Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do I need a website?

A professionally designed and hosted web site is the ideal platform for advertising your business - quite literally to the world. It gives your potential customers an opportunity to see what goods and services you offer, gives them a chance to get a feel for your business style and standards and, most importantly, provides them with a means of contacting you and finding out where you are. In terms of advertising, the comparatively small cost of owning and running a website is insignificant when compared to the potential revenue it could generate. Your website will reflect your business, and that's why it's important to get it right.

Where can I find out if my domain is available?

Simply click here to use our domain checking service. Remember, your .co.uk domain is included in the price. If you would like a domain other than a .co.uk then this can be arranged, but will include a small surcharge.

How do I get my website?

Simply go to our 'Get Started' page to get your site underway. This is the time to send us as much information as possible about what you want your web site to look like, so let us have photos, images and brochures relating to your company. We will use all of this information to design and construct your website. Once we have completed a prototype design, we will email you a link to that site (at this stage normally hosted 'piggy-back' on a separate site) and you can make amendments if necessary. Once the final design is agreed, and full payment has been received, the site will be uploaded onto the internet under your domain name.

Do I receive an email account?

Yes, your email will relate to the domain name which is included in your package. For example, if your site designed by us is www.acebutchers.co.uk, then the email address will be info@acebutchers.co.uk.

Can I incorporate a shop (ecommerce) onto my site?

Ecommerce and on line shops are not services currently offered by d3signLab. We can, however, add "buy now" buttons to your site to allow you to sell a limited number of items. In order to use this facility you will need a PayPal account. We can help you set one up if you don't already have one.

Do I have to pay for the domain name?

No, it's included in the price. Domain names may be up to 63 characters in length (letters, numbers and dashes), but it's best to keep it short! If you would like a domain other than a .co.uk then this can be arranged, but will include a small surcharge.

I already have a domain name, are you able to use it?

Yes, this should be possible. You will need to speak to your current host to get it released and point to our servers, we can advise you how to do this.

I just want a blog, how do I post articles to it?

If you purchase the blog package you will be provided with details of how to log in to your blog control panel (currently we use Word Press templates) which will enable you to add, edit and remove posts. You will also be able to customise your site yourself to a degree. You will not be charged for posting articles and updates to your blog, the only cost to you are the set up costs and the costs you pay to us to host your site.

How much will it cost to make changes to my website?

Once you have approved the design of your site and it has been published to the internet you will be charged for changes. The amount will reflect on the complexity of the changes you need, and the amount of time this will take. For a simple amendment, such as changing a photograph or updating a phone number, we will charge £5. For more complex work we charge £10 per half hour. Judgement as to the extent of work required and amount of time this will take will be at the discretion of d3signLab, but will always be quoted to you for approval prior to the work being undertaken. This ensures there are no hidden surprises!

How do I make a change to my website?

Just drop us an email or use the 'Contact Us' page - don't forget to include your domain name. It's recommended that you have a clear idea of what change(s) you want. This will give us an idea of how long the work will take to complete, and enable us to quote you on the price of these changes.

What happens after my 1 year hosting is up?

When you have reached the end of your year's free hosting you can renew your website for another year at a reduced rate - currently £35. However, you may transfer your website to another company. If this is the case, and you wish to keep your domain name, you will be required to purchase your domain name from d3signLab - this currently costs £50. You may then transfer the name to another company for them to host your site.

Does d3signLab actually host my website?

No, we outsource to trusted providers offering unbeatable service.

Will search engines be able to find my website?

We will manually submit your site to major search engines such as Yahoo, Google and Ask, which will enable them to locate your website. Search engines will also find your site based on the title and content. However, we cannot guarantee any specific ranking with particular search engines or that your site will achieve a prominent position. This can only be achieved by search engine optimisation (SEO), a costly and time consuming process and this service is not offered by d3signLab. We can, however, insert key words into the home page of your site (or you can provide us with the keywords you wish to be included if you have already researched keywords appropriate to your business) which may cause your site to naturally ascend as it matures over time.

If I buy a website from you do I own it? Will I get to keep it if I want to change hosts?

Once the site is fully paid for the design and code is yours. If, after one year, you want to change hosts then this is possible too.

How do I pay?

Payment for the work we undertake is due in two stages - 50% of the price of the package when we undertake the initial design by way of a deposit and 50% when the prototype site is agreed prior to submission to the internet. Once this final payment has been received by us then your site will be uploaded to the domain name you choose and you will own the design and coding. We accept personal and business cheques and cash. We also accept PayPal. All payments must be in GBP.

Instead of paying the costs in two payments, can I pay it all in one payment?

Yes, at the initial design stage.

What are web standards, and are they really that important?

In three words, yes very important! Web standards relate to the development of formal 'best practices' for building and developing web sites. In a nutshell, ensuring your site is web standards compliant will ensure that the maximum number of viewers will be able to view your site on a range of different devices and browsers. It also ensures long term viability for your site on the world wide web and encourages search engines to find your site.

Does d3signLab do custom work?

As well as complete packages we also offer custom work at competitive prices. Contact us to enquire about this service.