providers are simply just that, a place for you to host your website. They assume that you are a webmaster and/or have the technical skills required to maintain and update your own website.
May I move my website to any web hosting provider of my choice?
Absolutely. Of course we would prefer that you would continue to use our web hosting services but you may move your website to the web host provider of your choice. As a professional courtesy, we will even help you chose a reliable web host provider that is suitable for your website. In addition, we offer assistance in the relocation of your website to the new server and ensure that your website is fully functional. Please be aware that web hosting providers are simply just that, a place for you to host your website. They assume that you are a webmaster and/or have the technical skills required to maintain and update your own website.
How can a website increase productivity?
Websites can do much more than just simply display static content. It is important to remember that your website is actually a piece of software that is accessed through a web browser. There are some upper limitations of what a website can do compared to traditional software (these limitations are being challenged every day as new technologies are being developed). However, the biggest advantage that a web application has is that the application can be accessed from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and does not require the end user to be physically in front of the computer where the software is installed.
Every business can benefit from increased productivity and your website can assist by automating some of your business processes and/or by acting as a portal to business documentation or information. A very simple and practical example is converting forms that you would traditionally have your clients fill out in your office into a digital format where they can either complete the form on-line or download the form from their home or office to complete. Either way this saves you both time and money in man hours and printing expenses, and at the same time extends your customer service by allowing your customers to complete the form at their own leisure.
What technologies does Allmar Technologies use to develop websites?
Allmar Technologies predominately uses open source software to fulfill our clients website needs. Our websites are developed for LAMP and WAMP environments. Open source software, in addition to allowing programmers the ability to modify the behavior of the software (hence open source), often costs less then proprietary or closed software or is all together free to use. We pass these savings on directly to you, the small business owner. This is how Allmar Technologies is able to offer our services at a fraction of the cost compared to commercial development techniques because our overhead is much lower.
It is also important to understand that just because we utilize open source software does not translate into an inferior product. As a matter of fact, it couldn't be further from the truth. The Internet and more specifically the Web was developed around a Unix platform, which was introduced by Bell Labs in 1973, and the web server NCSA httpd, a gift from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in the early 1990's. These pieces of software have stood the test of time and have matured into the most robust, secure and widely used solutions for web development.
