| If you want to design a website for business or | | | | offers the features you need for your website. |
| personal reasons it might seem like a tough task. | | | | Free web hosting services are available if you're |
| Fortunately, there are many resources and tools | | | | starting a personal website, but are not |
| online today to help you get a website up and | | | | recommended for business websites. |
| running quickly on the World Wide Web (www) | | | | Be aware that not all hosting services offer |
| Below are the five steps to creating your own | | | | special add-on features such as PHP or MySQL |
| website. | | | | capabilities. Not all hosting services offer a reliable |
| 1. Decide on a website theme | | | | control panel for site management and following |
| Choose a website theme that will flow with your | | | | your website's visitor statistics. So, be sure to |
| business or personal goals. If you're selling search | | | | choose a web hosting provider that offers what |
| engine optimization services (SEO), choose a | | | | you need for now and future growth. |
| theme that fits well with search engine | | | | 4. Design Your Website |
| optimization services (SEO). Perhaps you'd like a | | | | Once you choose a domain name and secure |
| website that offers training in a particular field or | | | | web hosting, it's time to design your website. You |
| that provides useful information or services in | | | | have two options:a) Learn web skills such as |
| fields such as health, insurance, marketing, finance, | | | | HTML and PHP so you can design your own |
| family, home and garden, web design, etc. | | | | website.b) Hire a web designer. |
| Use search engine optimization tools such as to | | | | If you choose to learn web design, there are |
| determine popular keywords in your field. This will | | | | many tutorials and courses online to help you |
| help you narrow your theme and find a niche | | | | learn. You don't have to spend thousands of |
| market. The more specific you are, the more | | | | dollars taking a college course. Or, you can find a |
| likely you'll reach your targeted audience. | | | | website that has the same features you want |
| 2. Choose a Domain Name | | | | and ask who designed it. This will help you find a |
| You can visit almost any web host to find out | | | | dependable designer who already has the skills |
| what domain names are available. Your domain | | | | needed for your project. |
| name is the web address people will type in to | | | | Either way, determine what type of programming |
| find your website and it is completely unique to | | | | language you will use beforehand. This will be |
| you. It could end in .com, .net, .org, or a variety of | | | | based on the features your website will have. |
| other suffixes. | | | | 5. Get Your Website Noticed |
| Example: | | | | It's time to promote your website. You can |
| Choose a domain name that meets the following | | | | promote in many different ways: search engine |
| criteria: | | | | optimization, paid search engines, free search |
| 1. Not too long. | | | | engine submission, e-zine advertising, and even |
| 2. Easy to spell - even for kids. | | | | off-line advertising. Include your website address |
| 3. Simple and easy to say. | | | | on everything you print such as business cards, |
| 4. Fits your website theme. | | | | newspaper ads, letterhead, envelopes, etc. |
| 5. Easy to remember. | | | | Probably one of the most effective ways to |
| Remember, your domain name will be used in all | | | | promote is by adding content articles to your |
| advertising campaigns whether in print or online, | | | | website. Articles get noticed by the search |
| so keep it simple. | | | | engines because they are informational and useful. |
| 3. Choose Web Hosting | | | | The more information you offer, the better your |
| Web hosting is a must for a website. This is the | | | | search engine rankings will be. If you sell insurance, |
| "web space" you'll buy so your website can | | | | write many articles about insurance for your |
| appear on the World Wide Web. You can choose | | | | website or hire a writer to write them for you. |
| from thousands of web hosts today, but be | | | | Whatever your theme, provide plenty of content |
| aware of the pitfalls if you choose the wrong | | | | for your users. |
| host. Choose a web host that is dependable, | | | | Use these five steps to get your website going. |
| affordable, offers excellent customer service, and | | | | You're on your way to web success! |