Unfortunately, this is something that is pretty common. We first recommend reaching out to the company or person who built your website and ask about your domain. You will need to be the owner and have access to the domain to launch your new website. We have assisted our clients in gaining access to their domains, as needed. We also require that all new domains be purchased by our clients for their protection.

Domain registration is an annual fee to own your domain, or URL. Sometimes this is paid several years at once, so you may forget about domain registration renewal. We highly recommend the auto renew setting for this reason. Hosting is the service that puts your website content on the internet. This a monthly fee that is typically paid annually. There are several types of hosting and we work with you to determine the best option for your business.

When you hear about WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc., you are hearing what is referred to as a Content Management System. With this type of website, you use a system to design and manage the website. There are open source systems like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal being the most well-known. These have code that are open to the public and can be modified in just about any way. Plugins can be added for functionality. SquareSpace, Wix, Shopify are closed-sourced, or proprietary, systems. If you use these, you pay the company to lease the code and have limited access to changing it. However, these systems are typically very robust and have many features that can be dragged and dropped into the website easily. Custom is exactly as it sounds, the website is made from scratch without the use of a content management system as it's backbone. With a custom developed website, there is no limitations on functionality. There are pros and cons to each type of website. We are known for our custom website development, but have worked within content management systems if it is truly best for the client. We have also used content management systems for a portion of a website's functionality, like a blog that uses headless WordPress or Ecwid for ecommerce. We work with you to choose which option is the best for you.

Absolutely. Our background in ecommerce began in 2005. When we eventually created GearBox Websites, our goal was to solely focus on ecommerce. We know ecommerce well and are happy to serve our clients with online sales.

There are two types of SEO. The first is on-site optimization: the things that you do to produce a search engine friendly website. Is your content relevant (and not keyword stuffed), do you have title tags, mobile responsiveness, etc. All of the websites we produce are search engine friendly. The second type of optimization is off-site. This is what the internet is saying about you: backlinks, reviews, social media, news media. This is the type that most people think about when they hear "SEO" and it is a niche business. We do not offer this service but we can recommend companies that we do work with and we are happy to work with your existing company to accomplish your goals.