| Everyone wants a website, and every day it's | | | | internet users can access their content. When you |
| becoming easier and cheaper to own one. Yet it | | | | purchase a hosting package, you're purchasing a |
| can still be a daunting process for the beginner - | | | | certain amount of their hard drive space, which |
| what do all these terms mean? What's the | | | | you then put your webpage on. |
| difference between buying a domain name and | | | | How it works |
| hosting space? What do you do first? This guide | | | | Once you've purchased your hosting package, it's |
| will get you on your feet. | | | | up to you to put your website online. This is very |
| DOMAIN NAMES: | | | | easily achieved using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). |
| What it is | | | | There are many free FTP programs available for |
| A domain name is also known as a URL (Universal | | | | download, and what they do is transfer the files |
| Resource Locator) - it is the 'address' of a | | | | you want from your computer's hard drive onto |
| website. | | | | your web host. |
| How it works | | | | That's it - once your pages are online, the web |
| Your URL is simply how people connect with your | | | | host does the rest! |
| website. Think of it as your website's phone | | | | What you need |
| number - people can't call you without first looking | | | | So you're ready to sign up with a web host - but |
| up your number, and people can't browse to your | | | | there are so many options! What does it all |
| website unless they first look up your URL. | | | | mean? |
| However, owning a URL is not the same as | | | | Storage: This is the amount of hard drive space |
| owning a website. By registering a domain name, | | | | you're permitted. Currently, most hosting plans |
| you have purchased the right to use that domain | | | | offer far more storage than the average person |
| to identify your site. You typically renew your | | | | will ever need. However, if you're planning a large |
| registration annually for a small fee. However, you | | | | site, or a site that hosts lots of images or |
| still need to have web hosting in order to actually | | | | downloads, you'll want to choose a plan with |
| get your site online. We'll cover that in the next | | | | adequate storage. |
| part. | | | | Bandwidth: Bandwidth is the term for the amount |
| Selecting a domain | | | | of data transferred when someone accesses |
| Your domain name, or URL, is quite possibly the | | | | your webpage. When a visitor downloads a 1MB |
| most important part of your website, especially if | | | | video from your site, they've used 1MB of your |
| your site is meant for a business. Here are some | | | | allotted bandwidth. Bandwidth is an especially |
| tips for selecting a good domain name: | | | | important consideration if you'll have a |
| Keep it concise | | | | graphics-heavy or media-heavy website. Type, on |
| - The fewer words you can use, the better - is | | | | the other hand, uses very little bandwidth.mySQL |
| much harder to remember (and type!) than You | | | | Database: mySQL is a database management |
| want to communicate what your website is about | | | | program that is becoming more and more |
| in the fewest, easiest-to-remember words | | | | important. Many kinds of software utilize mySQL |
| possible. | | | | databases, such as bulletin boards, shopping carts, |
| Make it descriptive | | | | blogging software, and content management |
| - You don't want a lot of words, but you do want | | | | systems. |
| people to know what you're about. says a lot | | | | Add-On Domains: This is an option that allows you |
| with two easy-to-remember words. Business | | | | to register more than one domain on your hosting |
| websites should always try to use their name as | | | | account. This is particularly useful if you're running |
| their URL - everybody knows how to find | | | | several smaller sites which don't require all the |
| Wal-Mart's website, and it should be that simple | | | | resources of your hosting package. With multiple |
| for your clients, too! | | | | add-on domains, you can have several different |
| No funny business! | | | | websites, but only one hosting package - which |
| - A good, simple domain is hard to find these | | | | means saving money! |
| days. It might take some creative thinking to find | | | | Fantastico: This is a script library that many |
| something that will work for you - but resist the | | | | hosting companies offer. It contains many free |
| temptation to use odd abbreviations or spelling, | | | | scripts that you can easily install on your website, |
| unless it's already part of your business name. | | | | such as blogging software, shopping carts, bulletin |
| After all, you still want it to be easy to | | | | boards, and other useful features. |
| remember, and most people won't think to type | | | | E-Mail Accounts: The number of email accounts |
| when your business name is Custom Cars. Try | | | | allowed to you determine how many customized |
| using other characteristics instead - such as WEB | | | | email addresses you can create. With e-mail |
| HOSTING | | | | included on your hosting program, you can have |
| Once you've selected a domain name, you'll need | | | | that custom email that never has to change - |
| to sign up with a web hosting service. | | | | There are a multitude of other options available |
| What it is | | | | with different hosting programs. However, the |
| Your web host is the company that your website | | | | ones listed here are the most essential. In all |
| lives on. The web host has computers (called | | | | likelihood, if you don't know what the other |
| servers) that are online all day, every day so that | | | | options mean, you probably don't need them! |