What you need to run a website....

To run a website you need 3 things :
  • A registered domain name.
  • A web server to host your site.
  • Code to create your web design.
Here's what these are, how we obtain them, and what we can do to help you with each of them.
  • Domain names are obtained from a registrar, costing around £25 or less per year. All registrars are different and some are not easy to deal with when something needs changing or tranferring. Sometimes the lowest priced are not the best deals. If you consult with us before selecting a registrar, we wil point you in the right direction, or if you wish we will register your domain name for you at no extra beyond the registrar's fee.

  • Getting a host to provide the computer ( server ) and the software to 'open the door' when someone using the internet requests your domain name from their browser. It then serves them with your web pages from your web site, which actually resides on this computer ( server ). Unless you have your own server connected to the Internet 24 hours a day and the software on it, you will usually rent space on the servers of a hosting service.

    Hosting your website will cost anywhere from nothing to £50 per month or more. Whilst choosing your host, it is important to select a service that provides features and services tailored to the needs of your site. It is not a good idea to contract with a hosting service until you have selected your webmaster; you will need their guidance on requirements.

    Your hosting company can be located anywhere in the world, it is unimportant where their servers are located. To contract with a hosting service that comes bundled with other services is not usually a wise decision.

    Greenfield Design will be pleased to offer our own hosting service or act as your agents in finding and contracting for the right hosting for your needs.

  • The last requirement is the computer code that actually makes your web site, including the code that produces the appearance of the visible pages, the text, and the images, as well as the usually much larger body of code that implements the 'behind-the-scenes' functions. Things such as databases, e-mail facilities, credit transaction processing, audio or video, plus many other functions.

Your largest cost will be the initial start-up cost and this will depend on the size and complexity of your website. For a reasonable good business web site the cost can run anywhere from several hundreds to several thousands of pounds. It is worth saying that selecting someone who will work by an estimate and not an hourly rate makes good sense.