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Starlene's Conscioustar Creations
Webpage Design

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If you hire CC Web Design to design your website, we'll do all the footwork for you of registering and paying for your domain name (first year), and signing up for a free webhost, but if you're interested in knowing the process, please read on.

What is a domain name? Your domain name is the name you wish to call your Internet website. Let's say your company's name is Speedy Delivery Pizza. You might decide to call your website www.speedydeliverypizza.com. You will also be given the choice of choosing an extension: .com, .net, .org., etc.

How do I acquire a domain name? A large list of accredited registrars can be found at ICANN. If the name you wish to register is available, it will cost between $60.00US and $80.00US for the first two years, and $35.00US for subsequent years. However, it is now possible to register a domain name for significantly less. Be sure to read the fine print and be sure that your domain name will actually be registered in *your* name. I now use Your Future Domain exclusively for domain registration. Registration fees are $8.95 for one year registration of dot.com sites. The yearly registration fees drop the more number of years that you sign up for, and sometimes they offer specials if you don't need a dot.com, but can go with dot.us, etc.

Can I get a domain name for free? Yes, it is also possible to sign up with a webhost who offers "subdomain" names. Instead of paying to register a domain name, you could opt to take advantage of a "subdomain". Netfirms provides "subdomain" webhosting. At Netfirms.com, the subdomain webhosting option is free. The downside is that you don't "own" your domain name. Instead, your website name includes the word netfirms in the name:

www.speedydeliverypizza.netfirms.com

This can be a good starting point for a small business to get a website designed without having to invest in domain registration fees right away. Also, be aware that you can sign up for a subdomain with Netfirms, then register your domain name, which will then necessitate some changes to get your site pointed in the right direction.

What is a webhost? A webhost "hosts" your website. Your website requires a virtual home on the World Wide Web and webhosts provide this service for a monthly or yearly fee.

How much does webhosting cost? This price will vary, depending on the webhost you choose. My recommendation for a paid webhost is the services offered through Your Future Domain they charge $5.00 per month for "banner-free" webhosting.

Can I get a free webhost? Yes, free webhosts are available, but with most you will have to contend with banner advertisements.

I would recommend using Your Future Domain as your webhost, I have been very pleased with their customer service.

What do you need from me to get started on my website if I've already done all the footwork? Once you have registered in the appropriate places (i.e. domain name, subdomain name, webhost), I will require the FTP address of your webhost server, i.e. ftp.webhost.com, your username and password.

Can you register my domain name and find me a webhost? Yes. One year's worth of domain registration is included in the price of your first webpage. You will be required to pay in advance for more than one year's registration or webhost fees as desired. (i.e. $8.95 for domain registration after the first year, $60 for one year of webhosting, if you choose these options.)

I want to make my website myself, any helpful links? I started out with my very first personal site using these two great documents. One is The Quick and Dirty Guide To Writing HTML Documents. Please note that this document can be read at the Internet Archives (just click on the link) but since it is an archived copy, all the links may not work properly. Still, the article contains a lot of information all in one place that will get you started. And the second one NCSA Beginner's Guide to HTML. As far as using an editor goes, I prefer Macromedia Dreamweaver and would highly recommend it. The latest version is MX 2004, but you could easily get by as a first timer using Dreamweaver 3 or 4, both of which are available on eBay for significantly less than the latest version.

Please feel free to peruse my site and contact me with your inquiries.