| So you're ready to build your website and have been | | | | Website Software - Website designers are usually |
| researching the steps. The information available online | | | | the ones who use this type of software. Programs |
| can so be conflicting and confusing that it leads you | | | | such as Dreamweaver and Microsoft Expressions |
| to just throw your hands up in the air and exclaim | | | | require an investment in the hundreds of dollars and |
| "Will someone just tell me - What are the steps to | | | | the learning curve is usually large. Not a good choice |
| host a website?" Let's break it down into simplest | | | | unless you know for sure this is the program you |
| terms. Here's how you get a website on the internet: | | | | would like to use to build your website. |
| Step 1 - Choose a domain name. You need to make | | | | Blogging Software - Wordpress is an open source |
| sure the domain name you choose is available. How | | | | software program that allows you to set up a blog. |
| to do that is to go to either a domain name provider | | | | But that's not where it ends. You can also use this |
| OR a hosting company that also provides domain | | | | program to build websites. There are many |
| names. Bluehost is an example of a company where | | | | advantages to using this type of program to build a |
| you buy both the domain name and the hosting. So in | | | | website, a few being the ability to interact with your |
| the second case you would direct your browser to | | | | readers, allow them to get automatic updates, easier |
| the hosting company of your choice and then do a | | | | search engine optimization and more. |
| search for the domain name you would like to | | | | Step 3 - You need a place for your website to exist, |
| register and host. | | | | this is your hosting. Think of it like having property to |
| Step 2 - Choose your website software or program. | | | | build your house on. Without it, you couldn't lay a |
| Now before you go off and buy hosting for your | | | | brick. Choosing your hosting will depend largely on the |
| website you need to make a decision on how you | | | | type of site you'd like to build and what program or |
| are going to build it. You can use website builders, | | | | software you will use to build it. |
| website software (like Dreamweaver or Microsoft | | | | When you choose a host, it's a good idea to go with |
| Expressions), blogging software or other types of | | | | one that has cPanel. cPanel is a hosting interface that |
| software programs that allow you to create a | | | | is very user friendly and makes is easy for you to do |
| website. If you have no idea it's time to do some | | | | things that are important to your overall online |
| further research. | | | | business success. cPanel makes it easy to do things |
| Here are some guidelines for the type of site that | | | | like checking your website stats, setting or |
| may suit your needs: | | | | forwarding email addresses, creating redirects, |
| Website Builders - Website builders generally come | | | | installing a blog with a few clicks and more. |
| with hosting built in. They typically also come with a | | | | The important thing to remember about setting up a |
| number of templates you can choose and then edit | | | | website is that there are many ways to achieve this |
| fairly easily. This is a possible choice for someone | | | | result. What you need to do is consider what will |
| who doesn't need a lot of flexibility and won't be | | | | make the most sense for you. |
| doing a whole lot with their website. | | | | |