5. Does your designer optimize your pages and submit them to search engines? If they don’t then you will end up having to pay for this service, or figure out how to do it yourself. A web designer may not have 100% of SEO tools out there, but at very least, your website designer should create your meta tags, make sure your keywords are sprinkled throughout your content and at least submit your site to basic directories and engines.

6. Is your web designer just designing your pages and leaving domain name and hosting up to you? Beware of this. Sometimes their quotes only include design itself. If you don’t understand domain names and hosting, you need to make sure your webmaster purchases your domain for you and sets up your hosting—and then manages this year after year. Websites with top level domain names (.com, .net, .org) are taken more seriously. So it wouldn’t make much sense to have a professionally designed site hosted on a free site like Geocities.

7. Does your webmaster offer a guarantee? If you can’t get your designer to create a look that you like, will you be able to get your money back? Find out if this is in your contract before you fork over your cash.

Flat fee, custom, fast, flexible, submitted, domain & hosting included, refund available. Mitoné Griffith has designed websites since 1999. Her streamlined 24 Hour Website Wizard assists you in creating your website in less time than it takes to get a book on HTML to ship from Amazon. Complete and custom websites overnight. Visit http://24hourwebsitewizard.com to learn more, or email to 24hourwiz@getresponse.com.

Current statistics show that over 90% of internet users have ability to view Flash. It could benefit your online presence and give your site a higher-end look.

Like web itself, Flash is a technology that is constantly evolving and there are designers that are pushing envelop to create amazing, interactive user experiences with it.

And remember Flash isn't just for fading in and out photos or moving text around. Below are just a few of other ways to use Flash on your website:

* Flash "tour" - would your business benefit from an interactive "tour" of your facilities? Or a "tour" of how your product works?

* Audio player - you can stream audio and offer user controls such as stop, fast forward, and track selection.

* Games - Flash can be used to program interactive and educational games.