In This section I answer general questions about the Internet, some Internet terminology, certain Business Website issues and Website Domain Hosting.

The Short and Simple Answer is Yes - ABSOLUTELY! If the responsibilities of local small business ownership have kept you so busy you haven't had time to keep up with what the benefits that Internet/Web exposure can provide for local businesses are now; please consider the following:

• If You're Customers/Prospects Can't Find You Online They WILL Find your Competitors!
• The U.S. is quickly approaching 200,000,000 MILLION Internet Users. Of those almost 80 MILLION have broadband/hi-speed connections. (Primarily in high population areas.)
• 92% of Internet Users have searched Online before buying locally offline.
• 66% typically find what they need when searching on the Web, though 39% have trouble finding specific local businesses when they are not adequately represented on the Web..
• Just having a website is not enough if it can't be found in local search engines.
  

A Website Host Leases or Rents File/Data Hard Drive Space (A Website Domain Directory), on a Computer/Server that is Connected to the Internet: Those data files and the server software they interact with are available to the public for viewing/using from a specific root directory on the hosts server computer and is identified by a domain name which is tied to an IP (Internet Protocol), Address.

Unless you happen to own an Internet Server Computer ($1,200/yr minimum), it is of course considerably less expensive to host/lease space on a hosting company's server for just a few dollars per month.

For a little better visual understanding of what website hosting is, you can take a look at a diagram I did. NOTE: for those with a slow connection, this file' size is 185k. This link will open the diagram in a new browser window - CLICK HERE - Close that window to return to this page.

A Domain Name can be Likened to a Vanity Toll Free Phone Number DOMAIN can refer to a kingdom or a house where a person resides. A website domain is where a person or a businesses website files reside. Every domain name is tied to an IP (Internet Protocol) NUMBER.(Note: The acronym "IP" can also stand for Internet Provider" used in a different context. I know - it can be a little confusing.)

A domain name registrar helps you to determine if the domain name you want is available, (Not already registered to someone else), and if it is available the registrar will register the name to you as the owner so no one else can use your EXACT domain name. Domain name registration comes with an initial fee of about $10.00 for the first year and you pay that same fee again every year on the anniversary date of your domain registration.

Once you have your domain name registered and your Website Domain Hosting Account is set up, the registrar will assign your domain name to the Internet Protocol Server Number (IP Address) for your hosting company's domain server.

Then your website files are completed and uploaded to your domain hosting server account directory.

Then when someone types your domain name into a web browsers address field and presses enter on their keyboard, they are transported via Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), automatically to your website's index/home page (HTML data FILE) and your page displays in their web browser showing your page layout, graphic images and text content.

Why no just use the IP number like calling a phone number? Think about it. Personally I think GetFreedom.com is much easier to remember than 74.220.207.143. And unlike Vanity Toll Free Numbers (Like 1-800-GoUhaul), you don't have to figure out which numbers correspond to what letters on your dial pad. You just type in the name uhaul.com and press enter and WHAM you are at Uhaul's website home page.

ALSO NOTE: Your website address or the address to any web page may also be called a "URL" (Universal Resource Locator). Just another Geekish acronym that has filtered down from Internet Geeks to the general Internet public.

For Small Businesses I do NOT recommend Using Their Company Name as their Domain Name. There is an entire process involved with choosing a domain name that will meet the correct criteria needed for a Business Website Domain Name to do it's part in generating targeted traffic to the business website. That process I reveal in the Site Planning Process once a client has approved a site project or a consulting agreement.

URL is a commonly used "Geek Speak" acronym for "Universal Resource Locator" which is Internet vernacular for Web Page Address. Translation? A universal way to write the path to the location of a resource file on the Internet - ie: an html web page file.

Without getting too technical on you, there is more to this URL story in that even though URL has become the accepted acronym for a web address the proper acronym is URI (Universal Resource Identifier):

In computing, a Uniform Resource Locator(URL), previously known as Universal Resource Locator, is a subset of the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that specifies where an identified resource is available and the mechanism for retrieving it. In popular usage and in many technical documents and verbal discussions it is often incorrectly used as a synonym for URI. In popular language, a URI is also referred to as a Web address.
__Source: WikiPedia

Basically when you type a "URL" (Web address) into the address field of a web browser, all you are doing is using a software program's Graphical User Interface (GUI) - the browser - to make a call to a web page to display its data. The following diagram might help you better understand what all that stuff in a web address actually is:

Absolutely NOT and they are NOT Really FREE. Some will host your site on a sub domain but automatically place their advertising on your web pages. Then there are companies where you can use their online web page editor to place your content into one of their web page template designs, (and yes some are very nice looking). But it is only FREE For a 30 Day Trial. Then for $4.99/mo they will host what ever pages you have put together using their templates. But what about functionality extras that todays online local shopper expects? NOT!

For all intent and purposes these sites, "As is", are worthless to a business owner . . . WHY?

• If you want to use your own domain name there is an additional cost!
• If you want to have a contact form, More Money
• If you want more than 1 email address, More Money
• If you want direct (FTP) access to your web files it's Not Available!
• If you want to have an Opt-In Form for an auto responder newsletter Not Available!
• If you want to run java scripts to make your site more interactive, Not Available!
• With the bare minimum of business features added on, monthly hosting can be $50.00 per month for additional features and hosting.

Sorry Virginia - There is no Santa Claus.

With REAL website hosting, you can have everything you need and more for only $5.95/mo period. No hidden fees.

Answers to questions about my services, accessibility, hours of operation etc.

Right here in the good ole U.S. of A. in San Diego, California. I was born and raised primarily in the U.S., though being raised in a military family I lived in 5 different countries by the time I was 13 years old. Do I know or speak any of those country's languages? Only enough of a few to get me in trouble

Yes I do on occasion (Depending on my work load and/or task). However, over the years I have formed a co-op with other dependable freelance developers that are at least as knowledgable as I am and some disciplines more knowledgable than I am.

The freelancers I out source to are dependable and turn out excellent work in a timely manner. Obviously I wouldn't have it any other way since my name goes on the entire completed project, regardless of whether I may have out sourced a portion of it or not.

10:30am to 7:30pm (PACIFIC Time) Monday through Friday is my normal operating hours when I am open for business. I try to stick an hour in there for lunch but it is rarely that long.

I don't "Open" for business until 10:30am to allow me 3 hours in the morning to eat, exercise, process client email and work any open support tickets.

I don't "Close" my office for business until 7:30pm in the evening to give my Eastern and Central Time Zone clients and prospects the option of contacting me after their normal operating hours.

Yes I work more hours than my stated "Normal" Business Hours, but I am available to clients and prospects outside of normal business hours by appointment only; except in the case of an emergency.

However in the case of current clients I am available by Instant Messenger and Online Real Time Chat at times other than normal business hours. Clients have all of my contact information including my private and Cell Phone in case of emergency. (EXAMPLE: A client or their assistant forgets how to reference sales graphics in a coupon page they are doing an email broadcast for that evening. They can reach me by phone regardless of where I am and I will walk them through the process.)

As noted in the previous answer, clients have my private contact phone numbers. They also have access to me by Instant Messenger and Online Real Time Chat during normal business hours. Before and after normal operating hours clients can contact me by using any of those methods but in case of emergency only.

CAVEAT on Availability: Obviously if a client or prospect calls and gets my voice mail or instant messages me and gets an "Out of Office" message, they need to leave a message indicating the nature of their website needs and I will make every effort to contact them back ASAP, no later than the following morning or at the time they indicated in their message.

Yes there are a few: No freelance web developer "Knows It All" or is an expert in all of the disciplines involved with web development. If someone tells you they are, RUN do NOT walk to the nearest exit.

The good freelancers are very proficient in the more commonly requested disciplines, ie: Graphic Site Design, On Site Search Engine Optimization, CSS Layout, XML, HTML, PHP, JAVA, CGI, PERL, AJAX etc.

However, some do specialize in just 1 or 2 disciplines. For example; they may specialize in site graphic design only and another in lay out only and yet another in SEO only. For the client trying to coordinate a complete site development between 3 different freelancers that specialize in different disciplines, can become a time consuming nightmare trying to get all 3 on the same page regarding the clients site development.

• FLASH Animation Intros or Sites. WHY? Yes I know they LOOK very cool however:

  Unless you have a MASSIVE advertising budget a FLASH site will make your site a self defeating venture. FLASH is NOT Search Engine Friendly! (Though some flash developers will tell you it is.) Therefore the only traffic an all FLASH site or Flash intros/headers will receive, will be from PAID Advertising. That is simply not a fit when it comes to taking advantage of FREE online advertising that is, for the most part, directly attributable to ZERO Cost Search Engine Marketing; which is an area where my talents can really produce for a client.

• Database Programming, WHY? Database programming is more complex and definitely not something I enjoy doing. If I can't enjoy doing something, I won't be as proficient at it as someone who does. But I think that is just human nature. We do have in our Freelance Co-op Database Programmers that love what they do and therefore are very good at it. If all you need is Database Programming, I will refer you to someone in our Co-op.
• Ecommerce Shopping Carts. WHY? Same reason as Database Programming. And for all intent and purposes, setting up a shopping cart involves a lot of database programming. I can set up PayPal Buy Now buttons for individual products sales and PayPal shopping carts. But if you have 10 or more items you're better off with an expert. I will refer you to someone in our Co-op.

Answers to questions about my services, accessibility, hours of operation etc.

I Do Both: However the majority of my clients will choose to have me develop their site based on a template because:

1. Developing their site based on a template saves them a lot of money versus a custom design the time involved in the design process. As well, they can choose from literally THOUSANDS of professionally designed website templates.
2. Templates with color changes, background changes, template masthead and footer image changes (All included in template package pricing), and the inner-page images the client provides, they end up with a site that appears to be unique, individual, industry appropriate and of course personalized for the client's business.

There are too many variables involved from client to client to be time specific. Variables like: Will the site be based on a template or custom? How many pages will the site have? How many user interactive features the site will have, ie:

Contact form, Appointment form, opt-in forms, auto-generated driving directions map, software installs like an auto-responder or will JAVA, PHP or CGI scripts be involved for additional user interactivity and usability and so on.

Will I also be doing keyword research for the site or will the client? If the client does their own keyword research that will obviously add the time it takes them to get it done. It all adds up and it all takes time.

For EXAMPLE: A 1 Page Brochure site may only take a day or two. A 5 to 7 Page Site may take 3 to 5 weeks. And either can take even longer depending on the number of post initial approval changes are requested by the client.

Time to completion in the form of a "Goal Date" and mile stones in the development process are agreed upon during the proposal and contract process.

Absolutely: Depending on the estimated time of completion, you may hear from me daily on smaller sites and weekly but sometimes also daily on larger sites. As well, at the end of each day your pages will be uploaded to a password protected directory on your domain server. I will email you as to what was accomplished that day. You can access the pages in your web browser to see what has been accomplished. And of course you will be able to call me during business hours if you have a question or require changes based on what you've see in the updates.

As long as I am not asked to infringe on anyone's copyright, yes I can. In fact after our initial discovery call you will receive a simple questionnaire to fill out that includes a place to enter the web addresses of sites you like the look, feel and functions of as a way to help me better analyze what you want for your site.

In other words I can design a site for you in a similar style with a look and feel that is very similar to someone else's website or a combination of other sites but I will not do an exact copy. I will be happy to take a look at the site(s) you are referring to and let you know what I can deliver without ending up with an exact replica.

Yes I probably can help you with just about anything having to do with a website. Regardless of whether you need a new more modern looking site, additions to your site, (Blog, Forum, Article Directory, FAQ Page, Support Desk etc.) I can be of service to you. However without knowing precisely what it is you require help with, I can't say for sure. If the help you need is really an emergency, CLICK HERE - If you just have a general site help question as to what I may be able to help you with, CLICK HERE.

Yes, Absolutely - It's Your Site: Once we have discussed the information in your questionnaire, you will get email reports and actually see the site as it gets built in a back directory of your domain. After you see them feel free to add in your input on colors, layout, presentation, etc., call me and I will work with you to incorporate your ideas as the project moves towards completion. That way you end up with EXACTLY what you want.

If I Do There Will Be Additional Fees. However: If you follow the Ebook Guide I will provide to you free of charge, you should have no problem coming up with your own text content for your website. If you still feel you need help, see my prices on Writing Copy For Your Website

Yes and No: If you have given me full artistic license with the design then no there is nothing else you will be required to do. However, so there are no surprises I do recommend you at least review the updates you receive and either comment on or request changes to the design and layout.

If you have given me full literary license as to the writing of the text content, there is nothing else you need to do regarding site copy. But again; so there are no surprises I do recommend you at least review the updates you receive and either comment on or request changes to the text content or text formatting.

That's Great! Here's how we get started: If you wish to take action immediately, call me: (619) 269-1141. (Please keep in mind my hours of operation: 10:30am to 7:30pm Pacific Time, Monday Through Friday.) You will get my voice mail after hours.

If you get my voice mail during office hours, DO leave me a message stating you need website service, the best number to reach you at and when to reach you at that number. I will return your call as absolutely soon as possible, at the time you requested (For your time zone), or no later than the morning (Pacific Time) of the next business day.

However I would prefer you establish a tentative time for call appointment and we can firm that up by email. To set a tentative appointment online, CLICK HERE

Answers to questions about Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Marketing is Paid Advertising on Search Engines - Driving Internet traffic to a business web site by paying for Sponsored or Pay Per Click advertising placed on relevant search engine query results pages.

Search Engine Optimization is NON-Paid Advertising on Search Engines - Driving Interent traffic to a business website by optimizing web pages and having other popular sites refer to the business site which drives a business site's link position in the search query closer to the top of listings for relevant search queries.

LOCAL

Local Business Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an Internet marketing strategy of applying the methodology of 4 distinct but inter-related disciplines in order to accomplish the goal of maximizing the volume of demographically and geographically "Targeted" niche Internet User traffic to a local businesses website pages from relevant search engine organic search results.

Local SEO search results goals for both "Local Business Listings" and "General or Organic" listings are accomplished through natural or un-paid ("organic") methods. (Not to be confused with Search Engine Marketing (SEM) which is intended to accomplish the same goals but uses "Paid Advertising" versus the "Un-paid advertising" methods of SEO.

But Make No Mistake About It - both cost money, time and effort or both. However of the 2, NON-Paid Search Engine Optimization obvioulsy last longer without much additional time and effort once the highest positions are attained. With any kind of Paid Advertising, when you stop paying, the ads stop running and the traffic those ads generated stops as well.

Answers to questions about GetFreedom.com Payment Options, Discounts, Coupons, Invoicing and etc.

Yes and No

NO - On projects less than $300.00 with an estimated completion time of less than 3 days from approval, I do NOT Require Up Front Fees. The project can be paid post completion but is due and payable immediately upon completion.

YES - On projecst more than $300.00 with an estimated completion time of more than 3 days from approval,
I DO Require 50% Up Front Fees. The balance is paid for post completion but is due and payable immediately upon completion..

Yes Absolutely

Occassionally I Will Offer:

Service Sales To Current And Past Clients via emailed coupons.

Service Sales To Non-Clients who have Opted Into My Update Subscriptions (Free Ecourses Like this one etc.)

I always offer Seniors (65 & Older) and Military And Veterans (Scanned Military ID Copy Required) a flat rate 20% Discount on all services.

No Discounts, Coupons or Specials can be combined for additional cost reductions.