How much does it cost to register a domain name?
It varies a lot depending on what registrars are offering (eg Packages including registration, hosting, Search Engine Optimisation, etc). Like everything else you buy you need to shop around. All Australian domain names are registered on a two-yearly basis, make sure you are comparing two-yearly prices. A list of registered registrars for Australia can be found at www.auda.org.au. The best deal when I last looked was at Crazy Domains ($24 for 2 years).

How much does it cost for hosting at HostingBay?
If you do not require a shopping cart, the smallest package (Au Personal) should be sufficient and costs $2.40 per month. To include a shopping cart you will need the AU Business plan which costs from $3.60 per month depending on how far in advance you pay. Should you go over the allotted amount of space you can upgrade to the next level.

How long does it take for my domain name to become known to the World Wide Web (WWW)?
Between 24 and 72 hours.

How do people find me on the net?
Once your domain name has become known to the WWW, it can be accessed directly on your internet browser (type in www.yoursite.com.au). Search engines (like Google and Yahoo) are changing their search criteria constantly. I optimize your site as much as is possible and submit it to Google and Yahoo, but you may need the services of a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professional or pay for a sponsored link. There are many companies specializing in SEO and again you will have to shop around. You could submit your site to each Search Engine individually by going to their sites.

How can I find out who has been visiting my site?
Most hosting sites use Cpanel (or something similar) to give you access to lots of things on your site. Everything you want to know/change about your site is at your fingertips.

How does emailing work?
Your host should provide for a number of email addresses on your site (eg you@www.yoursite.com.au). Just as you probably have other email accounts, you will now have more. When you have decided on names, it is easy to go to your site via Cpanel, add them to your site, and automatically add the accounts to your pc/laptop to read mail sent to them.

Who has access to my domain name details?
Only people who know the domain name password. You can change your password at any time.

Who has access to my website content?
Only people who know your username and password. You can change your password at any time, but I need it while I am creating/updating your site.

How do I add PayPal payment to my site?
Go to PayPal and sign up for a Merchant Account (joining up is free but a percentage of your sales goes to PayPal). I will create any Paypal buttons you need and add them to your website. For a full ecommerce shopping site, ask me about Zencart (yes, it's free too).

Have all your questions been answered? No, then just contact me !