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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about websites for artists

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Do we need a face to face meeting?

No, not at all. Phone and email contact are fine.

How long does it take to design an artist's website?

About two to four weeks depending on the size and complexity of your site.

Do I really need a domain name and hosting?

Yes you do. Your host is where the files that make up your website are stored and your domain name is the address of that storage space. Your website address will be something like www.studiowebs.co.uk or www.studiowebs.com.

Need more information? Click here to find about: domains, hosting and email.

I already have a domain name. Can I use that?

Yes, no problem.

I already have hosting set up. Can I use that?

No. We ask that you use our host. There are several reasons. First, we know that they are ultra reliable which means that their system rarely, if ever, fails. It means that your website will online 99.9% of the time. This is not true of some of the cheaper hosting packages. Second, we know they use powerful computers which means that your website will not take ages to load. Again,this is not true of all hosts. Thirdly, we know the system inside out, so we are able to offer you free support if you have a issues.

The good news is hosting is free for the first year for any website designed by us, so it won't cost you anything to transfer. After the transfer has been made, you can simply cancel your existing package.

Can I have a domain name to match my website's address?

Yes you can. Your email address can be something like info@mywebsite.com.

Need more information? Click here to find about: domains, hosting and email.

What do you need from me to design my website?

1. We will need a brief - how many pages do you need (home, inspiration, gallery, contact etc.)
2. We will need to know many galleries you need and how many images you want to show in each gallery.
3. We will want any any existing artwork that you want to use (logos)
4. We will need all content for your website - in other words the text you want to use and the image you want to show (all as computer file).
5. We will need an idea of how you would like your website to look - send us the links to any sites you particular like, or send us your ideas as sketches.

Need more information? Click here to find about: how to plan your website.

Will I be able to update my website myself?

Yes you can. But you do need to have a reasonable grasp of computers (handling folders, files, re sizing images, saving for the web, uploading to a web server etc.), or be prepared to learn. Updating any website can be a time consuming exercise (and frustrating) exercise. Allowing us to do the updating is often a more time/cost effective solution.

The update options are a follows:

1. Paid for updates - this is the simplest solution if you only update occasionally and don't have the time or technical ability to update the site yourself. You provide us with a brief, we give you an estimate. If you are happy, we will make the changes for you. The more you have changed, the greater the cost.

2. DIY - text only. Text on a website is much easier to update than images. This option is aimed at artists who have a news/exhibition/blog page that they want to update regularly. Such pages can be linked to our 'very easy to use' text editor. You an update your images using the paid for updates option.

3. Full control - edit your text and images. There are a number of options here. If you are very technically able, you can use any web page editor to edit your site. Alternatively, your site can be linked to a full content management system. These are flexible but can impose limitations on the design of your site. They can be expensive too, but we are happy to talk to you about the various options.

Need more information? Click to learn more about: content management systems that we use on our artist websites

I don't have much time. Will you manage my website and do the updates for me so I don't have to worry about it?

Yes, we offer full maintenance service if you need it. Just tell us what you need doing and we will give you an estimate.

Will my website appear on Google?

Everything possible will be done to optimise your site for Google when the site is built. However, Google is an independent search engine company. How it decides which websites to show in its search result is a closely guarded corporate secret. A web designer can design a site so that it is search engine friendly (10% of what Google looks for when assessing a site) and you (or dedicated SEO companies) can build up incoming links to your site to help boost its online presence (90% of what Google looks for when assessing a site). However, it is Google and Google alone who decides what to show in its search results, and apart from building a search engine friendly site, there is nothing a designer can do influence your Google ranking. That said, all of our sites rank very well on Google as they are all well designed and programmed. You can't expect better than that.

Please could you change the text on my Google listing on its results page?

Yes, but it can take months and it means you will have to change the text on your website. Google is an independent company. It scans your site and selects what it thinks is appropriate text to display in its listing. The secret is to make sure that all the text on your site is appropriate and relevant, so that whatever Google chooses, it will be correct.

I already have a website. Can you change it for me?

Changing or adding to an existing website that someone else has created can be tricky as different people program in different ways. We are always happy to take a look at your current website and see if we can alter it for you but usually, it is more cost effective to start again from scratch.

Why should I ask Studio Websites to design my website for me?

1. We are specialise in designing websites for artists, makers and art groups.
2. All the feedback we get from existing clients is very positive – our sites are admired for their apparent simplicity but powerful web presence.
3. We are a small company, so you get a very personal service which is friendly, respectful and patient.
4. Our prices are very competitive.
5. All our websites follow the principles of excellent website design - and they look good too.

What are your principles of good web design for artists?

   
- Simple navigation systems (our websites are easy to use)
- Minimal use of background images (the art and content should do the taking, not the website design)
- Quick to appear (no annoying flash animations that take for ever to download and add nothing to the visitor experience)
- Easy to read text fonts
- Excellent graphic design (ensuring a positive impression)