Steps for Creating a Web Site
It's quite easy to have your own Web site these days. Here are some questions to ask yourself and basic steps to follow:
| Are you sure you need a Web site? | Maybe all you need is a Web space where you can display photographs or start a journal. These spaces are sometimes referred to as weblogs or blogs. You can usually create your own Web space for free by visiting Web sites such as Blogger or the Microsoft® Windows Live™ Spaces. Another way to have a Web presence is to sign up for one or more of the many social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook or MySpace. |
| How about a free Web site? | One way to create a small business Web site
is to use a free Web hosting plan. Microsoft has a free Web
hosting service called Office Live Basics. This free service
includes your own domain name, design tools and templates. The
only fee you have to pay is an annual fee of $14.95 for the
domain name. For further information, visit
Office Live or go to my own free Office Live
Web site at CliveSoden2. An even easier way to create your own free Web site is Google Sites. Google™ really simplifies the job of Web site creation without having to register a domain name. I have a simple one-page site created with Google Sites at: Clive Soden's Free Web Site. |
| Do you need a custom-made Web site? | If the services mentioned in steps 1 and 2 do not meet your requirements, you most likely need a custom Web site. First, decide on the purpose of your site. Is it a personal Web site or is it for business? If it's for business, what type of product or service are you selling? Also consider the layout and navigation structure of your site. |
| Have you chosen a domain name for your site? | The domain name gives your site a "location" or "address" on the Internet. For example, the domain name for this site is clivesoden.com. There are many online companies that allow you to search for and register a domain name. Domain name registration is usually a yearly fee, typically around $15. A company I use frequently for domain name registration is Voicegateway at: Voicegateway Domain Names. |
| Have you found a Web hosting company? | Find a Web hosting company to host your Web site. Or have someone like me handle the Web hosting for you. Typical hosting fees for personal and small business Web sites start around $8 per month for simple Web sites. There are many companies that specialize in Web hosting. For example, CrystalTech is one of my choices for Web hosting because they are reliable and support many Microsoft® Web products and services. |
| Create your Web site. | Some Web hosting companies have their own special Web editing programs that are easy for beginners to use. If you do not wish to create your own Web site, contact a professional Web developer (such as myself) to do it for you. For creating Web sites, I use the Microsoft program called Expression® Web. |