Conceptualize, Build and Publish a Web site

Conceptualize, Build and Publish a Web site - What's required to get started

All of us knowingly or unknowingly, use a standard decision making process in our day-to-day lives. The very first step of this process is to decide whether TO DO or NOT TO DO. If the choice is TO DO, we think of the various ways and means of attaining our objective/s, compare their pros & cons and take a final stand.

The aim of this write up is to make you aware of the resources that are needed to achieve your TO DO objective. The TO DO objective is to conceptualize, build and publish your web site. The first step is to decide what you want from your web site. Do you want a site that your near and dear ones can visit from time to time (I assume you are far away from them.) or do you want a site that sells a product, service, brand or image? Whatever the purpose of your web site, the absolute essentials to have a site up and running are as below: -

The 5 Essentials: Spare Time - You must have lot of spare time at your disposal. So if you are a house maker whose kids have grown up, a worker who has just been shown the pink slip or college student on vacation then time shouldn't be a problem for you. Those hard pressed for time can contract the web page design work to a professional web master or use a Site Creation tool.

HTML Knowledge - HTML is NOT a programming language. Its basics can be mastered within a month and the learning curve is not too steep. The fact that anyone can learn HTML and create Web pages is the reason why the Internet is so popular and has such varied content. Learn the HTML tags and how to use them. Skip complex topics like frames, style sheets, CGI, JavaScript. Buy a good book on HTML. It will teach HTML and also give links to various online HTML resource sites.

HTML Page & Site Creation Tools - The main reason for using these tools is to speed up the process of page / site creation. However, most of the tools do not produce correct HTML and editing by hand is necessary. Your HTML book will provide reviews of these tools and links to their web sites. If you know HTML and plan to have 5-6 web pages in your site, a rudimentary editor like Netscape Composer will also suffice. For managing a site with huge number of pages you will need to use a Site Creation Tool.

Make provisions for a fast Internet connection and a room where you can work without distractions.

Find an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or IPP (Internet Presence Provider) i.e. a web hosting company, to host your web site. Crystallize a Concept: With the 5 main things taken care of, you should be ready for Conceptualization. Some of you will already have a concept or idea for your site, but take a moment and download AffMasters.pdf course from http://aff-masters.sitesell.com/ (copy & paste the link in you browser and hit enter). The AffMasters.pdf is free to download. Please read page 35 " Day 2 - Brainstorm Your Site Concept ". I am sure that you will appreciate the authors' approach and find the most suitable concept for your site. This course also gives a few pointers about things to avoid in a web site. Make notes and use them as you build your site.

Build your Site: Once you have arrived at a concept, use your HTML Knowledge, HTML Page Creation Tools and ready-made Templates to build the web pages. Edit the HTML to make the visual just right. Load the pages with content. Keep in mind that Content is King. Keep the page design simple yet elegant. You should Value Content over flashiness. Don't use too much graphics, if you do the page will take time to load. Impatient surfers might close their browsers and move on.

Publish your Site: To enable surfers to view your web site, you must publish your pages to a server that is connected to the Internet i.e. a web server. When you publish a page to a web server, you upload that page on to the web server. You can upload the pages on the server of an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or on the server of an IPP (Internet Presence Provider) i.e. a web hosting company. Usually it is better to use an IPP because -

An IPP offers more web space (20 MB free) than an ISP (5MB).

IPPs usually allow CGI on their servers.

To upload web pages to an ISP server a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client is required. Some IPPs (e.g. NetFirms) also require FTP client to upload files to their servers. However there are IPPs (e.g. FreeServers) that allow you to upload your files directly to their servers without FTP. You should prefer the IPPs that do not require an FTP client because it is much convenient and quicker to upload your files using a Site Manager provided by the hosting company.

About The Author

Sushanth Bastawade - Web master, http://NewsForUse.FreeHosting.net/

---

The Top Ten Benefits of Having a Web Site

Do you need a web site? Are you considering getting... Read More

Your Website Reflects Your Business

Some left shoes are in isle 5, while the right... Read More

The Secret Benefit Of Accessibility: Part 2 - A Higher Search Engine Ranking

An additional benefit of website accessibility is an improved performance... Read More

Frequent Business Question: How Do You Start a Web Business?

Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More

How to Listen on the Web

When building a relationship, listening is more important than talking.A... Read More

Do You Really Need A Website To Succeed

Rosalind wants to share her inspirational poetry with a wider... Read More

Things to Consider Before Starting a Website

In the time that I have been using the Internet,... Read More

Up The Sandbox!

Go to any internet marketing forum you want these days... Read More

Non-Profits: Successful Online Strategies

More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help... Read More

Six Basic Reasons Why Visitors Stay On Your Web Site

1. The first page appears quickly.It's a good way to... Read More

But My Business Doesnt Need A Website!

Revenues are often lost because many business owners don't see... Read More

Track Your Visitors, Using PHP

There are many different traffic analysis tools, ranging from simple... Read More

Email Addresses in Web Pages

You want to give your site's visitors a way to... Read More

Why Is No-one Buying From My Website?

Are you, like many other website owners, frustrated at the... Read More

Guidelines for Web Page Optimization

Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More

Your Future Profit Is In The Stars

You don't believe in astrology but you check your horoscope... Read More

A Web Site for Your Small Business: How to Set Up a Website

Your web site will be your window to the world.... Read More

Running An Effective Website

Running an effective website is a continuous process. I have... Read More

From Concept to Website

You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More

Having a Portfolio on the Internet Can Help you Infiltate the Workforce

If you're an up and coming graphic/web designer just out... Read More

Seven Daft Things Not To Do To Your Website

1. Splash pagesMost of the time splash pages are uncalled... Read More

How To Get Profits From Your 404 Page Not Found File

"'Page Not Found' on this Server. Check the URL and... Read More

Getting a Web Site Can Be Fast, Easy, and Inexpensive When You Know Your Options

So what do you do if need to get a... Read More

How to Handle Web Surfers Who Disabled JavaScript

There are hundreds of millions of Web surfers today. Each... Read More

Are You Losing Sales Because of These 4 Simple Website Mistakes?

Losing website sales and traffic is sometimes simply a case... Read More

Tell me what your website does!

You know exactly what your organisation does and what your... Read More

Revealing the Firefox Secret Used by Top Web Developers and Power-Browsers

Profiles are one of the best kept secrets around regarding... Read More

7 Tips to Make Your Order Page Work Harder

So your prospect, Mary, is sitting at the computer reading... Read More

5 Ways to Build a Website

If you are like me you have wanted to build... Read More

Top 5 Reasons to Track Your Website Traffic

#5 User Satisfaction: Learn what your visitors and site users... Read More

Benefits Of An Accessible Website: Part 2 - The Business Case

The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) states that service providers must... Read More

You Cant Just Build A Website And Hope It Works!

Like any area of business your website needs some effort... Read More

Art, Artists, and the Web:Part: 2--First Steps in Building an Artist?s Website

What you should do and know if you are an... Read More