Everything you wanted to know about building a website, but were too afraid to ask...

How much will it cost?

This depends on what you want - however, prices for a straighforward low cost website start at under £400, self managed sites from £600 - £1200 including training and online shops from £1300 and upwards. For self managed sites and online shops in particular, a lot depends on which functions you need and the amount of content you initially need uploading.

How long does it take to build a website?

We can get you up and running in a week, but a normal project typically takes from 2 to 4 weeks.

Do you use templates to build websites?

All websites are built using some form of page template, to make the site look and behave consistently. However, these can be either 'off the peg' - which can result in a string of websites looking very much the same - or custom built. Every template for an Alpine Creative site is built from scratch using bespoke photoshop artwork and professional web editing software. This allows for maximum tailoring of both creative artwork and functionality for each site.

Who hosts my website?

Our recommended hosting provider is Fasthosts.co.uk, who we've found to provide an excellent and reliable service, with good technical support. For domain registration, their sister company UKreg.com is also recommended for good value domain names.

How much does hosting cost?

For a low cost website - £50-60 per year, for a self managed site £100-110 per year, for an online shop £20-30 /month + VAT.

Can I use my existing domain name?

Yes, we make sure that your existing domain names are configured correctly and arrange for a seamless transfer onto the new site.

How do I set up an email account?

You can use your existing email service or we can set up new email accounts for you eg info@yourwebsite.co.uk - basic email accounts come free, but depending on the hosting package, you may wish to pay for a more advanced business email service (recommended).

How do I get my website to appear on Google?

The aim of search engine optimisation is to create a site that is easily found. All Alpine Creative websites are built in a search friendly design and submitted to the major search engines once you go live to give you the best coverage right from the start.

How do I get my site as high as possible on each search engine?

We provide advice on the best keywords and content to place in the various parts of your website to help maximise search engine traffic. Advice is also included on building reciprocal links with related sites, as this is still the most powerful tool for search engine optimisation.

How can I sell online with my website?

For this you'll need an online shop - check out our ecommerce page for the full details. The system we use allows for online card payments as well as payments by phone, fax and cheque. Once up and running, you have access to a comprehensive system for pricing, deliveries, stock management and marketing of your online business.

What do I need to do in order to take online card payments?

First, you need to set up an emerchant account with your bank, then set up an account with an online card processing provider such as Protx (although your bank may offer you this facility too, it's worth shopping around, as many of the big banks systems are more expensive and less user friendly than other companies who specialise in this kind of facility). We can then integrate your website to take payments via any online payment provider you choose.

How much does online card processing cost?

The emerchant account with your bank will typically cost £14-16 /month* and your online card procesing account about £20 /month or more, depending who it is with.

Transaction fees for Debit Cards are around 20-30 pence per transaction and for Credit Cards, between 2 and 3% of the total transaction value. How much you pay depends on your turnover and may be subject to a monthly minimum fee, or you may pay a monthly minimum fee and get a certain number of Debit Card payments free.

Typically, online card processing costs around £40 per month to run, plus the 2-3% charged on Credit Card sales.

*NB If you already have a merchant account for a PDQ machine, your bank will usually give you a second emerchant account number at no extra charge.