Q. What is HotDoodle?

A. HotDoodle is an online service that offers the easiest way to have a website. HotDoodle solves all traditional problems facing millions of businesses, professionals and organizations who struggle to have a website. HotDoodle provides you everything to make, update and enhance your website. HotDoodle not only combines an easy website builder, world class hosting, and a domains management service, but also provides a marketplace filled with diverse skills at your fingertips. If you choose to make your website yourself, HotDoodle gives you the ability to enhance your website by hiring PenPals™ with skills you may not have yourself. If you choose to have a PenPal make your website, you will not have the traditional problem of getting stuck if your web designer moves on. You can easily edit your website yourself or have a new PenPal pickup where another finished. The HotDoodle platform enables you and PenPals to collaborate and affordably grow your website.

Q. Who are PenPals?

A.PenPals are web savvy freelancers or HotDoodle design team members who bid on projects and get paid. HotDoodle is enabling a grass root level workforce to meet the massive demand for websites. HotDoodle takes care of programming under the hood, so talented people ranging from college students to specialists to Madison Avenue advertising executives can offer diverse skills without having to know web programming. Learn more >>

Q. How does HotDoodle solve the common problems with traditional web designers to make your website?

A.Traditional web designers typically cost more than the budget of most small to mid-size organizations. PenPals can do it for much less. If you could find a traditional web designer to make you a website within your budget, even the simplest of changes could cost you extra and you will be dependent on the web designer. If the traditional web designer moved on, you could be left stranded not being able to update your website. At HotDoodle, you can update your website yourself anytime without having to know computer programming. Or, you can easily hire a new PenPal online. All your files remain secure with HotDoodle. You or a PenPal can pick up where another finished.

Q. How does HotDoodle solve the common problems with traditional do-it-yourself website making?

A.The main problem in making a website at a traditional do-it-yourself service was that your website was limited by your skills and your time. At HotDoodle there are no limits. You can easily hire the skills you may need when you need. You can choose to stay small or grow your website so it helps grow your business.

Q. Can I make my HotDoodle website for free?

A.Yes, to make a website yourself is free. HotDoodle includes an easy-to-use website builder and templates which are free to use. There is no cost to make your website, and you can update or enhance your website at anytime yourself for free. You will only need to pay for a nominal monthly subscription plan. Even the monthly subscription plan does not take effect until you are ready to show your website to the world, such as when you point a domain to your website or 30 days have passed since you started building - whichever is earlier.

Q. Do I have to spend money on PenPals?

A. No, you can do everything yourself for free from making to updating to enhancing your website.

Q. Is there a contract with HotDoodle? Can I cancel anytime?

A. You can change your website monthly plan or cancel at any time - there are no penalties. Cancellations are effective at the end of the month. Unfortunately we are unable to process a mid-month pro-rated refund.

Q. How fast can I make a website?

A.Making a HotDoodle website is like assembling a bicycle - the first website may take several hours to make, the second website will take half the time, and from then on making new websites or editing the ones you have will take just a fraction of the time.

Q. How easy is it to make a website?

A.Making a website with HotDoodle is easy – no technical skills or software downloads required. A HotDoodle website is built using Blocks, and there are blocks for just about everything. Build your own website all in one go, or start simple and gradually add web pages or features. If websites are not your thing or you are too busy, hire a PenPal to make your website. You can begin by making simple edits and getting used to expressing yourself on your website.

Q. How easy is it to optimize my website for search engines?

A. HotDoodle's built-in features make it easy for you to do search engine optimization without having to know computer programming or making changes to your website’s HTML code. Your SEO efforts may be divided in three categories: (1) select keywords, (2) insert keywords into your website, and (3) advanced SEO techniques. 

Q. Can I get my own domain name?

A.Yes. Your HotDoodle website can have one or more domains associated with it. You have three options for associating a domain to your website: (1) use the free HotDoodle.com domain given to you when you start building a website (http:/s1.hotdoodle.com/your-site), (2) purchase a new domain at HotDoodle or transfer to HotDoodle a domain that you purchased elsewhere), or (3) point an externally maintained domain to your HotDoodle website.

Q. I already made my website and paid for hosting elsewhere, but I want to be able to edit it easily. How do I use HotDoodle?

A. It's easy to transfer your existing website to HotDoodle.  It involves selecting a HotDoodle template that you like and transfering the content from your existing website. You can transfer the website content yourself, or affordably hire a PenPal to do it. Most websites can be transferred within a few hours and PenPals will charge approximately $200 for it. 

Q. What are typical projects posted in the marketplace?

A. It varies, but a majority of the projects are for making a new website or transfering an existing website to HotDoodle.  Other popular projects are for doing Search Engine Optimization, creating new content such as writing text, creating graphics, setting up a newsletter, and more.

Q. Who is HotDoodle meant for?

A. HotDoodle is a website service for small businesses, professionals, organizations, or anyone who needs an effective web presence easily and affordably.  

Q. How does HotDoodle compare with other DIY services?

A.HotDoodle’s innovative PenPal Marketplace integrated with a do-it-yourself service is an industry first. HotDoodle is more than the traditional easy website builder service. Everything you need is truly in one place - easy website builder with powerful features, free stunning templates with starter content, affordable way to hire the skills you may not have, and website domains and hosting included. HotDoodle enables a grass root level workforce to meet the massive demand for making and enhancing websites. You can hire a PenPal to make your website, make a website yourself, or do a bit of both. Get as little or as much help as you wish - minor changes, making a brand new website, or launching an all out marketing assault.

Q. How much will it really cost me? What are the hidden costs?

A.There are no hidden costs. There are 3 parts to your price. (1) The price to make your website. You can either make a website yourself for free or hire a PenPal at an affordable price (typically $199). (2) The price for your domain. You can purchase a domain through HotDoodle for $15 per annum or use an externally purchased domain with no restrictions or charges from HotDoodle. (3) The price for your monthly plan (typically $9.95 or $24.95).

Q. I’m a student, how much can I earn as a PenPal?

A.PenPals can earn by bidding on website projects in the marketplace, or can earn even more by finding local businesses around them who need a website. Typical price for a brochure website project is about $199 and typically one take you about four hours. The time spent and money earned can vary depending on the skills and scope. Other example projects are search engine optimization, graphic design, content writing, flash design and more.