FAQ's

What do I need to get a website?

Basically you need two things: a Domain Name and Hosting on an internet server with an ISP “Internet Service Provider”. Websurfer websites use a well known Australian ISP which uses state-of-the-art server technology required for our database driven websites. We have found them to be highly reliable with excellent customer support and offering discounted rates also.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is an address on the web, for example, “websurfer.com.au”. Your domain name might be your personal name, the name of your business, a nickname, or something else. Most domain names end with a .com extension, however, extensions such as .com.au , .net, .org, .edu, and .gov are also used. Domain names are subject to availability.

What is a server?

Each website's files (web pages, images, etc.) must be located on a web server. This is a very powerful computer which is constantly connected to the internet making your website available on a continual basis 24/7. When someone visits your site, their computer downloads the web pages from the server on which it resides. Websurfer will set this up for you.

What is a URL?

A URL is the complete website address, usually beginning with http://, followed by www. and ending with your domain name. The complete URL for Websurfer’s website is http://www.websurfer.com.au however www.websurfer.com.au works equally well.

How do I choose a domain name?

Your domain name is a unique name that identifies your website on the internet. We can help you in choosing the right name for you or your business when you create an account with us. Through a domain name checker we can show you which domains are available and which are taken.

When selecting a domain name try and keep it as short as possible. Also try to keep it less than three separate words. Remember, your domain name can NOT contain spaces although you can use hyphens to separate words. If your company name is “Hats Australia” then a suitable domain name could be ”hatsaustralia.com.au”.

I would like a site where I can alter the content myself on a regular basis, is that possible?

This style of site is called a Content Managed Site (also known as CMS). This style of site easily lets you add, edit and delete content through a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, just like email or maybe your word processing editor. These website are driven by powerful databases and smart software that gives you access to website applications that were available only to large corporations a few years ago. Websurfer specialises in these type of sites.

What should I put on my website?

A typical website includes a homepage, your products or services, some information about you or your business and a way to email you. Beyond that you can have an online shop with a shopping cart system, eye catching galleries, guestbooks, visitor feedback, streaming video and much much more. Only your imaginations is the limit.

Will I get an email address with my website?

Yes! When we register your domain name and begin a web hosting account then you will be able to receive mail using your domain name (for example, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). You can set up a number of email addresses if you wish. You will be able to access your mail directly on the web or by using an email application such as Outlook Express.

How much does a website cost?

For a new or redesigned website almost any budget is possible. A similar question would be “How much does a car cost?” . Like a car the price of a website depends on what you need and what features you would like to incorporate. Generally speaking a new website with Websurfer starts around AUD$3,000 for a site with 5 menu items. We only sell Content Managed Websites and provide you with a superior product where you have the power and knowledge to fully control and update it yourself. Please contact us for a full explanation about pricing and products. WE DO NOT CHARGE ANY ONGOING MONTHLY FEES.

How long will it take to design my website & put it on the web?

The length of time it takes to design your website depends on a number of factors, including your preferences, the complexity of design desired, number of pages and amount of graphics work to be done. The typical website can be online in a month or less. It is important to remember that website needs to have text and image content. Websurfer relies on you to provide all the content. The faster we get the content the faster your site can be online.

If you are in a real hurry, it's possible to be online on the internet in less than a week. Please ask about the time frame for your particular site.

How much does it cost to run a website every year?

The are two fees you need to pay every year. They are hosting and your domain name. Hosting prices vary from supplier to supplier depending on a few different factors including your websites technical requirements. Websurfer will help set up your hosting with our dedicated ISP which you will pay your hosting to once a year.

The current yearly rate (Jan. 2008) is approximately $100 incl. GST. This rate will change periodically but is likely to be around that price. When setting up hosting you can also expect a set-up fee of approximately $10. The cost of your domain name depends on what kind of name you would like to register. The prices can fluctuate but including GST currently (Jan. 2008) for a “.com” domain name about $50 for 2 years and a “.com.au” domain name is about $70 for 2 years.

What are “Google Adwords”?

Google Adwords are a way to buy good search placement on Google’s Search engine. When you search on Google you will find the Adwords sponsored businesses on the right side and extreme top of the search results. The websites displayed there have paid for this position. Adwords works in many ways but most commonly you set a daily budget e.g. $20 per day and after that you set the price you are willing to pay per click (meaning every time someone clicks on your website). The higher the price you pay per click, the higher up on the search result list you go. You decide what search terms you pay for. Google Adwords can be an immediate solution to getting visitor traffic to your website quickly.

How do I get my website to be Number One on Google?

Google and other search engines are very complex and rely on a cocktail of many parameters to rank websites in a “search result”. These cocktails are secret however there are a few key rules to follow to help your site.

Attracting incoming links from quality websites to your site can be highly beneficial.
Sprinkle your keyword phrases throughout your text content, add labels to your images and use your keywords in headings (H1, H2 tags etc).
Update your website with new written content as frequently as possible. Google particularly loves educational material and will eventually reward your website’s ranking.

Please note Google will often not recognise your website (or rank poorly) for 6 months or more. They currently utilise a policy of usually not allowing any website to rank well immediately when listed.

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