Where Do I Begin? - Create your first website

So you are ready to begin creating your own web site. Where do you begin?

There is method to the process and it is done in steps. You take the steps at your own pace.

You have already made step one, you have an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or you would not be able to get on the Internet in the first place. It doesn’t matter who the provider is, but if you are unfamiliar with the term you at least know the names of the companies… AOL, AT&T, Cox Cable. There is some company providing Internet service to you, that is your ISP.

Step 2. The next step you want to take is getting a domain name. There are a lot of providers for this service. Names you may recognize are GoDaddy, which claims to be the largest registrar and Network Solutions. The one I am going to recommend 1&1. The reason is, they seem to have the best prices for domain registration, at least for now. You will need to do some planning at this point. You want to actually do some thinking about your domain name. Choose a name that has some relevance to what you plan to do. When you get to the site where you will register the name, there will be a box to enter your choice and in a couple of seconds, you’ll know if that name is available. If it is, just register it.

Step 3. The next step may be a little more difficult. You need to choose an IPP (Internet Presence Provider). That may sound complicated, but it really just means you need someplace to host your domain. You may be able to host a domain for free at the same place you log on, at your ISP. Just check with your provider. If you don’t want to host there, there are lots of choices for this. You will usually be able to host your domain at the same place you registered.

Step 4. The next step is to build a web page. This is a little more complicated, but again, your hosting company will usually have a free web site builder to make things simple. There are a host of programs you can get for creating web sites. There are free, like Kompozer and My Free Web Site Builder which are really easy, and one a little more complex which is NVU. Then there are web site programs for a cost like DreamWeaver, a really robust program (but NVU has a lot of the same features).

If all of this seems a little overwhelming, there is help.

There is free software available to help you build your website. I have a couple of sites here where you can WATCH a video to help you learn how to do all this stuff.

Go and grab your copy right here.