| In my humble opinion, everyone should create a | | | | freehosts |
| homepage. Wait, let's back upa minute. What's a | | | | ( Read theirinformation and FAQs (frequently asked |
| homepage? Well, there are really two definitions. | | | | questions) until you find one thatyou like. |
| First,a homepage is the first page of a web site, | | | | Virtually all of these hosts have very easy-to-use |
| usually named index, default orhome. Second, a | | | | utilities to create verynice home pages. They let you |
| homepage is a web site with one or more pages | | | | edit right from your web browser, addpictures, even |
| which ispersonal. It's the second definition which we | | | | include nice things like guestbooks and counters. |
| are using in this article. | | | | Theseutilities are a great place to start. |
| Okay, so why would anyone want to create a | | | | My advice is to just pick a provider and jump right in. |
| homepage? It's simple really. Theinternet is all about | | | | Get your feet wet. |
| communication. A homepage is a method whereby | | | | Yeah, your first efforts may not be perfect, but |
| you cancommunicate about yourself, your family, | | | | you've got to startsomewhere. Enjoy yourself and |
| hobbies, pets, likes, dislikes,religion or anything else | | | | have fun. |
| that you desire. Oh, there are limits to what youcan | | | | If you find after a while that the provider that you |
| put on your web site - you must stay within the | | | | chose doesn't meet yourneeds, switch and start |
| contractual terms of thecompany which is hosting it. | | | | over with another one. Until you find a providerthat |
| You also should not violate any laws - butbesides | | | | you are happy with (fast, easy-to-use, up most of |
| that, post away. | | | | the time) keep youhomepage small. Once you find |
| You say you have nothing to communicate that | | | | one you are happy with, go to town. |
| anyone would want to know? | | | | Now spend some time working on it. Do a little every |
| Hmmm. You're alive, aren't you? You have a family, a | | | | day if you can, or atleast a few days a week. Just |
| job, a pet, a hobby,anything? Let's see what kind of | | | | keep working on it. When you get a version ofthe |
| topics you can choose. | | | | site that's "done" (all pages finishes, no under |
| - Make a fan site for your favorite television show | | | | construction signs,links working, etc) submit it to the |
| (Star Trek, Wonder | | | | search engines |
| Woman, Dallas, whatever) | | | | ( so other peoplecan enjoy your work. Remember |
| - Create a personal diary. | | | | that the search engines take a few weeks ormonths |
| - Post a photo album. | | | | to list your site, so don't expect visitors overnight. |
| - Put up pictures of all of the trash cans in Disneyland | | | | Then practiceusing some of the other promotion |
| (someone alreadydid it). | | | | techniques discussed in "advertising" |
| - Write about and include drawings and photos of | | | | ( |
| your cat, dog, fish,armadillo or snake. | | | | Now just keep working on your home page. Get as |
| - Tell everyone about your job. | | | | fancy as you like. You'lllearn about graphics, HTML, |
| - People are always interested in religion - talk about | | | | and many other things. You've begun an |
| yours. | | | | adventurewhich has more rewards than you can |
| - You like your car? Create a web site all about that. | | | | imagine. |
| - What about your travels around the world? A diary | | | | At some point you will begin to push the limits of the |
| and/or photos is a goodthing to put on a homepage. | | | | free host/web basedhomepage editing technology. |
| - Did some school papers of which you are proud? | | | | You will start to get frustrated becausesomething |
| Post them. | | | | you want to do is difficult or cannot be done at all. |
| - If you are an artist or photographer, display your | | | | Now is the time to begin to learn about new things. |
| work. | | | | Now you will want tolearn HTML, perhaps buy a nice |
| - Figure something out? Tell us all about it. | | | | HTML editor and go to town. Most likely, bythis time |
| - Had an out-of-body experience, been kidnapped by | | | | you will want to re-create your site anyway, so pick |
| aliens or remember yourpast lives? Well, we'd all like | | | | an editor andgo for it. If you don't want to do the |
| to know. | | | | whole thing over, there aretechniques to get your |
| That's just a sample, there are an infinite number of | | | | site down to your own hard drive (learn about FTP). |
| subjects that you canwrite about. | | | | Perhaps you will need to find a new host - there are |
| All right, so now you want to create a home page. | | | | hundreds and hundredsof them. |
| How do you go about it? | | | | There is an added benefit to doing all of this - you |
| Find a company (a provider) to host it, choose a web | | | | are learning skillswhich will be of use throughout the |
| editing package | | | | rest of your life. This will be usefulin many jobs, and |
| (optional), and get to work. If you want to include | | | | if you become good enough, perhaps you will have |
| photos or other graphicsyou will need to get a | | | | foundyourself a possible new career. At the very |
| graphics editor and possibly a scanner. Don't | | | | least, you may make some newfriends and have a |
| worry,just start small and work your way through it. | | | | great adventure. |
| The providers usually make itpretty easy to get | | | | It's better than sitting at home watching television, |
| started. | | | | isn't it? |
| Visit some of the sites listed in the article on | | | | |