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Here are some ways to create your web site and save thousands of dollars in web designer fees.
There are two basic options to create your web site:
1. Build it yourself.
2. Get a professional designer to build it for you.
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The most excellent tool for sharing ideas, communicating with other people around the world, and doing business is the internet. The most effective way of doing any of these things is to create your own website.
Whatever your interests, profession, or business, having your own site on the web is a great way to start sharing your enthusiasm with like-minded web users, or for attracting new clients to your company. |
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The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Own Website:
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A little-known fact about the Web is how easy it is to set up your own website. Instead of paying someone to host your website or using an ad-supported provider, you can host it yourself. Though it takes more time to set up, it has the advantages of being free and more flexible than other solutions. |
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1. Think of ideas for your new website. Make note of those moments when you think to yourself "I wish there was a website that..." Whenever you see a friend with any kind of problem or frustration, try and think of a website that would help him/her. Write down all of your ideas, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. There's no better place than the Internet to turn a quirky idea into gold. |
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2. Identify your market. What kinds of people would each of your website ideas serve? Some websites, like Yahoo! or Google, are as general as it gets, while other sites, like Homehelpers.info, serve a very specific bunch. Write down the target market next to each of the ideas on your list. |
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3. Figure out your commitment. How much time and money are you willing to put into your website? You can start and run a website for free, but the more money you want to make from your site, the more time and money you'll have to invest. If you don't care too much about making money (like if you're just interested in showing off your dried bug collection) you can get away with free web hosting and sporadic maintenance. |
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4. Narrow down your list. Which ideas stand to make the most profits? Which ideas require the most commitment? Which ideas look like they'd be fun to pursue? |
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5. Register a domain name (one that's easy to remember and spell) and choose a web host. For more complicated websites, be willing to shell out the extra bucks; or, you can opt for a free web hosting, which will probably mean having a URL like www.yourdomain.webhostname.com and ads plastered all over your webpage. Read the fine print. |
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6. Build Your Website. Here you have a few different options.
- Get a website-building program like Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expression Web or find one online and do it yourself. While this might work for your dried bug page, it's not the best choice if you're trying to make a sharp, professional impression, especially if you're trying to get people to part with their money.
- Learn HTML and build a website from scratch. HTML is incredibly easy to learn, and if you're up to it, you'll be able to tweak your web design any way you want, and you won't have to pay anybody else to update or change your site. XHTMLis the new web language set by W3C's standards. Almost identical to HTML, it follows a stricter set of rules for marking up information - what this means, for the most part, is minor changes to the way you write code.
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7. Use Keywords that your target audience would search for. Sprinkle them throughout your text, but not to the extent that it hurts the quality of your content. Check your spelling and grammar. Remember that quality is in the details. |
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8 .Upload Your Website. Your web host may have an FTP feature, or you can download your own FTP program. |
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9. Advertise. Submit your site to major search engines. Tell your friends. Use an e-mail address with your domain. Visit other websites that complement (not compete with) yours, and offer to exchange links. Post on blogs, and put your URL in your signature. |
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10. Provide quality content and service. This is what will ultimately make your website awesome. Be sensitive to feedback - take it seriously. Think about your target market: their needs, their frustrations, their circumstances, and seek to make their lives easier. Strive for a win-win situation for you and your visitors. Most of all, remember to have fun! |
