Where to Start with Getting a Web Site
Web Components
The 2 main components of a web site other than the actual pages, consist
of:
- A Domain Name - an internet
address or URL such as www.design4online.co.uk or www.microsoft.com.
Domain names must be registered by a registrar (this
is usually for 1 or 2 years at a time, depending on the suffix, but
you can register them for 10 years if you wish). Once registered,
the DNS settings need to point to the name servers that you host your
site on (see below).
- Hosting Space -
this is the server space (the remote computer that your web site files
reside on).
Legal Requirements
There are various legalities that need to be thought through, especially
when conducting online sales.
The Distance Selling Act
The DSA (Distance
Selling Act) now stands
in the UK for nearly all* electronic
commerce traded
goods.This must be adhered to for internet sales, home catalogue
ordering, telesales - any sales where the buyer cannot see the goods/experience
the hands on effect before ordering them. There are certain
rights the buyer has, including a 7 day cooling off period
(where they can cancel the order under no obligation) and the right
to return the goods without giving a reason within 7 days of the
delivery date (starting from the day following delivery,
effectively giving 8 days) for a full refund.
* A few exclusions from this rule are:
personalised items such as engraved bracelets, food and perishables,
bookings and reservations, software and audio/video goods.
Other requirements of the DSA also include notifying the consumer of
their rights when buying goods over the internet. A statement of consumer
rights needs to be boldly displayed on the ordering page and also written
into the order confirmation email/receipt.
Product Marketing "Claims"
Affecting mainly pharmaceutical and medical/health related goods, the
law in the UK dictates that you cannot make any medical or health claims
for your products, without solid scientific evidence/proof that the product
will deliver the claim. E.g. you cannot state that your home-made potion
will cure cancer, unless this has been proven and approved for use as
a cancer cure by a medical body.
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