| It is a lot easier than you think to create and | | | | to help you understand your website. |
| maintain a website. You can pay for web hosting and | | | | A website is made up of web pages (files). Each |
| a domain name or you can try a free host. Free | | | | webpage has a name. The first page needs to be |
| hosts usually have their advertising on your page. | | | | called index.htm or index.html as that is the file your |
| Many hosts have free online visual editors so that | | | | browser will look for first when you type in the |
| you do not need to know any programming language | | | | address of your website. Each or your pages will |
| to create web pages and edit them. All you need to | | | | usually have a link back to this page, which is often |
| get started is internet access and even this can be | | | | called the home page. Along with your pages you |
| accessed free in some places such as libraries in | | | | may have some images. I usually create a folder for |
| some parts of Australia. | | | | my images and call the folder images. |
| Before you choose a host and sign up for a website, | | | | File names are often written in lower case but |
| you need to have an email account that you can | | | | whether you do or not, the case is important. Links |
| access. Your new website host usually sends you a | | | | to files will not find them if the link has the wrong |
| validation email with a link that you need to click to | | | | case. File names for the web should not have spaces |
| activate your website space. Your password is often | | | | in them either. Sometimes people create their pages |
| sent in this email as well. So if you don't have one, | | | | and save them on their computer first then they |
| create one. There are many places you can get a | | | | upload them to the web host space. If you double |
| free email. Try doing a search for free email services. | | | | click on your web page it usually opens in a browser |
| Once you have your email account you need to think | | | | window. It is easy to think that this page is online |
| about what you want your site to be called. Most | | | | because it looks as though it is, so if you are not |
| free websites have the name of the host in your | | | | sure, check the address in the address bar. If the |
| new website URL. You can start with that and buy | | | | address looks something like this, showing the drive |
| your own domain name later if you want to forward | | | | and folder then it is not online. It is on your computer |
| it to your free hosted site. | | | | and you will need to upload it to your online host |
| You will need a username and password to access | | | | space: file:///C:/Documents and Settings/citwings |
| your new website space as well so make one up | | | | index.html. Uploading files can be as simple as clicking |
| that you will remember and or write it down | | | | an upload and/or browse button in your hosted site |
| somewhere. | | | | webshell / space/ directory. Or you can upload using |
| Now it is time to find a host for your website but | | | | an FTP (file transfer protocol) program. |
| before you do here is a little background information | | | | |