subject: Getting A Website Up And Running [print this page] If you're just finding out how to make your own website, you may already have discovered that it's more complicated than it looks. While it used to be possible to build a high quality site in plain HTML using Notepad, those days are long gone. Most social sites, blogs, business pages and organizational sites are built on a much more robust structure and make use of far more than just HTML. The good news is that while website technology has expanded, so have your options. Here's a look at the process of getting your website up and running.
Domains and Hosting
The most vital part of putting together a website is making sure you have a place to put it. This requires choosing a webhost and getting a domain name. While domain names are relatively inexpensive, with most priced at only about $10 per year, hosting can vary significantly in price and quality. If you're planning a robust site that will need to handle a lot of visitors or deliver streaming video and other media, it's a good idea to invest in quality hosting.
Free Design Templates and Programs
If you only want to make a simple site, you may be able to use website builders provided by your webhost, or free templates and programs found online. These tools tend to produce a relatively static site without too many bells and whistles. They also limit you to a narrow range of designs. They're highly affordable, however, and can produce a worthwhile page in just a few minutes.
Content Management Systems
Not all websites are suitable for free site builders. If you're interested in building something a little more complicated than a basic HTML page, it might be time to move to a content management system, or CMS. WordPress, a blog-oriented CMS, is a powerful tool and one of the most popular options. You can also use Joomla!, Drupal, or a range of other products. These website builders run on your server and operate via a template and post system. You can adapt them as much as you want, but you will need a little programming and coding knowledge. CMSs are ideal if you want to know how to make your own website with a shopping cart, built-in social media feeds, interactive sections or other Web 2.0 features.
Hiring a Developer or Designer
For very specialized commercial sites, a CMS and a little self-teaching won't be enough, either. When you want something specific, you need to pay for it. Getting in touch with a web designer or developer may be necessary to help you put together the perfect commercial site, media hub, or social site. While this does take a little bit of monetary investment, it's worth it for the professional look and feel, as well as the bug-free operation you can expect to receive.
