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You've
heard of the HTML gland haven't you?
You bet, it's right behind your left ear. Next to that little hollow spot above your jaw.
Can you find it?
Try tapping around that area. That's it.
Did you feel it? If you tap it just right you'll
notice some animation around your lips. Tap a bit harder and you'll even detect the
definite aroma of Java.
Still nothing? Obviously there is a problem with your ASP (pardon me), and your interface
with the server (he brings the tea right?) is not formatted properly. |
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All right, that's
enough fun. The preceding goofiness is to illustrate a point...
We are not born Web smart. While it may appear from all the techie talk that you need the
"Internet gene" to be a player on the Web, you don't.
You see, the techies have made it easy for the not-so-techie types to play also. So until
the day comes when your HTML gland decides to behave, let's check out the five steps to
creating and posting your own website.
Pre-Plan Your Site
Start by writing out the answer to these questions:
1. What is the major theme of my site?
If you answer this with "to make lots of
money" you'll need a big dose of Internet gene therapy. Keeping a central focus
results in getting visitors to your site who are *interested* in your product or service.
Unless your site is "Bob's Rent-All" you'll want to avoid looking like a flea
market. Sites that only have a "make money" focus tend to do poorly.
2. Who are my visitors?
Your visitors are your Target Group. Take time to
understand who your visitors are and what their needs are.
3. How will I capture the attention of my visitors?
You'll have only a few seconds to show your
visitors that they're in the right place. Come up with answers to the following questions
your visitors will ask about your site:
- Who are you?
- What is your site about?
- What do you have for me?
- Why should I stay and browse your site?
Lay Out a Basic Site Design on Paper
Start with your home page. Keep it simple and don't be afraid of white space. Make sure
your content adheres to your answers from discussion above. Then draw out a few pages to
link from your home page. These might include a Products page, FAQ page, Order page, and
so on. Don't get bogged down here, just keep it simple.
Put Your Design On Your Computer
This can be quite intimidating for the new webmaster. But remember, since our HTML gland
is out for lunch, we'll use the tools set before us by the "smart ones."
Therefore, it's a good idea to use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) design
program.
Mind you, a few of the "smart ones" may not agree with this choice, since
WYSIWYG's tend to be limiting in some respects. But we're just getting started. We can
live with basics for now! Programs such as Microsoft's FrontPage or CofeeCup are suitable for the
beginner.
 Another good program is Allaire's HomeSite. They call
it a What You See Is What You Need interface. It produces clean html, but it's helpful to
have some basic coding knowledge with this program.
Select a Company to Host Your Site
Your hosting company will keep your pages on their computer. A
good host will keep a 24 hour connection to the web with phone lines that operate at fast
speeds.
How do you select a good host for your site?
In addition to reliable and fast connections to the web, you should insist on a host with
24/7 support services. Simply put, when you call with a problem, they should have an
immediate solution. There's nothing worse than a host that can't
come through in a pinch.
Transfer Your Pages To Your Web Host
This is accomplished with an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program. Sounds scary I know,
but it's a pretty harmless procedure. One of the more popular programs is CuteFTP. This is
the program I use. It has an easy drop and drag interface that makes uploading a snap. http://www.cuteftp.com
There you have it! Why not get started right now? You know, I'll just bet that if you
reach up and give a few quick taps to that HTML gland... you remember... behind the left
ear... that's right... you'll begin to detect the ever-so-faint, yet distinct, scent of
Java!
© Brett Krkosska - All Rights Reserved
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brett Krkosska provides how-to advice on small
and home-based work issues. Get start-up guidance, business ideas and inspiration at http://www.HomeBizTools.com. Become
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