Step #1:
GET A DOMAIN
NAME
Simply put, your "domain name" is the name of your website...
www.your-website.com. Some people call it a "web address" or "internet
address" or a "web name". Once you settle on the name
you want, it has to be registered through an authorized registrar.
We'll help
you select your domain name and we'll take care of registering it for you.
"What if I already have a domain name registered with someone else?"
And if you ever
leave us for whatever reason, you'll get to take your domain name with you.
OK, so now you have a
domain name. But who's going to design and build it? And where will the pages
actually be for people to visit?
Step #2:
DESIGN & BUILD YOUR WEBSITE
Two people are
involved in designing and building your website: you and your "webmaster" (hopefully us). This is the
most time consuming part of getting a website going, but it's really no different than
working with your local printer to get a brochure or flier created and
printed. But the nice thing about a website is that you can have us make
changes at no cost long after it's been "published".
Most important, you're in
the driver's seat. You'll provide us
with a general idea of the layout, the copy (words), images, etc. After we get your
input, we'll come up with a proposed website and run it past you. Don't like
what you see? No problem; we'll make the changes you want until you're satisfied.
Not sure what you want?
Then
we suggest starting out with a one page website with only the most essential
information about you or your company or organization. You can always expand
your website at a later date if you think it needs it. And remember:
Your
website doesn't need to be gigantic and jammed with fancy graphics to do the
job --- it just needs to present your company or organization in a clear
attractive manner.
Now you have a domain name
and we have your website in our computer. So, how are people all around the
world going to see it?
Step
#3:
"PUBLISH" YOUR PAGES TO A SERVER
(HOST) THAT'S PLUGGED INTO THE WORLDWIDE WEB
Once you've signed off on
how your website looks, it's ready for launch. This entails us "uploading" it
to a server, a special computer that's connected to all the other servers
around the world like a web. If someone in London types your domain name into
their computer, they'll be taken to your website on our server, where your
pages are housed, or "hosted". Your website
is backed up, stored, protected... it won't be lost or destroyed, and no one
can get into it to make changes except us. Your website is always up and running so anyone can visit it
any time and from anywhere in the world. Your website isn't etched
in stone. We can make changes for you at any time, as often as you want.
And if you ever decide
you'd like someone else to maintain and host your website, you can have us
transfer your website to another webmaster and host.
We don't do anything that
permanently binds your website to our services.
For more information on how we handle
your website, take a look at
our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).
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