Frequently asked questions

Do you use templates?

No, absolutely not. I create each design myself from scratch. That’s the only way that you are guaranteed to have a one-of-a-kind website. Can you imagine visiting another band’s site and seeing that it’s exactly the same as yours? Yuck!

Is web hosting included in your prices?

No, hosting isn’t included but I can help you get set up with a good host. I highly recommend Hostgator. I use them for a number of websites, included this one. Their service and features are excellent and they have a very generous bandwidth allowance (important if you’re streaming a lot of audio or video on your site). Their "Baby" package is excellent value at $9.95 per month.

If you’d prefer to use a different host, that’s fine too. Please let me know before you sign up as I’ll need to make sure that they’re able to run the software I use. Be sure that you are signing up for either a Linux or Unix hosting account and NOT a Windows account.

For domain name registration I recommend Go Daddy. They sell .com domains for just $9.00. Some other registrars charge $35.00 for exactly the same thing, so be careful where you buy!

How and when do I pay you?

My payment structure is as follows:

€200/$300 deposit upfront, with the balance due on completion of the project. If it fits in better with your cashflow situation, you can pay me in stages while I’m working on your site.

I accept payment through PayPal in either Euro or US Dollars – it’s reliable, secure and you don’t need a PayPal account to pay me, just a credit card. If you’re in Ireland, you can also pay me by cheque or bank draft.

Please note that the initial deposit is not refundable. This is just my way of protecting myself from time-wasters and ensuring that I get paid for at least some of my time, should you pull out before your site is completed.

How long does it take for you to build a website?

This varies as every project is unique. It usually takes around 6 weeks from start to finish. That may seem like a long time to wait, but it takes a lot of time and effort to make a website look good and work properly.

If you want a website in a hurry, then you’re going to end up with something that looks like it was thrown together. But if you’re prepared to wait a while then you’ll get a beautifully coded, well designed website that will look like you paid a million dollars for it!

Do you do other kinds of websites aside from band sites?

Yes, I sure do. Visit my other website bluecherry.ie which is aimed at small businesses, artists, photographers and anyone else looking for a well designed, standards compliant website.

Do you do Flash websites?

I don’t do websites that are built entirely with Flash, but I can incorporate some Flash elements into your design if you want, such as a Flash banner or the Flash media player.

There are a few reasons why I prefer not to use Flash. First of all, Flash content can often be inaccessible to users with disabilities, such as the visually impaired or people who have difficulties using a mouse. The Internet is such a wonderful source of information and entertainment and I firmly believe that everyone should be able to access it, no matter what challenges they face in life.

A lot of regular web users dislike Flash websites too, as they can be difficult to navigate and often don’t behave the way a pure HTML/CSS site does.

But just because your site isn’t all Flash, it doesn’t mean it won’t look wonderful! Plus you’ll have the added benefit of reaching more fans.

How come you don’t have a phone number or address listed?

It’s a big bad world out there and it’s just not safe for me to put that kind of information online. I prefer to work primarily via email. I’ve built sites for lots of clients this way and it works out really well. If we’ve developed a good working relationship and the need arises, then I’m happy to set up a meeting via Skype or IM.

Can I manage my own site after you finish?

I thought you'd never ask! The answer is a resounding "yes you can!" All my sites come with a state of the art content management system that makes it really easy for you to update your own website. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and you can update or edit any page on your site. I’ll supply you with a comprehensive guide to get you started, which I wrote especially for musicians. I'll also be available to in the months after your site is finished if you have any questions or problems.

Will you update my website for me when it’s finished?

I encourage all my customers to manage their own website. It’s not as difficult as most people think – it just takes a little bit of practice and patience to become familiar with the control panel. However, if you really don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself then I can put together a maintenance package for you.

Can you provide a design layout before I pay a deposit?

I’m sorry, but no. I need to have received your deposit before I start working on your design. This is just my way of ensuring that I get paid for at least some of my time should you pull out before your site is completed. The best way of getting a feel for my work is to look at my portfolio page.

Still have questions? Contact me and I'll get back to as soon as I can.