I have had the opportunity to speak with many people interested in getting a web site set up. Occasionally, I have been asked to explain exactly what is necessary to make a new site. In this article, I will attempt to cover all of the basic requirements involved in setting up a site. This article will not go into detail regarding any single step and is intended as an overview.
1. Pick a Domain Name
The web address you use in your web browser to open a specific web site is called a domain name. Domain names must be registered with an internet address registrar, who distributes the address throughout the internet. Because many domains have already been registered, it has become somewhat difficult to find a .com or .net name that fits your business. You can use one of the many online search pages or a program like Whois Web to find what domains are available. Once you find a domain that you can use, go ahead and register it; the fee you pay will give you the assurance that it will be yours to use for the period of registration, usually a year or two.
2. Design Your Web Site
Once you have picked a domain name, you need to design your web page. You can hire a professional designer to build your site or do it yourself with one of the many software tools available. Designing the site is often the most complex step in setting up a web presence. You need to get together all of the information, plan a layout for the site, and create (or purchase) any graphics needed to enhance the presentation.
3. Get Hosting
Once your web site is designed, you need to choose a web hosting company. A web hosting company, like Atlanta Web Host, will provide the computer equipment and high-speed internet connections required to keep your new web site accessible. You must decide which platform you will use based on the scripting and/or database needs of your site. If you are just using HTML documents and graphics, you are probably best off with a Unix or Linux based account, such as our Linux and Solaris plans. If you need to use ASP or other Microsoft technologies, you will probably need a Windows NT account.
4. Publish Your Web Site
When you have finished designing your web site and have a hosting account, you are ready to publish your new site. You can publish with an FTP program. An FTP program is a piece of software that lets you transfer files from your computer to your host server over the internet. You can use one of the many free FTP programs such as WS_FTP Lite to upload your site.