Preserved Topic: host...?

I'm wondering what you people do for a place to put your clients page once they are finished? Do they have their own servers? Is there a place to go that doesn't charge too much and is pretty reliable? Do you calculate the startup cost in with what you charge? Also what about getting them listed in search engines? Any info would be appreciated.

MinutRice

Ive always imagined that the company designing the website purchased the domain, and that was included in the total price. I could be wrong but thats what I thought.

Jestah
Jestah91@aol.com
ICQ - 77252449

Personally, I've not heard of a designer purchasing the domain. The client should purchase the domain so that they retain ownership. That way, if they ever change hosts, it's up to them to do the transfer. And I can't imagine a company letting someone else own his domain.

As for hosting, the company I work for provides hosting for our clients. Some prefer to host somewhere else for various reasons, but it's a bit of a pain. With what few freelance jobs I've done, I have recommended a host and helped them set up the account and purchase the domain, but it's up to them to pay the bills. While I'm developing, I just create a directory under my personal domain where they can see the progress.

I'm with Wes on that one. I always use my own space for the development, and let the client purchase a domain, hosting etc...

--TheCommando--
"Don't steal - the Government hates competition."
www.shadowclan.net

I usually want the client to do the actual purchasing of domains, but working for any of the bigger companies we usually register the names first, just so they don't get lost. When I designed for VISI it was easy, we had the best hosting right in the same network, made development really sweet, no more hassles connecting to the servers! I'm torn on this one, it *should* be the responsibility of the client, but they typically don't *know* much about the whole process! I think if you could be getting advanced payments to cover costs, it could be cool to handle that whole aspect yourself, that way you'd be hosted at the right outfit, right specs, etc... AND, they'd know *you*, as well as your client. This way you stand a chance of getting the right service. Hosting and registering is cheap, relatively. Owning the domain and transfering it after final payment could be a nifty way to actually *get* your final payment, too!

Your pal, -doc-



[This message has been edited by DocOzone (edited 09-07-2000).]

That seems a resonable way to go. It also makes it easier on the client side, when worry about the hosting.

The client will feel a lot more secure with their decission to choose you as their designer know, that they don't have to hire a designer, and then go and get a consultant inorder to get their newly purchased webpage online.


www.warmage.org

What about getting them listed in Search engines? Do you help them with that also. See I'm going to make a page for my girlfriend's grandfather and he doesn't know anything about the internet. It is just going to be a page selling land. I will probably get stuck with doing everything like answering email and all that stuff.

Hmm, I usually will place the meta tags and alert a few of the bigger search engines of the new pages existence, but seldom will I agree to "drive traffic to your site!" Unless you're willing to cough up with some heavy cash to place banners all over, and more imprortantly, in the "paper" medias, there's no chance of any major success on your part, the client will feel unsatisfied. YMMV, of course!

Your pal, -doc-<P>

Doc (or anyone else), have you ever used any of those services that add your page(s) to hundreds of search engines? Why or why not? [sorry, this sounds like an essay question =) ]

-Slime

"Windows: Just another pane in the glass."