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Getting a website–explained (for the technologically less-inclined)

Too bad we can’t just go to Wal-Mart and purchase a fully-designed, fully-functional website that suits our business needs and doesn’t look like a disaster from the MySpace era. So here, in plain English, are simplified steps to obtaining your own website using a real estate analogy to help explain the different parts of a website.

  1. Purchase a domain name.

    A domain name is the http://www... portion of your website (what we call the “URL” or “web address”). It’s the name people type into their browser when they want to find you. In real estate, this your home’s physical address, like 123 Main Street. When you purchase the domain name from a registrar, you pay the registrar an annual fee. You will have an account with this registrar, and you’ll need to tell the registrar where it can find your content when someone types in your URL. If you just buy a domain, all you did was buy the name of your website. You didn’t buy a place to store the content for your future website.

  2. Purchase web hosting.

    A web host offers a virtual place on which your address and house reside. The “land” for your house if you will. These hosting companies own many, many computers connected to the Internet, and have lots of storage space to “hold” your data. (Technically, you don’t own your domain name or web hosting space; you lease them.) After you purchase web hosting, you’ll receive an account with that web host. You’ll have to tell your domain registrar where to find your content on that web host, or point your domain to the web host. If you bought a domain name, but not web hosting, users will see just a blank page or an error message when they type in your URL.

  3. Design your site.

    You need something for the world to see, use, and interact with. Your web design is the actual house. Like an architect, a strategic designer will help you choose the best option for your needs and goals, and make sure your web site functions on a mobile device. A website design can range from a single-page blog to a monstrosity like eBay. Although some hosts offer free templates which may work for you, a professional-looking site design comes from a web designer. This is typically a one-time cost, but I highly recommend purchasing web maintenance to keep your site secure, functional, and up-to-date.

  4. Launch!

    Or, publish your website to the world. If you need frequent updates and plan to do them yourself, a Content Management System (CMS) may be the best option to edit the information your site. If you don’t plan on doing the maintenance yourself or if you don’t anticipate needing frequent changes, then you might be fine without one.

A few more details…

There are separate fees for domain name registration, hosting, design, and maintenance. Often times you can buy your domain and host it with the same company. Design prices will depend on the complexity of the site, however anytime I write a quote I try my darnedest to stick to it. Just as much as you don’t want to write a blank check, I don’t want to be responsible for babysitting one!

I offer detailed quotes so you know exactly how much you’re spending before we start. Have your content ready, which includes the text on your site, the photos for it (be sure you own these or have permission to use them), and what you want users to do when they visit (Call you? Purchase a shirt? Share your blog?). I can help you with copy writing or photography if you need it.

You can always e-mail me to chat about your online needs.