subject: Web Strategies - Getting Started Using the right Tools [print this page] Web Strategies - Getting Started Using the right Tools
In the past, constructing a website was difficult and required specific coding skills and overpriced tools. Because of recent advances in technology, website creation is not difficut at all. You don't need to be a techie or a programmer. If you are creating a website for the first time, save this page. www.WebStrategies101.com will help you on you journey. Here's everything you need to know in order to get through each step of the 3 step process - at no extra charge!
There are three main steps to website creation:
Step 1 - Register a domain name
The first thing you need to do when creating a website is to get your own domain name. There are many domain name registration companies to choose from. I have 50+ registered domains and keep them all in one place with the same domain company. I use www.getezdomains.com - a Godaddy reseller. But you can also go to good and search for domain registration companies. Here are some things you want to keep in ming when registering your domain.
Here is some information and tips to help you select the best domain name for you:
The shorter the better. Keep it short Try to keep your domain name less than 15 characters. A short name is easier to remember and reduces the likelihood that your visitors will mis-spell it or type it wrong.
Keep it sweet. Catchy or memorable names are easier for people to remember. You can have as cool and nice looking site, but if your visitors can't remember your domain name, it will cut down on the chance of of returning. And remember to make sure the domain name is easy for people to spell. Sweet and simple always works well on the web.
Register a domain name that represents your business. Don't just choose a random name. For example, if your sell horse supplies, you should choose a name that has the word "horse supplies" in it such as YourHorseSupplies.com. Or, your domain name should refer to horses in some way, like whoa.com. The former will help you in the search engines. The latter will be memorable.
Always try to get a .com domain. If you are debating between several different domain names, go with the .com. It's what most people think of when they are typing in a domain name. It's true the best names are gone, but you can still find a good .com if you look. Thousands of .coms expire and are released back in the market each month so there is always a steady supply of new domains coming into the market. And if you really want to get a good domain that has traffic already going to it, go to http://www.ws101.net/PresentsDomainFace.
Step 2 - Choose a web host
Once you have your domain name, you will need to find a web host. Good doesn't always mean expensive. Good means reliable with great support.
Be careful of free hosting companies. They usually have hosting packaged with other offers or products and usually don't do the best job at hosting. Some companies even combine domain registration with hosting which confuses some folks because they are actually two different services.
So what is hosting anyway?
Hosting companies store the website you create on their servers and transmits it to the internet so that when someone types in the domain your registered, your web site appears. A server is just a fancy computer that "serves up" your web site to the internet. It's like the renting an apartment in an apartment building; when you rent the space, they give you an address. When you want visitors, you give them your address. If you lived in an apartment, you would also need to provide the building and apartment number. And if that analogy didn't work for you, don't worry. Hosing companies usually make it easy to sign up.
Here what you should know when you are looking for a hosting company.
DO NOT start out with most expensive plan. Most people are compelled to buying the more expensive plans because they led to believe lots of space and storage. The smallest plans are usually good enough to start. Any plan offering 10 mb is plenty for most first web sites. If you want to be sure, then choose a plan around 50 - 100 mb. Anything over 50 mb is a HUGE amount of space. If you get at least that, you will be fine.
Again, go to google and search the term "hosting companies" and you will see plenty choices. I use a company called Host Gator and strongly recommend them. http://www.webstrategies101.com/HostGator. There are lots of hosting companies out there so make sure you choose one with good customer services and can answer your technical questions and you are moving along at creating your site.
Step 3. Creating a Web Site
Now here's where it gets fun. There are so many different ways and tools for creating a website. And establishing a website is just the first step to having a successful website. You need to start step 3 with the end in mind. Spend more time determing what you want your site to do.
Before you start , ask yourself these questions:
* Is it going to be like brocure for your business?
* Do you want it to capture leads for you?
* Are you plannig on using it to generate sales?
* Are you using it to educate?
* Are you trying to create a social website?
* Do you want it to rank high in the search engines?
* And there are many more questions...
I suggest you decide what you want before you start actually start creating the site. One of the most important things you should consider is if you should do it yourself or if you should hire someone else to do. The dirty little secret is that you can have professionals competing to get your project done by going to oDesk - http://www.webstrategies101.com/oDesk.
But I know - you want to take a crack at it your self. That's commendable. So I'll tell you where to go to get it done using some of the best tools available on the web. At this point, the tools you use make all the difference in the world. And save you lots of learning time.
Here are my favorite tools for creating a website:
Free resources:
My favorite resources
Artisteer
Wordpressdirect
So here's why I created the site:
I started this website to cover web strategies and internet marketing techniques for my friends and family because I was tired of seeing them get ripped off when they were trying to create a website or using the web to do web marketing. Usually when they ask me a question, I try to put the answers here. Soon I'll be creating a socal community and inviting anyone to join and participate.
