What
do I need to have a web site?
What is a web site?
A web site is a series of documents that are posted on the World Wide Web. This makes the document available to anyone in the world with an Internet connection.
What do I need to have a web site?
To put up a web site you'll need
A domain name,
A company or employee to develop your web site.
What is a domain name and how do I choose one?
A domain name is the address that people will type in to find your web site, such as www.yourcompany.com. Generally you want the shortest version of your business name that is available. Other companies and individuals have already registered most common names, so you may need to be creative if your name is taken.
To check if a domain name is available, you can visit www.networksolutions.com and type your choice on the main page.
What is a web server?
A web server is a computer with a constant Internet connection (as opposed to the kind where you dial in to the internet when you want to check your email, or surf the web.) that sends out your web pages each time a visitor comes to your site. You can set up your own system as a server, or you can pay to have your site hosted by a company.
What is hosting?
Hosting is renting space on the Internet. Imagine you wanted to advertise in a magazine. You would pay to have your ad take up space on the page. The bigger your ad was the more space you would need to buy. On the Internet you rent space on a server. Servers are nothing more than computers that have a lot of space on them for people to rent. You rent the space and then put whatever you want on it. Many hosting companies will offer different options for different kinds of sites. A good deal will have the speed, capabilities, service, and price you need.
"Can't I use my AOL, XYZ, whatever account?"
Yes, you can
Advantages:
Low cost - you're already paying for it!
Usually 2 - 6 MEGs of storage for files and images is included
Disadvantages:
You'll have a name like "http://members.yourgreatserver.com/~widgetsales/"
Limited storage space
Can I design my own website?
A broad range of skills is necessary to design and publish a professional looking web site, but there are plenty of free resources online to help you learn. But for most people, it’s more efficient to have someone do it for you.