Freqently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions and answers. If your question is not listed please use our contact page.

What is a domain and why do I need one?

A domain is your web sites address on the internet. Most people are familiar with a web site address, such as yourdomain.com. You need a domain so that people can find your web site. AWR Web Design will assist you in selecting and registering a domain name that is available as well as one that will be easy people to find.

Where is my web site located?

All of your web site's files will be stored on a web server specifically selected by AWR Web Design to meet the needs of your web site. The web server features the following:

  • Dual Processor AMD Servers
  • 2 GB of DDR RAM
  • Multiple Heavy Duty Hard Drives
  • Daily and Weekly Backups
  • 99.95% Uptime per month
  • 24/7 Monitoring in a Secure Facility

Our web hosting packages include all the necessary features to get your site running and keep it running. From webmail to databases, we have it all!

What is my part in the web design process?

Here are five things that you can do to make the web design process easier
and more efficient.

  • Use Email. Email is most effective method for communication, particularly because it gives us both a written record. Of course, face to face and the phone can also be useful, but email should be used whenever possible.
  • Be clear on what your goals are. Simply put, let me know what you want from your web site and what you don't.
  • Decide on content. Decide what content you want to present on your web site. I will take care of the formatting and layout of that content.
  • Deliver content in an organized and timely manner. Text should be finalized, proofread and ready for publication. Graphics should be sent in a usable format (.jpg, .gif, .png or .psd) and its use on the site clearly stated.
  • Offer clear, helpful feedback to design drafts. A reasonable amount of revisions will be made during this process. Be flexible and aware that time is limited and leave the responsibility of producing professional results to AWR Web Design.

What if I already have a registered domain name?

That's great! This means that you have already secured your domain name. The company that you registered your domain with may or may not offer web hosting as well. However, I strongly recommend that you consider allowing your site to be hosted by AWR Web Design. The reason for this is simple. I am familiar with what features are available on our web servers and know that your site requirements will be supported by these servers. If you already have a domain and are unsure what to do or what your options are, please ask!

Do I get email with my new domain and web site?

Yes. When you register or transfer a domain with AWR Web Design, I will be able to create up to 100 email addresses and unlimited email forwards for you. Stop using your personal email address for your business. You will now be able to have an email address using your new domain. You even get a free web mail program to access your new email or use MS Outlook or Outlook Express to access your email server.

What is meant by "static" and "dynamic" content?

"Static" content is content that always stays the same on the page. It's placed there once and never changes unless you actually go back and edit the page. For example, a page that tells about your company history. The text is placed on the page once and it will not change unless someone edits the page and changes the text.

"Dynamic" content is the exact opposite. This type of content can change every time a page is loaded. The content is usually stored in a database and then pulled from the database based on criteria inputed or selected by the user. The selected content is then placed on the page and displayed for the user. This makes it very easy to use the same content on multiple pages while only having to enter it once in the database. This also means that several pages can be updated by only making one update to the database content. This is the concept that makes CMS or Content Management Systems work.

What is CMS and what will it do for me?

DrupalCMS stands for Content Management System. There are many uses for CMS, but typically it is used to allow multiple users to enter and edit content from their web browser in a simple to use interface. It's also very useful for maintaining content and displaying it dynamically on web pages.

AWR Web Design uses a very powerful CMS called Drupal. Drupal is adaptable to just about any web site, from simple web sites to complex business applications. A CMS site may cost more initially, but in the long run your business will save money on site updates. Ask AWR Web Design if a CMS site will be a cost effective solution to your web site needs.

What is SSL and why do I need it?

The SSL (and TLS) protocol is the Web standard for encrypting communications between users and SSL (secure sockets layer) e-commerce sites. Data sent via an SSL connection is protected by encryption, a mechanism that prevents eavesdropping and tampering with any transmitted data. SSL provides businesses and consumers with the confidence that private data sent to a Web site, such as credit card numbers, are kept confidential. Web server certificates (also known as secure server certificates or SSL certificates) are required to initialize an SSL session.

Customers know when they have an SSL session with a website when their browser displays the little gold padlock and the address bar begins with a https rather than http. SSL certificates can be used on webservers for Internet security and mailservers such as imap, pop3 and smtp for mail collection and/or mail sending security.

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