by Adina T. Mason

Created on: April 01, 2008   Last Updated: January 28, 2012

In today's technological world, if you run a business, then you need a website. As a consumer, if I see a product I like or a store I would like to visit, the first thing I do is search for a website. Web sites are the frontline for any business owner. They tell people more about the business, product information, prices, location, contact information and so much more. As a woman who runs a sales business from home, I can tell you that your web page is a vital asset to your business. 

First Things First

Before you even start pounding away at your new site, you need to register a domain name and choose a host. A domain is the address of your site on the World Wide Web. A host is the company who provides the storage and space for your files on the web. Hosting prices vary so shop around for the best deal for your needs. Some offer unlimited domains on one host price, whereas others will charge you more for less space. You should check out the following sites for superior hosting at a fraction of the cost:

• www.bluehost.com
• www.hostgator.com
• www.godaddy.com

Getting Started

There are a variety of options available to you when you are ready to build a website. There was a time when you had to have extensive knowledge in HTML and graphic design in order to have an attractive site. That has all changed. Host companies have made it extremely easy to build your website, even if you lack the knowledge of programming. There are two main options available to you when building your site:

• Site builder wizards: If you have no clue what HTML is or if you thought Java was just coffee, then site builders are for you. Once you choose a company to host your website, you should use the easy wizards they have available for you to help build your site. These site wizards have pre-made templates available to you so that you can choose what look your site should have. You can also add fill-in forms, pictures, text and any other information to your site with just the click of a button. No site building knowledge needed.

• Web Page Software: If you are familiar with HTML and other technical information, then you can use software such as Adobe Dreamweaver, Coffeecup, MS Frontpage, or WebStudio. This is all software that you would purchase and install on your PC. You can build some really dynamic pages with these programs. If you are using any of these, you would build your page, and then upload the files to your host to be published

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>