In Parts 1 and 2, we learned how to purchase a domain name and how to work with HTML. Now, we're ready to place our page on the Web.
Your host provider will give you instructions for uploading to the Web, but you'll need an FTP program to do so.
Go back to Stroud's and download a shareware version of an FTP program. CuteFTP and WS-FTP are both excellent programs. http://cws.internet.com/ftp.html
Again, spend some time working with the FTP program. With an FTP program, you'll connect to your site, using instructions provided by your host provider. Then, you'll look for the Web page you've been working with on your hard drive, and you'll "drag" it to the right-hand side of the program's screen, thus placing it on your domain.
Then, go to the Web and type in the name of your domain. If your domain is Oscar-Bulldog-Kennels.com, you'll type this into the "address" area of your browser: http://www.oscar-bulldog-kennels.com. Your Web page, if named index.html or .htm, should come up. If it doesn't, go back to the instructions from the host provider and make sure that you're following them explicitly.
TIP! When naming Web pages other than the main page of your site, be sure to name them after your important keyword phrases. Put hyphens between the keywords, like bulldog-puppies.html. Pay special attention to the capitalization and placement of hyphens. Link from the main page of your site (index.html) to your other Web pages, and be sure to list the exact name of the page in the link. In other words, if your page is named bulldog-puppies.html as in our example, if you add a link to BULLDOG-PUPPIES.HTML, the link may not work due to case sensitivity issues. The names must be exact.
After reading this article, if you've decided that you'd rather pay someone else to create a page for you, look through your local yellow pages for Web designers. Or, consider a design firm like TotalDesignz.com, which offers a wide variety of design services at varying prices, depending on your unique needs. http://www.totaldesignz.com
But remember that even if you hire a design firm to create your site for you, you'll probably want a basic knowledge of HTML, so you can make changes to your site in the future.
Good luck with your site, and be sure to send me your URL when you're finished!
Note: If you've missed Parts 1 or 2, contact Robin and she'll send you copies.
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.
