Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ongoing monthly fees I’ll have to pay?

No matter what, every website must be hosted somewhere. Depending on your needs, hosting a website will run you somewhere between $10 and $50 each month. If we have built, are going to build or currently maintain your site, then you may also be eligible for hosting on our own private client server(s), which runs between $20 and $30/month. This is a bonus service we offer to our clients: email sales@iluminada.com to learn more about our managed hosting program for existing clients and why it may be an excellent choice for your site… (or read the rest)

Are there any other charges associated with having a website?

Sometimes, yes. You will always have a domain name to renew, that’s certain. These cost between $10 and $35/year, depending on your registrar. E-commerce sites require a security certificate to be renewed each year, and this costs $75-$150, depending on the type of certificate. If your site uses a content management system or website store software, sometimes security updates are recommended by the developers. These updates usually take us anywhere from 1-4 hours to install. We notify our clients whenever we find a critical security update that needs to be installed. Typically, this will occur once or twice each year if it occurs at all.

I have no computer skills, can I still manage my own site?

The short answer to this question is Yes, you can. Our Content Management Systems are pretty straightforward, and if all you need to edit is text or (for eCommerce sites) product price, photos,descriptions and orders, then just about anyone who has worked with MS Word can do it.

The long answer is Yes, and you could probably also fly an airplane: but landing the plane is what really counts. Really professional sites will benefit from the skills of a trained professional performing some of the updating of the site. A site manager with some HTML skills and a fundamental knowledge of computers & web and graphics applications will give you many more options in terms of your site’s flexibility, professionalism and appearance over the long-term. If you don’t have a staff member that meets these basic criteria (or one who is willing to learn), we’d recommend setting aside a small maintenance budget for us to help you keep your site fresh and professional looking. We are happy to provide a training program for your staff once your site is complete, and can also recommend some good learning resources. But the bottom line is this: by having someone skilled on your staff, you can better utilize our time by having us perform only high-level customizations and site expansion as you grow your web business.

What is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything?

42. If you can tell me which book this FAQ originally came from, then things are likely going to work out well between us.

I want to be at the top of the list at Google and Yahoo. Can you do this for me?

Answer: Anyone who says an unequivocal yes to this is also probably going to try to sell you beachfront property in Arizona too. The answer is yes and no, thoughthis video pretty much sums up our approach to search engine optimization… (read the rest of the answer)

What happens when I ask you for a bid, and what is the process like after that?

In our initial consultation, we will ask you to provide us with some examples of what you like– either other websites, magazine ads, logos… whatever your project entails. One client once brought a purse as an example of the feeling she wanted for her website. We will want you to let us know what your objectives are and what kinds of things you like– either design-wise or feature-wise… (read the rest)