FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

How do domain names work?

Domain names - the "dot com, net, biz, etc." that identifies your site on the web, are available to be registered to website owners on a first-come: first-served basis. Domain names are administered by registrars; and can registered either to the company hosting your website for the website owner, or to the owner of the website directly. You may already have a domain name for a website you have now. If you do and would like to use that name for your new website, we'll either have to transfer the name if it's registered to your present host, or if it's held by you it will have to be reconfigured at the registrar to point to our servers rather than to the servers of your previous host. Transfers typically take about a week: Repointing takes only a few minutes once you know your username and password at the registrar.

If you don't have a name now, then one has to be selected and registered from those not already taken. "Dot com" is the most popular extension, and it can be a challenge to find an available name there that you like. Names should generally be as short and easy to remember as possible. Theexactnameofyourbusiness.com is usually a good choice; but again, only if it's not too long for a user to type in each time. We work with our clients to try to find a good name for their website, as well as helping them to repoint or transfer existing names. Domain name registration fees for website owners are $20 per year. The fee is included in a leased site.

What email options are available on my website?

The simplest email arrangement is called a "mailto" link. The link appears on your website as either a text link or a labeled button. When the user clicks on the link, his email program generates a "create mail" window with your email address already populated in the "to" field. The user completes the email and sends it. With this function, mail comes directly to your existing email address, whatever it is. Mailto links are the default email function on all of our websites.

For those who need to have one or more email addresses associated with their website's address (i.e. sally@mywebsite.com), the function can be included as an option for website owners (not available in leased sites).

How can I sell merchandise directly on the web?

"E-commerce" websites that include shopping cart and credit card processing functions, inventory lists with images, descriptions, pricing, etc. need to be planned very carefully. Of course money can be made online; but disappointment and failure are also possible. Our experience with e-commerce can be a valuable voice of caution that can save you thousands of dollars in needless design costs for a high-functioning e-com website. Call us to discuss your project.

What about copyrights?

We may not use copyrighted material on your website without permission from the owner of that copyright. If you provide us with content for your site, we use it with the understanding that you've obtained that permission. When we create new original content for your website, we generally own the copyright to that material. Sometimes we use "stock photographs or clipart" created by someone else and made available by license (the picture of the painter is an example) or images that we believe to be in the "public domain" (the picture of the Genesee River at the top of this page is an example). In those cases, we do NOT have copyright to those images; but we may use them only.

If you're paying us to design your website, then when the design is paid for, you will own the files that comprise the site. That means that we've transferred to you all the rights we had to the content included in those files. It does not mean that you will have copyright to stock photos or items that are in the public domain. The files of leased websites remain the property of Upstate Web Services. This information describes the policy of Upstate Web Services and is not intended as legal advice. Consult your own attorney.

What's my role in the design process?