You're ready to take your site to the Web, but where do you begin? Even if you can afford to pay someone to set up your site, in all likelihood, you'll still need to learn some basic HTML in order to update the site in the future.
So, what is "HTML"? HTML is a collection of formatting commands for creating Web pages. In other words, HTML is the "language of the Web."
For the purpose of this article, we're going to assume that you're serious about your Web site, as opposed to creating a site just for fun. If you want to create a site for fun, any of the free Web space would work for you, such as AOL, Geocities, or space with your Internet service provider.
With a business site, however, you need your own domain. Your own domain brings on a level of professionalism that is missing from a free Web site. But how can you find out if a domain is available? Go to Network Solutions' WHOIS and type in the domain name you're considering. Don't purchase the domain yet-just check for its availability. http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois
TIP! When considering a domain name, try to choose a domain that includes keywords that accurately describe your site. For example, let's say that your business is named after your last name, like Smith & Company, and you sell plumbing supplies. When purchasing a domain, consider something like SmithPlumbingSupplies.com, or Smith-Plumbing-Supplies.com. Why? Because having keywords in your domain name can help your site in the search engine rankings.
Before purchasing a domain name, you'll need to find a company to host your site. Some local Internet service providers will host your site, or you can go through a national service like Verio. If you go through Verio, you can register a domain name for $19 a year. Verio will also host your Web site, and it offers a wide variety of services, depending on the type of site you have, whether you need e-commerce solutions, etc. http://www.verio.com/
Once you've chosen a domain name and a hosting company, you're ready to get to work on designing your Web site. For the purpose of this article, we're going to assume that you're a "do-it- yourselfer" who wants to create your own site. Later, we'll suggest a professional Web design firm, if you'd rather hire someone else to do it for you.
In Parts 2 and 3 of this article, we'll continue with instructions for creating your own Web site.
This article was written by Robin Nobles, a professional freelance writer and the Director of Training at the Academy of Web Specialists (http://www.academywebspecialists.com). Over the past few years, she has trained thousands of people in her online and onsite courses in search engine positioning strategies and has written three books that can be ordered through Amazon. Visit the Academy's training Web site to learn more about their online courses: http://www.onlinewebtraining.com. Or, visit Robin's personal Web site at http://www.robinsnest.com.
