There is a lot of confusion about what website hosting is and what domain names are, and how they are related. The first two FAQ's will attempt to answer these for you.

Q) What is website hosting?

A) When you create a website, you are creating a bunch of files and folders. For a website to be viewable on the internet, these files and folders need to be stored (hosted) on a computer called a web server. When someone visits your website, they request information. Your web server will look at (process) this request, and send (serve) the requested information back to the visitors computer. Website hosting is the name given to the special computer that hosts your website files.

Q) What is a domain name?

A) A domain name is your website address. The computer that hosts your website files (your web server) is given an IP address that computers can recognise. 66.102.11.99 is Google's IP Address. (see what happens if you type 66.102.11.99 into the address bar of your web browser) As it is very hard to remember these numbers, a domain name is assigned (www.google.com)

So every time you visit Google by typing www.google.com into your web browser, behind the scenes the domain name is converted to an IP address. Your request for files/information is then sent to Google's web server. Google's web server will then process this request and the files are sent back to your web browser which displays them on your screen for viewing (i.e. a web page)

Q) Can I just attend the information seminars?

A) Yes. The information seminars are there to answer any questions and to demonstrate the benefits of establishing your business online. They will cover the content of the workshops and show you what can be achieved. When you walk away from the information seminar, you will have all the information you need to make a decision as to whether or not you will participate in the program.

Q) Can I just attend the workshops?

A) Yes, but we would encourage you to attend a local information session first to ensure the program will suit your business. The whole idea of the workshops is to get small and home based businesses set up online. If you are unsure whether or not the program will suit, we encourage you to attend one of the information seminars or contact us to discuss your needs.

Q) Do I need a Support Package?

Yes. All support packages come with a free domain name and website hosting, as well as a period of support to match the plan you choose. The idea behind ezEonline! is to make your first step in establishing your business online easy and affordable. We will register your domain name and create a hosting account for you. Without a domain name or website hosting your website will not be online. Therefore, we have created highly discounted packages specifically for the ezEonline! program that cater for different levels of commitment and budgets. Our web server is dedicated for use by only ezEonline! participants, which means we know exactly whos sites are sharing the server. The servers are secure and have been tested live for a number of years. They are set up with the proper technology to run the websites created in the workshops. Ideally, your website would be available for viewing 100% of the time. While this is the goal, our servers have a minimum 99.95% uptime. (Take a 30 day month which has approx 42,300 minutes. At worst, your website might be down for 21 minutes over the month while the servers reboot).

Q) How much am I saving by creating a website though this program?

A) While the costs to have a website developed professionally vary, you could expect to pay an experienced web developer $1500 - $3000 for a basic website. If you want it professionally designed, add $500 - $1000 to that price. With that example, you are looking at between $2000 - $4000 for the website alone before you have even considered registering your domain name or arranged website & email hosting. These too can vary, however you will normally be looking at another $50 - $90 for 2 years domain name registration and $480 for 2 years website hosting (at $20 per month). Even if we take the minimum amounts, for a basic website you are looking at $2530. Now, if you get it created professionally, you still have the problem of getting it updated, or paying extra for training and support if something goes wrong. Through the ezEonline! program, the most you will pay is $440 which includes your training, domain name, website hosting and support for 2 years. That is less than 1/5th of an average cost of having a website professionally created and you will have the skills to regularly update the website yourself.

The reason this program has been developed is to assist small and home based businesses break down the barriers (skills, knowledge, costs) that stand in the way of establishing your business online.

Q) How can you offer it so cheap?

A) The traditional method of having a website created is 1 - 1, meaning one client pays one professional for their time. This results in one client fronting all the cost. This is fine for a technical website that requires specialist knowledge, and website design and development is a highly specialised area. However, for less involved websites, there are free tools and methods available that don't require such a technical knowledge. The ezEonline! program has been developed using some of this free, open source software. The workshops are also facilitated in a group setting where up to ten clients contribute to the two professionals (a website developer and graphic designer). That works out to be a ratio of 5 - 1, much better than 1 - 1. And finally, ezEonline! is funded and endorsed by the Commonwealth Government, meaning they contribute a proportion of the cost involved with delivering each of the information seminars and workshops to you.