web platform

Man making an online purchase on his computer tablet
Digital Marketing, Web Application Development, Web Design & Development

Choosing the Right Small Business E-Commerce Solution

/

Should you integrate an out-of-the-box hosted platform with your website? Or is a customized on-premise solution a better option?

Your website is a contemporary extension of your business but with more important details about you, your employees, and how your products and services help solve your customers’ problems. In a hyperconnected world fuelled by e-commerce, the onus is on business owners and leaders to determine what the best e-commerce solution is to build into their sites.

Whether your company focuses on the business-to-consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B) market (or both), the questions you need to answer are the same: Should you pick a hosted, out-of-the-box software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution? Or go for a more customizable on-premise platform?

Whichever way you choose to go, the solution should be a unified, user-friendly platform that is scalable and which integrates an online store with accounting, point-of-sale, inventory and subscription management tools, and other finance-related functions.

There are, of course, a number of elements you will need to consider, including:

  • If taxes are based on the location of the shipping warehouse or the shipment’s destination
  • Are shipping charges determined by a package’s weight, size, or destination? Or do you charge a flat fee?
  • Inventory control and management
  • Do you need to connect point-of-sale systems from bricks-and-mortar locations?
  • Cross-border customs clearance
  • Fluctuating currency exchange rates
  • Product discounts or seasonal specials
  • Overall reporting and metrics

“Here is a simple but powerful rule: Always give people more than they expect to get.”
– NELSON BOSWELL

Which E-Commerce Platform Is Best for Your Business?

When it comes to picking an e-commerce solution, the good news is there are options aplenty.

For most small businesses on tight budgets, Shopify has emerged as one of the most popular. Treefrog has integrated Shopify’s and other platforms with many of our clients’ sites, but we also provide custom-built e-commerce solutions.

Although Treefrog can integrate your site with any e-commerce platform you want, most of our clients that have selected a hosted solution have chosen one of the following platforms:

  • Shopify. Possibly the most popular and widely used e-commerce and shopping cart platform used by small- and medium-sized businesses today, this Canadian company’s solution features a broad range of options. It is easy to set up, has an intuitive user interface, add-on apps, 24/7 support, and its API integrates seamlessly with enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and other software.
  • Volusion. This platform features a comprehensive set of shopping tools, round-the-clock support, a user-friendly interface, extensive security features, and a mobile-responsive storefront. Volusion integrates seamlessly with Amazon and eBay, and through its social store builder tool, you can list your products on Facebook. It’s scalable, but the basic version sets a limit on the number of monthly transactions by restricting bandwidth, meaning service charges may apply if you exceed it.
  • Bigcommerce. This feature-rich solution includes many customizable templates, is easy to use and has an intuitive user interface, 24/7 support, no transaction fees, and has smooth integration with several e-newsletter services and Alibaba. It too is mobile-responsive and provides in-depth metrics and reporting.
  • Magento CE. An open source e-commerce platform that is available in four variations, the Magento Community Edition is an out-of-the-box solution that you must host on your server, or with its partnering company, Zoey. It includes bundled features including smooth integration with Google Analytics, in-depth sales reporting, and many third-party integration options but it is not PCI-compliant. Existing small business users provide community-based support.

Additional Things to Consider for Your Website

Once you’ve determined which e-commerce solution suits your business best, and taking a 360-degree view of your company and its online presence, there are other considerations to weigh:

  • A payment gateway. If you’re going to establish an online e-commerce platform, you will also need a payment gateway to facilitate online credit and debit card transactions. A payment gateway is an e-commerce enabler. It’s vital, and it provides a secure link between your site and the banking system. In essence, it provides a merchant-centric, single, automated portal to manage online financial transactions cost-effectively, quickly, and easily. It also makes it easy and flexible for your customers to buy from you online.
  • Readable, compelling content. If “content is king” then context must be queen. The importance of producing content online regularly cannot be denied, but to be regarded as a thought leader in your industry, your content needs to be persuasive, well-written, and it must provide value to your intended audience, or they will pay it no mind.
  • Search engine optimization (SEO). A widely used methodology to drive website traffic organically through the use of high-quality content, SEO maximizes your site’s content to rank well in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo!.
  • High-quality images and design. There is no shortage of cheap, do-it-yourself (DIY) website builders available online promising anyone can create a professional-looking site in mere minutes for free or for only a few bucks. Lest we forget, you most often get what you pay for in this world. A well-designed website with high-quality images lends credibility to your business. A less-than-stellar online presence will hurt your business, not help it.
  • Using social media tools. More than 2 billion people use social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn on a daily basis. Since sales success requires cultivating relationships, your website should incorporate the use of social media tools, and social media marketing should be a part of your overall marketing efforts. Social tools will also help drive traffic to your website.

Do you have questions about e-commerce platforms and which one is best for your business?  Let’s talk. We can help you determine whether or not you need a custom-built solution or an off-the-shelf platform. Our expert programming team have experience customizing and integrating several e-commerce solutions with our clients’ websites.

Woman holding a coffee mug
Web Design & Development

Working With Web Designers

/

After first feeding them a latte…

So you’ve decided that you need a website, and you’ve started the gears turning with the Frogs (or, perish the thought, another agency entirely). Maybe you’ve done some sketches on a cocktail napkin and now you’re ready to start working with the graphic designer assigned to your project. You’re on your way to having a beautiful new website design.

For any designer, the process is clear and simple, but it may be new to you so here are a few tips to help you understand what’s happening so that you can develop a fruitful and stress-free relationship with your designer.

You’re paying for experience

You may have heard of Photoshop and even used it once or twice, but there are people in the world who have forgotten more about Photoshop than most of us will ever know. These are design professionals – the ones who work with Photoshop day in and day out, learning the intricacies of the software and understanding how to craft a piece of art with nothing more than a keyboard and a mouse.

It’s this expertise you’re paying for when you hire a graphic designer to artfully construct the look of your website – not just knowing Photoshop, but also understanding a variety of software, design philosophy, how to draw a user’s eye to important visual and textual concepts, and that you never wear brown shoes with black pants.

A designer has spent years learning about design and what looks good, but when you’re paying good money for a website and you think of it as your baby, it can be difficult to step back and let the designer do the job you’re paying them to do. To make the relationship as smooth as possible, though, there’s a point where the conversation about design intent and message is over, and it’s time for the designer to get to work.

A good, experienced designer will be able to recognize patterns of colour and shape, and be able to draw every element of a website’s design together into a piece of art that not only gets the point across but also pushes a viewer to focus in on the most important elements.

Some people want to micro-manage every aspect of the design instead of relying on the professional’s advice, and that’s where problems can start to arise. A designer will put together the best design they can, based on the client’s needs and objectives. While a client may not love it at first sight, it will be professional and will be based on the information the designer was given.

“A good designer will bring their many years of training and experience together to build an excellent website – something that fits the objectives”

Getting that one version

Clients may be surprised when they only get one version of a website design instead of several to choose from. This is the complete opposite of what they get when a designer creates a logo (typically a few different ideas are presented based on the client’s needs).

With a website, though, a designer doesn’t need to generate several ideas. In fact, that’s a lot of extra time and money that doesn’t need to be spent. A good designer, with an understanding of the client’s brand and intent, will bring their many years of training and experience together to build an excellent website – something that fits the objectives. They’ve gone through a variety of versions in their head and come up with the best result.

“I think the main thing is just trust our expertise and knowledge,” says Jen Hawkyard, Treefrog’s art director. “I think what happens a lot of times is people come in with the ‘this is the way I think it should be done attitude’ and aren’t listening to the advice and expertise that we have. We do things for a reason and it’s not haphazard.”

To get the most from the relationship with the designer, clients should ideally listen to the designer’s advice. It’s okay to question the advice; it means you’re interested and invested in the project. However, there are reasons designs are done in a certain way.

As Jen explained, web design is very intentional. Designs make a user’s eyes follow a very specific path, leading them to see key attributes – all based on what a client says is the most important parts of their business. As long as that information is accurate, the design is appropriate.

The Dos and the Don’ts

Do you want to make things as easy and seamless as possible during the website design process? It’s not as hard as you might think. Here are a few tips from the Frogs that will make your life easier and help you get the design you really want:

The Dos

  1. Do understand you’re paying for a professional instead of your nephew who “knows something about computers.”

  2. Do listen to the advice of the designer. They’re professionals with mucho experience and talent.

  3. Do be very clear about your objectives and brand identity. If you want things to run smoothly, it’s important that the designer knows where you’re coming from and what you want.

  4. Do use the designer for the appropriate task. You wouldn’t use a hammer like a screwdriver. Use the designer for their expertise.

  5. Do trust and relax. Treefrog looks for the best talent. They know their jobs, and they’ll do a fantastic job if you let them.

The Don’ts

  1. Don’t micro-manage. Nobody is at peak performance with the boss hanging over their shoulder. Let the designer do the job they were hired to do for you.

  2. Don’t treat the designer like a layout person. They went to school for their job and spent years doing it. They know what looks good, and they’ve already thought of alternatives. They’ve chosen what is best based on your objectives.

  3. Don’t keep tweaking excellence. Once the design is excellent, don’t keep tweaking in the hopes of getting perfection.

  4. Don’t hire a designer if you want a computer operator. You’re spending a lot of money to get good graphic design and a designer’s professional advice. Don’t worry, be happy. The designer will come back with a website design tailored to your needs. If you communicate those needs well, the design will be in line with your business goals.


A blue chameleon.
Web Design & Development

Is Your Website Truly Responsive?

/

Since Google’s famed mobile-friendly algorithm update this past April, everyone has been jumping on the responsive bandwagon.  To make mobile users happiest, Google suggests having a responsive website. Of course, making your website responsive is not like flipping a switch. A lot can go wrong. And it often does.

Exactly what goes wrong, you ask?

Check out these most common issues with responsive design.

Does your logo resize and rescale correctly?

Your logo is the pinnacle of your brand. It should look great on all devices to best represent your business and start the conversation with your clients. If your logo looks blurry, too big, too small, cut off, or broken in any way – speak to your web team about getting it fixed right away.

Are your icons retina-ready?

Icons are hugely helpful for helping users navigate on the smaller mobile devices. They are often used to replace lengthy words to save space – and since we respond quicker to visual stimuli than we do words it makes for a quicker viewer and user experience. Are your icons blurry rather than crisp? With the multiple resolutions that laptops, tablets, and mobile devices come in nowadays it’s a wonder anyone can get image formatting right. But if your web team is a team of experienced professionals they should be able to manage multiple resolutions. If your icons are clear on a laptop but appear blurry when viewed on a mobile phone, it’s a sign that your mobile site is unable to handle responsive images. With a little work, your icons can be retina-ready!

Can you tap to call?

Seems like a simple question, but it can make or break a user’s mobile experience.  With the rise of smartphones, users are moving their viewing habits from desktop to mobile. Did you know 82% of Canadians use their smartphone for accessing the Internet? From checking out your store hours to booking an appointment, users are relying on the mobile experience for their digital needs. With a little bit of extra code, web developers can ensure that when a user taps your contact number it will call you directly. Similarly, they can also launch a map app to pinpoint your exact location. You can also set up click to call tracking that carries into Google Analytics. Make your client’s life easier by implementing these simple improvements on your responsive website.

Do images scale correctly with the content?

When you move from desktop to mobile, do your images look huge? Do parts of your images seem to be cut off? The mobile experience is a fluid environment and images designed for desktop consumption will wreak havoc on your mobile site.  These images have been assigned a fixed position and will cause mobile mayhem on your beautifully crafted page.

Does the site change when you go into a horizontal orientation?

Depending on your developer, your site will be designed to reflow at certain dimensions. Here at Treefrog our main “break points” are desktop (1024 pixels and up), phone (768 pixels and 320 pixels). We use 480 pixels when a user turns and operates the device horizontally. We also include an in-between dimension that allows a responsive site to reflow naturally and adjust itself to the size of the device. If your site looks the same across all devices other than it looking bigger or smaller, then there is something wrong and the user-experience will likely not be ideal.

Do you have to insert content multiple times?

A content management system (CMS) like Treefrog’s LEAP will help minimize the time it takes to insert content. With a CMS, you will only have to input your content once, and it will seamlessly reflow on all your mobile devices. If you have to insert content for a mobile version in addition to your desktop site your likely do not have a fully responsive page.

Do your call-to-action buttons reflow to match the device?

Depending on the device the user may have different priorities and interests. A tablet has the natural ability to make reading easy and compelling. The size of the screen allows you to prioritize content and include a call-to-action button without sacrificing any space. The mobile device, however, is a different story. Users are often on-the-go and need to find information without the hassle of infinite scrolling. Guide users to the information they need by avoiding visual clutter and creating a dominant call-to-action button—remember space is at a premium here!

“Today’s web developers need to be mindful of user’s data plans, so load times need to be fast. Mobile sites must be tailored to be less data-heavy.”

Be respectful of data

Remember when you would click a link, go get a coffee, read a report, and still have time to rearrange your office supplies alphabetically before the page loaded? Thankfully those days are over, so unless you have dial-up (in which case, our sincere condolences), users expect lightning-fast service on all of their devices. Today’s web developers need to be mindful of user’s data plans, so load times need to be fast. Mobile sites must be tailored to be less data-heavy. Unnecessary clutter that could impede a streamlined experience must be removed.

Was the site tested on the latest devices?

If your site is on its way to becoming responsive be sure to ask which devices your web developers are using to test performance. Ensure that all users can access your site by testing all current mobile devices on all common browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and unfortunately Internet Explorer). The mobile experience should be seamless no matter which device is being used to access your site.

Is your site finger-friendly?

Today’s information is literally at our fingertips. Users interact with their devices using touchscreens on their phones and tablets—letting their fingers do the browsing. When designing a responsive site, keep in mind that fingers are a lot less accurate than a mouse pointer.  A touch-friendly design includes buttons that are large and easily identifiable. Hover-style functions will have to be removed, as mobile devices are unable to detect these functions.

Given the countless ways that users can access the Internet, it is imperative that you provide them with a user experience that is seamless across all devices. Making your website desktop and mobile-friendly will keep your customers (and Google) happy, and keep you in business!

Close up of a plant
Web Design & Development

Retail Rule Applied To Websites

/

3:30:3

You’re walking through the mall (perhaps looking for something specific, but maybe not). You come across a compelling storefront with a nice green tie in the window. You decide to pop your head in and take a quick walk around. As you walk around, your experience is great. You are not harassed by a sales associate, the store is neat and tidy and you are drawn all around the store and finally find that table of green ties. You commit and buy one.

This good old retail rule applies much the same to websites:

1) Grab Their Attention

Compelling graphic design and a professional look and feel makes all the difference in the next step of actually getting someone to commit to come dig in deeper and spend the next 30 seconds. You have 3 seconds to catch their attention and make them find something that they want to click on. For this, Site Architecture and proper navigation is key.

2) Give Them Something Of Value

Have information of value to your target audience that draws them to spend the next 30 seconds finding some areas that they wan to commit to. Caution against putting too much fuzzy “about us” content front and centre. Give people calls to action that answer the things that they need.

3) Have Them Commit

If you’ve done the job of giving them something to chew on, your site visitors will spend another 3 minutes exploring through the site. This critical path and end result will lead to your goal on the website, whether that is making a call, donating now, making a purchase, posting a comment or more…

How do you know that the 3:30:3 rule is in effect on your website?

Check your Google Analytics reports. If your bounce rates are high, that is usually an indicator that people are not finding what it is that they need off of your homepage and some work may be required. In addition, check and see the average time spent on your site. It should be greater than 3 minutes.

gold ore
Web Application Development, Web Design & Development

What’s the Best Payment Gateway Provider for Canadian Businesses?

/

Choosing the right online payment system for your company website can be tricky as it depends on multiple factors. Each provider’s platform and related services have benefits and drawbacks. Knowing what questions to ask as you weigh each one can make a difference and help you choose wisely

Managing a business and balancing the books each month is a particular trapeze act. To that end, ensuring your e-commerce site has the right payment gateway provider is a pivotal part of the equation. There are options aplenty, but which one suits your company and website best?

What is a payment gateway? It’s an application service provider that facilitates e-commerce transactions between you and your customers, allowing you to accept credit and debit card payments online. Think of it as the online version of a point-of-sale terminal you see in bricks-and-mortar retail shops, at restaurants, and other businesses serving the public.

32% of small businesses increased sales when they began to accept credit cards online

Your business is unique, thus, it has unique requirements when it comes to partnering with a payment gateway provider to accept online payments. Though not all businesses accept credit cards from their customers online, there’s a good argument for doing so. According to Visa Canada, 32% of small businesses in Canada experienced an increase in sales once they started to accept credit cards.

If you currently use InternetSecure’s platform, be advised that company was acquired by Elavon, and in the months ahead, you will be required to migrate to a new API.

Answers You Need to Know

If you’re seeking a new provider because you’ve become disenchanted with your current one, or if you’re simply weighing your options before launching your website, there are a few questions you need to ponder before making a selection, including:

  • What merchant rates and fees do they charge?
  • Will their platform integrate seamlessly with your e-commerce platform?
  • What will the customer’s experience be?
  • How responsive is their technical assistance?
  • Will their technical assistance team speak to a third party on your behalf?
  • How will their platform evolve with your business as it grows?

If you need to pick a new payment gateway provider, there are many worthwhile options to consider. Although Treefrog has the expertise to ensure your site is seamlessly integrated with the payment gateway provider of your choice, we have worked closely with PayPal and Moneris on behalf of many of our clients. Any one of the following reputable firms may provide you with what your company needs:

PayPal

The industry leader in third-party processors, PayPal is probably the most popular and most trusted digital wallet used by consumers worldwide. PayPal is easy to use, has transparent pricing, and good customer service support. For startups and small businesses, PayPal is a great choice. Its technical setup is quick and simple, and if you opt to go with a PayPal Pro account, you can access its API to allow transactions to be completed entirely on your website. Be aware, though, that the former eBay subsidiary’s merchant fees can sometimes be higher than other processors’ fees, and there is a waiting period for transferring monies earned into your bank account.

Moneris Solutions

Based in Toronto, Moneris is Canada’s largest processor of credit and debit card transactions providing a wide range of services for merchants. As of spring 2016, its technology also facilitates electronic business-to-business payments. The Moneris platform is reliable and secure, and the company provides customer support 24/7, a virtual terminal, shopping cart integration, and support for recurring payments. Through its partnerships with Sage Accounting, and its co-founders BMO and RBC, Moneris also provides inventory and sales tracking features. It’s important to note there are financial penalties if you decide to terminate your partnership with Moneris prematurely, and reportedly, there are significant new account setup fees.

Beanstream

Founded in Canada in 2000 and acquired in late 2015 by a Swedish payment-services firm, Beanstream provides payment, risk management, and authentication solutions. Considered a pioneer in the merchant e-commerce space, Beanstream offers monthly contracts, competitive fees, and good customer support services. There are no account setup fees, no monthly fees, no monthly sales minimum requirement, and no termination fee.

Amazon Payments

A subsidiary of Amazon.com, Amazon Payments competes directly with PayPal giving businesses the ability to accept online payments from their customers. Its platform integrates seamlessly with several e-commerce platforms including Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce. Implementing Amazon Payments is a straightforward matter, and it provides one-click buying, so your customers don’t have to go through the online shopping cart rigamarole. The company’s user fees are viewable on its website, there are no setup or monthly fees, and no fees related to being PCI-compliant. Contracts with Amazon Payments are month-to-month, and there are no termination fees if you decide to end your contact with them. Furthermore, Amazon Payments offers extensive support services for its clients and their third-party developers.

Braintree Payment Solutions

Highly customizable and flexible, Braintree’s payments platform accepts PayPal, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Venmo, Bitcoin and most credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB and Diner’s Club. It accepts payments from a website or mobile app. In general, integrating with Braintree is quick and straightforward, and it works with several shopping carts including Bigcommerce, Shopify, Magento, and Wufoo. There are no monthly fees, no PCI-compliant charges, and no minimum monthly transaction processing amount restriction. PayPal owns Braintree. You do need a PayPal Business Account to link to through Braintree’s administration panel.

Do you have questions about which online payment gateway provider is the right one for your company’s website? Get in touch via email or call us at +1-905-836-4442. We can help you make an informed decision.

Country road going into the mountains
Digital Marketing, Web Design & Development

Site Architecture as a Writing Road Map

/

Find your way to writing brilliant website content

Think of building your website like heading out on the highway for an exciting road trip to new business heights. You have web design experts to help you develop an architecture and design and to manage the programming. Now you need to fill it with content.

Content Writing Road Blocks

Content writing is a massive road block for many a new website owner. If you’ve been procrastinating, you’re not alone. In Treefrog’s experience, this is the number one stage of a web design project where clients get stuck at the side of the road, completely out of gas.

It surprises many – after all, who is more of an expert on your business than you? So why does it happen?

  • You’re so close to your own business, sometimes it’s hard to step back and see things from your client’s perspective.
  • You invest your time in running your business, you don’t have time to write about it.
  • You’re great at running your business. You don’t also have to be great at writing about it.

Site Architecture to the Rescue

There is a way out of the content writing wilderness. You just need the right directions, and you already have them.

Remember that site architecture and wireframe you approved at the beginning of your project? No? You’re not alone there either. The site architecture is not just for designers and programmers. It’s for YOU.

Your site architecture is a list of the pages you want and/or need on your website when it goes live. Like the step by step directions from your GPS navigator, the architecture is a checklist that will take you through your content writing journey.

“Like any map, your site architecture is a guideline. It offers a route to website success through a user friendly structure.”

Changing Content Directions

Like any map, your site architecture is a guideline. It offers a route to website success through a user friendly structure. There are some aspects that need to be followed, but you might find shortcuts or detours along the way that will improve it, as you see how your design and writing come together.

If you proposed a page at the beginning of your project that you no longer need, you have the power to take it out. If you realize you missed something, you have the power to add it in.

Stop and Ask for Directions

If all else fails, trust the experts. Content writers in web agencies not only understand your architecture, they understand how to write for the web so that Google and other search engines will find you. They will work with you to refine your message and guide you through the twists and turns of your website content.

Cropped close up of angular slate floor tiles
Web Design & Development

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

/

101 Information

A Content Management System, or CMS, puts you in control of the content on your website. This software is integrated into your website and offers a collection of tools that save you time and money.

A website with a CMS has many advantages, the most obvious of which is the ability to keep your site up to date, any time of day or night, without a programmer or any programming skills. You can update and change your site, publish new content, and organize your content through the menu system. This flexibility also wins you points with search engines as they want to know that you can, and do, update your content on a regular basis.

Understanding Web CMS

There are a variety of content management systems available and each varies somewhat in its functionality and possibilities. Each may have unique procedures to manage workflow, but here are some of the common facilities available to make your life easy and your website always shiny and new:

Pre-set templates and tools make it easy and convenient for users to set up new pages, add content, format, publish, update, and make changes to the website on their own. This can be done in a simple non-technical way, whenever you want or need changes, mostly through a web-based interface, without depending on web designers or programmers.

Assign permission to users on individual basis, to view or edit the content on various sections of the website and dynamically publish new information. You not only control your site’s content, you control who has access to it.

Apply the same layout consistently through your site, including navigation menus, components and design. The specific information within each page will change, but your brand and key navigational elements remain the same throughout. Your visitors will have an easier time touring your site and it will be easy for you to build your site.

Store data in the content management system, including documents, scientific data, pictures, movies etc. Make this information readily available to your clients and potential clients with download options.

There is reduction in duplication of information, increase in flexibility of the website, improvement in navigation, strengthened security, and less time and money required for site maintenance.

A CMS helps to manage the site structure, provide increased cross-linking of internal pages, and some offer simple drag and drop options to restructure the site as per individual choices and requirements.

Authorized users can perform in-context editing by clicking on hidden or special buttons on the web pages even while browsing normally and switch the page into editing mode, and immediately view the changes made.

Incorporation of WYSIWYG controls makes it easier for non-technical people to work on the site, without having to work with or understand HTML code.

Content management systems includes various helpful built-in features like online surveys and polls, which can collect data for marketing initiatives and other projects. RSS feeds offer a steady stream of new information, which can help bring traffic to the website.

CMS keep design and the content separate, facilitating change in design of the website without any change in the content layout.

Content management systems can support your business by helping you to communicate with your clients through your website with updated information. It can improve the user experience of your website, increasing their satisfaction by helping them to find what they are looking for with a well-structured information system. You can also improve sales by improving coordination between various departments, to better serve your business goals and strategies.

Honeycomb with a bee
Hosting & Infrastructure, Web Design & Development

Understanding Website Hosting and Domains

/

Domains, hosting, registrar… you may know that these terms have something to do with a website, but what do they mean, and why should you care?

Do you know where your website is hosted? Who hosts your email? Who hosts your domain and where is that domain registered? Do you know who the administrative and technical contacts are within your company?

If you have been involved with a new website migration or build, you probably will have heard of the terms domain, hosting and registrar. But few people actually know what these things are, or why they are relevant to a website.

We’re going to try to break these things down a bit. Keep in mind that this is a complicated topic, so we’ll be using general terms and in some cases over-simplifying. Hopefully you’ll at least understand the basics once we’re done.

The main terms we’ll concentrate on are: Domain Registrar, Domain Name Server, Email and Website Hosting.

So what do these things mean? First of all, it helps to think of these terms in a hierarchical format.

Keep this structure in mind as we continue. Notice that we’ve arranged these in a top-down hierarchy.

At the top: The Registrar

It all starts at the top with the domain registrar. The domain registrar handles the registration of your website domain name, specifically what comes after the “www”.

It’s always important to make sure you know who has control of your domain, and that a reputable company is handling the renewal process. Domain names come up for renewal every few years, depending on the renewal plan. The last thing you want is to find out that you had unknowingly allowed your domain to expire.

In this same way, the registrar will handle the sale of multiple associated domains, for example .com .ca and .net versions of your website, or even similar URLs, like www.bakesale.com and www.bakesales.com

These companies have varying renewal policies for domains rentals. Keep in mind that you never actually “own” the domain, you continually rent them. Sometimes the registrar will set the renewal process to be automatic so that you don’t receive a notice every year; they’ll set it to renew automatically for 5 or 10 years. They’ll also have transfer policies in the event that you want to move your domain to another registrar.

Examples of Domain Registrar companies are: Treefrog, Tucows, GoDaddy, Network Solutions and NetFirms.

In the middle: The Domain Name Server (DNS)

Without getting too involved, a domain name server (DNS) is a massive database that stores website IP addresses and their associated “names”, in order for people to find sites on the Internet.

Brief explanation: each website has its own unique IP address, which is a set of numbers and periods. A domain name server translates those numbers into plain English. As opposed to seeing 234.543.345, we see the much prittier www.website.com.

Domain Name Servers handle website as well as email requests. Again, instead of having to remember some random string of numbers, the Domain Name Server allows you to send an email message to “somebody@website.com” and the servers handle all the necessary redirecting behind the scenes.

Examples of Domain Name Server companies are: Tucows, GoDaddy, Google, OpenDNS and Network Solutions.

At the bottom: Email/Website Hosting

Email and website hosting is on the bottom of the food chain in terms of access and control. These are on the same level in our diagram because technically they are not contingent on one another.

Email and website hosting can technically be handled by two different companies, but are often handled by the same one. A client can choose to migrate their website to another hosting company, and keep their email where it is. It is not necessary to host your website and your email in the same place.

Hosting a website basically means storing all of the website data: pages, files, images, and everything that would accept and serve up requests from users.

In the same way, email hosting entails storing all of the email messages and email files for that domain.

Even though website hosting and email hosting are on the same line in our diagram because they are not dependent on one another as far as permissions go, they are two very different entities. They operate on two completely different protocols—which is something that often confuses people, especially now that there are so many web-based email services like Gmail. Something to keep in mind: the Internet is the network; the World Wide Web and email are services used within it.

Now that we know a little bit more about the different pieces and what they are dependent on, let’s create a scenario.

“Knowing this information will help save time if you are getting into a website migration or new website build.”

Registering Your Domain

So you want to register your domain. This usually means that you have selected a website domain that you want to register (such as www.thiswebsiterules.com) and you’re ready to make it legit. By the way, don’t waste your time trying to register www.thiswebsiterules.com—it’s already taken.

Treefrog is a domain registrar, so we can handle this for you, or you can go through one of the examples of registrars listed above.

Normally you will need to assign an administrator, as well as a technical contact for your domain. Each contact is affiliated with an email address. It is very important to keep track of which email addresses are associated with these contacts. Sometimes people leave businesses and their email addresses are never changed. However this is the address that will receive notices about the domain expiration. If no one is getting those emails, then you could potentially miss the registration deadline, and your domain could legitimately be up for grabs.

The technical contact is normally the person who will handle technical questions regarding the domain. For example, someone notices that your DNS, website or email has stopped working, someone might look up your technical contact information and send that contact a notice. Again, keep track of who this person is. Sometimes critical notices are sent to this email address, and you want to make sure nothing gets missed.

Transferring domains

Some registrars will have made you confirm an agreement prior to getting on board, in which case you will need to know the details of that agreement before proceeding.

If a web agency (like Treefrog, for example) is going to be taking over as your domain registrar, then we will need access to the usernames and passwords for the accounts affiliated with your website. We’ll need to know the administrative and the technical contacts (where applicable) so that we can coordinate the transfer.

Alternatively, if we are going to be your DNS company, but you wish to remain with your current registrar, then we will need to know:

  • Who the registrar is
  • Who the administrative and technical contact are from your company for the associated domain
  • What the passwords and login information is in order to access the registrar information and properly set up the Domain Name server settings.

Hosting your Website and email

Some companies want to have their website hosted with one company, and their email hosted somewhere else. This can happen if the company is launching a new website, while their email has been with the same company for years and they are uncomfortable moving it.

Know Who is Who

In an ideal situation, Treefrog would handle all four of these components. It is only ideal in the rare case that there’s an issue, so we don’t have to go to any other source; everything is housed in one place. It’s not necessary that we handle everything, and we’re very clear about the freedom our clients have to host their email, website, or DNS anywhere they choose. The only thing is, we should know who is hosting these components at the outset of a project, to save confusion.

Knowing this information will help save time if you are getting into a website migration or new website build. We suggest compiling this information and knowing where to get access to it, in the event that there’s ever an issue with domain expiration, or hosting issue, or perhaps you have an IT person leaving and they know all this stuff; you have to be able to get access to this information efficiently.

We suggest having a quick cheat sheet somewhere accessible that contains your Domain Registrar, your DNS provider, your website and email hosting company, plus all your administrative and technical contacts, and the usernames and passwords for each level. Keep this in a safe place. Even if you personally don’t know all the technical details about your website, this will be a great starting point.

Scroll to Top