DOMAIN REGISTRATION

In order to have a website, one of the basic steps is to acquire a web address, or domain name.
This can be either a .com or .co.za address, depending on your choice and the availability.
Costs vary a little, but as a guideline, a Domain can be registered via established entities for around R79.00 for a .co.za address, and R130.00 for .com and other extensions. Renewal cost per annum is the same.
To register a .com domain name in the U.S.A. costs from around $8.99 per year.
This cost is borne by the Client directly via Credit Card or Bank Debit Order. We handle that on your behalf.
We will research available Domain Names for you, based on choices that are in keeping with your business or company name, if required.
With The internet becoming more and more crowdwd, your desired address (particularly a .com address) is increasingly difficult to find available. Other domain name extensions exist, such as
.co.za
.info
.org
.biz

We will discuss your options with you and find the right one for you.
You will need a recognized Credit Card or Banking details for Debit Orders to pay for the registration of a domain name.
While THE GATHERING STORM does not control registrations, we make use of a large respected companies to do so on your behalf.
MY FEE FOR PERFORMING THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE IN THE PRICING INFORMATION.

SETUP OF WEBSITE HOSTING

You will need to have storage place for the website, and the most ideal option is to do both registration of domain, and hosting, at the same company. If you have already registered a domain name, and the company it was done with does NOT provide hosting, then it is advisable to transfer the domain to the host company we use, otherwise an additional cost called Domain Pointing will be applicable yearly to point the domain to the host service. This cost is borne by the client.
We will help determine the best and most affordable website hosting package for your needs and set it up for you. .
Choosing a reliable service, at a cost-effective price is part of what I offer. Again, this cost, which can recur monthly, or sometimes paid for a year in advance, will be borne by the client.
Depending on the size of the planned website, we will determine which of the hosting packages on offer will be most suitable for your needs.Keeping the costs reasonable are always important.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HOSTING SERVICES MYSELF, BUT USE RELIABLE COMPANIES EITHER IN SOUTH AFRICA OR THE U.S.A. FOR THIS.
You will need a recognized Credit Card or Banking details for Debit Orders to pay for the setup of a hosting service.
MY FEE FOR PERFORMING THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE IN THE PRICING INFORMATION.

WEBSITE DESIGN AND CREATION

To authorize us to Design and set up your website, or work on an existing site, we require an
AGREEMENT completed by both parties We will undertake to offer you a minimum of 3 design concept ideas for your website. They will be influenced by the company logo, colour scheme requested and nature of the website.
These are made available to you as an actual website page, on your own servers, for review and choice. Once one is chosen, the remaining pages are constructed in the chosen theme. Great importance is placed on good navigation and a smart, professional, appealing look.
You are responsible for providing all text, copy, data, images and logos required. An Agreement is required signed between us, and all contracts carry a limited completion period. Where delays to this occur due to client tardiness to supply requirements, penalty fees may be charged.
A website can be completed in a week, but a generous period is allowed in the Agreement.
We do not create or design client-maintained websites, nor do we do full Flash sites. We can offer some very limited Flash effects. Flash is not favoured by us because of it's slowness, and Search Engine incompatibility. Many of the effects can be obtained with other means.
For costs of this service, please see the PRICING page.
See our WEBSITE PORTFOLIO page


WEBSITE MAINTENANCE

The Gathering Storm offers a website maintenance service for all sizes and most types of websites.
Naturally, we are happy to maintain your website after we have completed it. There are no obligatory costs. You contact us when you need work done, and it will be completed, if possible, within 24 hours for you. Charges for this are not included in the original contract, and are based on the current hourly rate. Where any client tries to do a self-update, and this results in errors that require correction by us, we will charge a premium fee for this.
In addition, we are happy to maintain a website we did not create on an ongoing basis for you. Contact us for a quotation.

One-time maintenance
You need website content updated, or You need new photos added to your website, or You need minor design changes done, or errors corrected. If we did not design the website, a minimum of 2 hours will be charged. The reason for this is that we don't know who designed your website and how they designed it. Getting to grips with the code behind the page and making changes will take additional time.

Monthly maintenance
You need text or images, or other content changed on a monthly basis. Updates to schedules, lists and prices and so on. Contact us for a monthly maintenance package, which will be more cost-effective than an hourly charge.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PRICING PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS


LOGO DESIGNS

We also undertake Logo designs. You will find examples in the PORTFOLIO SECTION. We are guided by your colour choices, or existing logo, if a redesign is done. Several choices and designs will be made available.
See our Portfolio of Logo designs on the LOGO PORTFOLIO page.
FOR THE COSTS OF THIS SERVICE, PLEASE REFER TO THE PRICING PAGE.


BRANDING DESIGNS

We also undertake the design and creation of email branding, which enables a more effective and attractive means to send email, incorporating your company identity.
We can set up whatever is required to brand your emails, based on how your website looks, and provide that to you. It's simple to use. Several choices and designs will be made available.
See our Portfolio of Branding designs on the BRANDING PORTFOLIO page.
FOR THE COSTS OF THIS SERVICE, PLEASE REFER TO THE PRICING PAGE.