Website Running Simplified

Introduction

We receive lots of questions about website running: transfers, staging, redesign, optimization, and more. In order to explain a few things in simpler terms, let’s use a “car” as an analogy.

Table of Contents

1. Domain
   1. Selection
   2. Purchase
   3. Renewal
   4. Transfer
2. Website
   1. CMS
   2. Database
   3. Plugins
   4. Theme
   5. PHP
   6. Migration
3. Hosting
   1. Configuration
   2. Our hosting plan
   3. Price
   4. Staging
4. Maintenance
   1. Our maintenance plan
   2. Price
5. Our Packs
   1. Starter types
   2. Intermediate
   3. Advanced
   4. Pro types
   5. Price
6. Emails
   1. Redirects
   2. Webmail
   3. Mail client configuration
   4. Gmail use
   5. Google Workspace …

1. Domain Name

This is the name by which a website is known, found on the web, and identified. This is like your car plate/registration. You need one to drive your car, but you can use it on any car brand and model. In the same way, you need a domain name to run a website, but the website’s content can include anything.

1.1 Selection

• It is much better if your domain name matches your brand name.
• Despite Search Engines (SEs) being able to understand words even when they are not hyphenated, a domain name with hyphens (for brand names with more than one word) reads better to human eyes.
• Shorter domains tend to rank better (appear higher up on search results) on SEs.

1.2 Purchase

Domain names need purchasing, a service which we offer to do on your behalf at a small fee. However, this can be done yourself on other domain registration agencies.

You might wish to buy several domain names for a single site in order to prevent someone else buying those, such as with and without hyphens (my-business.com and mybusiness.com) and with different endings (my-business.com and my-business.co.uk).

1.3 Renewal

A domain name purchase is valid for a year and needs renewal or else your ownership of it will expire, meaning it could be bought by others.

1.4 Transfer

A domain name can be easily moved from one registration agency to another when:

• you know the email address of the registrar (the person who registered the domain).
• the domain is unlocked (the registrar lock setting is turned off).
• you have the EPP code (to authorize the transfer of that domain to a new registrar).

2. Website

A website is like your car structure and contents.

2.1 CMS

Websites can be built through different web content management systems. In the same way, a car can be built in different models or car brands. We recommend and use WordPress for easyness of use, performance, reliability. Admin access to WordPress can be granted upon request and needs.

2.2 Database

The WordPress database is a collection of files and tables that stores some of the website content and information (logs, etc). This could be compared to car electronics.

2.3 Plugins

A WordPress plugin adds a special benefit and feature to a website and the amount of plugins used for a site varies upon your needs. This could be compared to car accessories (air co, cruise control, sunroof, etc.).

While many excellent plugins are free, some need a licence. Depending on what the website designer installed, you may have some (licence) renewal fees to keep the plugins in use and up-to-date.

2.4 Theme

A WordPress theme determines the design and layout of the website. This is like the car’s exterior. It is possible to redesign a site while keeping the same contents (keeping the same database, plugins, etc.).

2.5 PHP

This could be compared to car engine types. Each year, a newer PHP version is launched, with its improvements and faster speed – this does not mean that all websites are automatically compatible.

2.6 Migration

You cannot move a website from one registration agency in the same way that you would with a domain name. What you can do is copy the original website content (from server A) and paste it (on server B), creating a clone. So, while a domain can be transferred, a webite can only be migrated. Fees for this service vary depending on various factors (whether the site is up to date or not, size, accessibility, etc.).

3. Hosting

In the same way that a car needs petrol, diesel, electric, gaz, etc. to run, website use up resources (take up space) on servers – a service which we offer at a small fee.

3.1 Configuration

It is helpful to use the same agency to manage your domain and your hosting but it is not required. We use a SiteGound (SG) account for all our clients. Admin access to SG site tools can be granted upon request and needs.

3.2 Our One Year Hosting Plan Includes:

• SSL certificate (https instead of http).
• 24/7 downtime monitoring.

3.3 Price

Budget-calculated depending on your website’s size. Contact us to find out an estimate.

3.4 Staging

This functionality allows to create (a) copy(ies) of your WordPress site to test anything new and then apply the changes. Staging sites can be password protected in SG’s site tools.

4. Maintenance

This could be compared to car servicing – we highly recommend for efficiency and security.

4.1 Our One Year Maintenance Plan Includes

• 1 Year of WP main version upgrade (+/- 3 per year).
• 1 Year of WP minor version updates (+/- 1-2 per month).
• 1 Year of all non-licensed plugins update (daily).
• Free access to daily site backups.
• PHP upgrade to the latest one if site allows.

4.2 Price

Budget-calculated depending on your website’s needs. Contact us to find out.

5. Our Packs

Special bundles are offered for cars, for example winter packages which could include snow tyres and chains, anti-freeze & coolant, etc.

Similarly, we have created some special packages which will benefit your website’s running and improve your reach, thus increasing your audience and brand recognition.

5.1 Starter Types

1. Security (Hack protection)
2. Speed (Improve load time and visitor’s retention)
3. Emails (Various options to choose from including free of charge ones)

5.2 Intermediate Types

1. Measurement (site tagging for analytics and initial SEO)
2. Compliance (cookies, privacy and terms)
3. SEO Basics (SEs indexing and snippets optimisation)

5.3 Advanced Types

1. Links (broken, internal, external and redirects management)
2. Spam (prevention)
3. Sitemap + 404 (custom pages)
4. Social (networks, icons, sharing)

5.4 Pro Types

1. Local (G Business, G Maps, Bing Places)
2. Branding (UK Directories)
3. Branding (World Directories
4. eCommerce (G Merchant, G Shopping)
5. Email Marketing
6. SE Marketing (Google Ads, Local Services ads, G Ad Grant, G Ads for Non-Profits)

5.5 Price

Usually at £100/pack and are a one-off – renewal is not needed.
Clients who purchase several packages get a free year of site maintenance as a gift.
Note: if the packs are removed, for example if a designer starts from scratch during a site redesign, they will need to be re-applied which would include new additional fees.

6. Emails

Once you own one domain name, it’s easy to create email addresses with “name@YourDomainName”, create autoresponders, block senders, etc.
If you own several domain names (that we have access to), it’s also easy to forward (redirect) an email address “name@YourOldDomainName” to a different one “name@YourNewDomainName”.
Here are some ways (from okay to best) to access your emails:

6.1 Redirect (fair)

We can redirect any “name@YourNewDomainName” email address to another email address of your choice. The disadvantage is that you will need to reply from the other email address; not the domain one.

6.2 Webmail (good)

You’ll need to visit another website like this one. Then you enter your email and password to log in and use the platform interface to manage your emails. This is free of charge but not as convenient as other options.

6.3 Mail Client Configuration (better and easier)

AutoConfigure: we can help you select the type of client you wish to use (iOS for iPhone, MACOS, Windows Live, Windows Outlook) and your preferred email protocol. You’ll generate, download and launch the autoconfig file, and follow the instructions in your email client.
Manual Settings: we send you the settings to configure your mail client manually. Doing so will bring the emails directly to your computer/laptop.

6.4 Gmail Use with Your Domain (best free option)

We can help you use your own domain name with Gmail for free and manage your business email with it.
If you do not have a Gmail account, we can assist you with creating one that matches your domain name.
Setting up Gmail with your own domain email for managing your business correspondence will give you an easy to use email interface and will reduce server space and resources use.

6.5 G Workspace (pro)

Formerly known as G Suite, this paid option consists of Gmail, contacts, calendar, G meet and chat for communication; G Drive for storage; and the G docs editors suite for content creation. (Business Starter = £2.50/mo per user excl. VAT).

Conclusion

While it is theoretically possible to have a 100% free start, that would also mean a non-optimised domain name and/or using a website with ads. The same way that a car creates more expenses than just what you bought if for, even once a website has been built and is live, there are fees required to renew your domain name, for its hosting and for its maintenance. These fees will help your business grow online and will help you maximise your website running returns on investment.