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Web Site Creation Tips Buying Web Site Design Software If you were going to build a house, would you begin by chopping trees down in the forest? For most people, the answer to this question is an emphatic "No." Likewise, if you want to build a Web site, you don't need to start by learning how to program with HTML or Java. There are plenty of software tools on the market that make Web site creation a relatively painless process. You can visualize software tools as falling into two separate categories. The first category includes software tools that are provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), Web hosting service, or online mall. These tools are integrated with the type of service you choose and are designed to get you up and running quickly. The second category consists of off-the-shelf software packages that are loaded onto your computer. These software packages give you more flexibility than the integrated tools, but still give you the capability to get up and running quickly. No matter whether you select an integrated solution from your software provider, or an off-the-shelf software package, there are a few technical terms that you must understand. Some of them are as simple as WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get). Others are more complicated, like the bits, bytes, megabytes, and gigabytes that are used to measure disk space or capacity. Before you make your final decision on the type of software tools you are going to use to create your Web site, evaluate your requirements thoroughly. If you don't want to pay for a separate domain name, Web hosting service, and software package, then you should consider either a free service like Max Pages, or one provided by your Internet Service Provider, like AOL Personal Publisher. On the other hand, if you want complete design flexibility and powerful development tools, then you will need to go with something like Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver. Categorizing alternative software
development tools In a nutshell, there a two categories of software tools that you can choose from to get your business online. The first category includes software tools that are provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), Web hosting service, or online mall. These tools are integrated with the type of service you choose and are designed to get you up and running quickly. Normally, you access these tools and design your Web site while you are connected, or logged-in, to your service provider. The second category consists of off-the-shelf software packages that are loaded onto your computer. These software packages traditionally give you more flexibility than using the integrated tools provided by your Internet service, but still give you the capability to get up and running quickly. Normally, you purchase these products from a third party provider, like a retail store, and then create your Web site offline before loading it on a Web hosting service. Faced with these two categories of software development tools, your first question should be "what is the best approach for my online business?" The answer resides in what you want to do and how much you want to spend. Although both categories of software tools give you the capability to get up and running quickly, you will definitely be able to get online faster using the integrated tools. However, this difference is only a matter of hours or days, and is largely determined by the time it takes you to order separate off-the-shelf software and load it onto your computer. Off-the-shelf software will give you more flexibility in designing your site. Although most of the integrated services let you choose from a variety Web site design templates, the only real control you have is in the text, fonts, images and pictures that you can add to the Web site. Envision a "fill in the blanks" scenario where you have little control over the underlying page. Also, you should be aware that some integrated services like AOL Personal Publisher and Max Pages, do not give you the capability to have your own domain name, or dot com. If you decide to use these services, then your online business will be named something like members.aol.com/yourbiz or maxpages.com/yourbiz, as opposed to www.yourbiz.com. Therefore, if you want to have complete control over almost every design aspect of your Web site, including your domain name, then choosing an off-the-shelf package is the way to go. The other aspect you should consider is the cost difference between an integrated service and an off-the-shelf software package. Most of the integrated services are free. For instance, if you are a member of AOL, then you can use their Personal Publisher service for free. To create a Web site with Max Pages, you only need to have access to the Internet (just enter www.maxpages.com in your Web browser and follow the onscreen directions). On the other hand, an off-the-shelf software package will cost you between $50 and $300. Understanding HTML and other technical terms There is little need for you to fully comprehend most of the technical terms shown below before you start building an online business. However, if you can at least recognize some of these terms and get a feel for their meaning, then you should be able to make a better decision for choosing your software development tool and web hosting plan. WYSIWYG WYSIWYG is a software design term that means What - you - see - is - what - you - get. If your software design tool gives you this capability (and most do), then there is usually a graphical interface between you and the underlying programming language that allows you to design your Web site with a mouse. When your software is equipped with a WYSIWYG editor, then there is no need for you to learn a programming language like HTML, since the software will convert your on screen design to HTML. Bit (or BInary digiT) Every computer uses an instruction set that is composed of a series of "bits" or "on-off" signals that are usually represented by a "1" or a "0." A bit can be thought of a single instruction that tells a computer processor whether it is "on" or "off." Think off this like the relationship between a light bulb and a light switch -- when the switch is up, the light is on, and when it is down, the light is off. A computer language combines a series of "bits" into "bytes" and provides an instruction set that tells a computer processor what to do. Byte (or 8 bits) A byte is composed of 8 bits or "on-off" signals. You can think of a byte as being the computer representation for a letter, like "A," a number like "7," or an instruction to multiply two numbers, like "3 * 6." For the purposes of creating a Web site, the number of bytes will measure the size of your site in terms of disk space. For instance, if your Web hosting plan allows you to publish a 2 MB (Megabytes or million bytes) Web site, then essentially it can be made up of 2 million characters or instructions. Disk space (a lot of bytes) In the world of Web publishing, this term normally refers to the amount of disk space that is provided by your Web hosting service. Space available is limited by your hosting service. Obviously, the more space you get, the larger your site can be. The amount of space you will need depends on the number of pages in your Web, and more importantly, on the number and size of your graphic images. If your site is going to have a lot of graphic images, then you will need a hosting service that gives you a lot of disk space. Bandwidth (the pipe to your Web site) Bandwidth is the measure of bits that a connection to the Internet can carry in a certain amount of time. Think of bandwidth as being similar to the size of a water pipe. The larger the water pipe, the more water it can carry in a specific period of time. Common measurements for bandwidth are bits per second (bps) and megabits per second (Mbps). Bandwidth is important for a Web hosting service because it determines the amount of traffic, or visitors, that can be handled simultaneously. For instance, if your Web host only has a few small pipes connected to the Internet, then the amount of traffic that it can handle will be much less than a Web host that has a lot of larger pipes. HTML (computer language) According to Webopedia, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) "is the authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web." This language uses a special set of "tags" to create Web pages that can be read by Web browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Software companies, like Microsoft and Macromedia, have done a great job in creating software packages that allow you to design Web sites without knowing much about HTML. However, in a few instances, you will need to at least be able to identify a few important HTML components and understand their importance to search engines. Java (programming language) Java is a programming language that was created by Sun Microsystems. Once you have created an HTML document, Java gives you the capability to add sound and pictures to make your site more interactive. Small programs that can be interpreted by Web browsing software, like Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, are called Java applets. ActiveX controls (technologies) ActiveX, developed by Microsoft, gives you the capability to add controls to your Web site, like scroll bars, drop down menus, and radio buttons. Once you add these controls to your Web pages, then they can be downloaded and used by Web browsing software. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a protocol that is used to send files over the Internet. If you are going to develop your Web site using an off-the-shelf software package like Microsoft FrontPage, then in order to publish your site on your Web host you will need FTP. In this instance, FTP is used to transmit the files you create with Microsoft FrontPage on your PC over the Internet to your Web host. Selecting and integrated solution for your
Web site An integrated solution involves using the tools provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), Web hosting service, or online mall to develop your Web site. Below you will find examples of how to use the software tools provided by Max Pages, AOL Personal Publisher, MindSpring Web Creator and Amazon.com zShops. All of these alternatives are best suited for quickly setting up your home page, getting your brochure on the Web, or trying to sell some of your products online. However, none of these alternatives give you the flexibility most professionals require to develop Web sites. If you are brand new to the online world, then you should definitely try a few of these solutions to see if they meet your immediate needs. Once you need more flexibility, or powerful programming solutions, then its time to investigate some the off-the-shelf software packages. Trying a free service like Max Pages Max Pages is a free service that gives you a quick and easy way to get your business online in less than an hour (minutes according to their home page). After you have finished designing your site it will have a name like http://maxpages.com/yourbiz. Maxpages is only one option, there are many others to choose from. Using your ISP tools to create a Web site Most ISPs, like AOL, MindSpring and Earthlink, give their subscribers a way to create Web sites for no additional charge. For instance, if you subscribe to AOL, then you can use its Personal Publisher service to create a home page or simple Web site. As with the free services shown above, the software tools provided by your ISP should be easy to use, and you can set your site up in under an hour. The main limitations of these services are that your disk space will be limited (2MB for AOL), and your Web address will contain the name of your ISP (http://members.aol.com/yourbiz/index.html). Using the software provided by your Web host If you want a full featured Web site, with lots of disk space and your own personal domain name (www.yourbiz.com), then you will need to sign-up for a Web hosting plan. This can either be with your ISP, like Earthlink, or with a separate company, like Verio (see the chapter on Web hosting for a complete description of these services). Most Web hosting services give you the capability of publishing a Web site with either an off-the-shelf software package, or with a set of their integrated design tools. For instance, if MindSpring is your Web host, then you can either create a Web site with Microsoft FrontPage, or use their MindSpring Web Creator design tools. Choosing an off-the-shelf software package
to develop your Web site If you really want to do more with your Web site than simply setting up a home page or publishing a brochure, then you seriously need to explore some of the off-the-shelf software packages that are available on the market today. You will find that these packages are easy to use and give you many Web site development capabilities that are required by professionals. All of the packages covered here have templates and wizards so that you can begin creating your site from the moment the software is loaded on your computer. They also come equipped with a WYSIWYG editor so that you don't need to learn HTML in order to create your Web site One thing you can definitely do before deciding on a software package is to make a list of all of the capabilities you will need for your Web site. For instance, ask yourself some of the following questions:
Once you have made your list, then you can begin to match up your requirements with the individual off-the-shelf software packages. Finally, you should consider price only after you have made a list of your requirements. If the least expensive software package does everything you want it to do, then make your decision based on price. Go with the least expensive package. However, if a more expensive package provides features or functions that you need, then don't buy a cheaper package. The software titles shown below range in price from $79 for Adobe PageMill 3.0 to $312.50 for NetObjects Fusion V3.0. According to
Edward Mendelson, in "Microsoft simplifies and
strengthens its powerful Web site editor," an article published in the Adobe's latest revision of its Web publishing application continues to mature into a powerful and sophisticated tool. Packed with new features, Adobe GoLive 5.0 offers enhanced source-code control to help Web teams edit and maintain large sites; improved linking of Photoshop, Illustrator, and LiveMotion files; and a new interface that's designed to increase efficiency. Macromedia describes Dreamweaver as "the solution for professional Web site design and production. It is the only tool to offer Roundtrip HTML between visual and source editing for fast creation of great looking, cross browser Web sites." In an article
titled "Build Your Dream Site," written by Rich Schwerin
for PC Computing on Those who want to design, manage, and publish one or more Web sites without learning to program (or hiring an HTML pro) should check out NetObjects Fusion MX. Installation is quick and soon beautiful, seamless sites flow from desktop to the Web. All that's needed is a little visual design experience or at least a good eye; the Site Wizard handles all the organizational and content details. After selecting an architecture and preliminary page structure, the user imports or enters text, pictures, design elements, and Web objects like JavaScript or Flash animation. All selections can be checked for browser and platform compatibility, and adding features such as counters and guest books is painless. Users who want to modify their sites using other software might have problems with the idiosyncrasies of Fusion's output code, though these problems are far from unsolvable. Monkeying around with the low-level site controls is also off-limits unless the code is ported into a more versatile Web design package (or a text editor, for that matter). Evaluating
different Web hosting companies Today, one of the fastest growing Internet related businesses is that of Web site hosting. This trend is being driven in large part by people like you that want to get their businesses online, but don't want the headaches of buying special computers and telecommunications equipment to set-up their Web sites.
Costs for small business Web hosting range from free for a simple Web site to a few hundred dollars a month for a full blown e-commerce service. There are also more expensive hosting services, that can be in excess of one hundred thousand dollars a month, that are utilized by larger businesses such as eBay and Yahoo!. The discussion in this chapter is limited to the former services that are utilized by smaller businesses. Before you select a Web site hosting company, you should have already decided on a domain name (www.yourbiz.com) for your online business, and settled on the features that you will require. Choosing a domain name in advance of selecting a hosting service is important because it will simplify your registration process. Knowing what features you will need will help you to select the right hosting plan. Most Web hosts offer a variety of hosting plans, which are discussed in detail in the next section. These plans vary in price based on the amount of disk space you need for your Web site, the number of visitors you are planning to get every month, and any special features that you will require, like credit card processing or multi-media capabilities. Web hosting companies differentiate themselves from the competition through their hosting plans, price points, customer service, and backbone infrastructure. Some of the things you will want to know about your Web host, include answers to the following questions: Web Hosting Q&As
Most of these questions can be answered by simply reading a
description of the service on the Web host's site. If you need more
information, or are unclear about something, make sure you call and find out.
Selecting a Web hosting service that doesn't do what you want will lead to a
lot of rework later on. Hosting your Web site for free There are still a lot of free services on the Web, including those that provide free Web hosting. If you already have a dial-up account with an Internet Service Provider, like America Online (AOL), then you may have seen advertisements like "publish your own Web site for free." Unfortunately, in order to take advantage of these offers, you will have to include the service's top level domain as part your online business name. In other words, your online business name will be a sub-subdomain to the service provider. For instance, if you wanted to publish a Web site with Max Pages (www.maxpages.com), a popular free Web hosting service, your online business name would look something like www.maxpages.com/yourbiz The tradeoff is deciding whether you want a free Web site that requires you to include an advertisement for another business, like Max Pages, within your own online business name, or be autonomous and pay for your own domain name and Web hosting service. The main advantage of a service like Max Pages is that it is
free. Once you are connected to the Internet with a dial-up account, you can
get a URL and create a Web site for no additional charges. Some of the
disadvantages of these free services include:
Although there are numerous disadvantages to using a free service, you should try one out to see if it meets your needs. If you currently only have dial-up service to the Internet, and are exploring the possibilities of establishing an online business, then there is no better way to get your "feet wet" for free. Paying for Web hosting The features and functions available from Web hosting services that you have to pay for are much greater than their free counterparts. Most significantly, you will be able to set-up a Web site with your own domain name (www.yourbiz.com); have complete control over the design and layout of the site; and get access to a wide variety of traffic reports. Additionally, a good Web hosting service will provide technical support 24 hours per day on all seven days of the week. Choosing the right Web hosting plan for your online
business Before you decide on a Web hosting service, you should at least know what types of features you will need for your online business, like credit card processing, and what your domain name (www.yourbiz.com) is going to be. Additionally, you should have a rough idea of the size of your Web site, in terms of disk space, and how many visitors you can expect every month. As you begin exploring different Web hosting plans, you should be aware that the main variables used to determine the monthly cost are disk space, Web site traffic, and optional features like Secure Server technology and multimedia capabilities. For instance, in the 3 MindSpring plans shown below, the $80 difference in monthly cost between the QuickWeb and the CompleteWeb plans can be attributed to the additional disk space and Web site Traffic you get with the CompleteWeb plan. Example Web hosting plans from MindSpring Below is a table of the different types of Web hosting plans
offered by MindSpring in March 1999. This is
followed by corresponding descriptions for each of the different Web hosting
plan features.
Monthly cost: Notice first that the monthly cost of service ranges from $19.95 to $99.95 per month. The most important variables in determining this cost are the size of the Web site you are planning to publish (Disk Space) and the amount of traffic you will be expecting (Web site Traffic). Disk space: The size of your Web site will determine the amount of disk space that you will require on your Web host's server. If your site will contain mostly text and only a few graphic images then 5 - 15MB is ample space. On the other hand if your site will have a lot of graphics, then you should consider the 20MB or 50MB plans. Remember that a lot of graphics will slow the loading time down for your users. Web site Traffic: Predicting the amount of traffic your online business will receive prior to publishing and marketing your Web site is practically impossible. Your level of traffic, or number of visitors, will in large part be determined by the amount of marketing and advertising you are planning to do. POP E-mail: POP stands for Post Office Protocol, which was more fully described previously in Terminology section. POP E-mail accounts to receive email on your Web host's server, as opposed to your dial-up account. Email sent to the POP would stay there until you read it. For instance, you could set up email accounts for billing, sales, marketing, personnel, etc. on your Web host. Domain Mail Forwarding: In addition to having email stored at the POP, you can have mail delivered to your dial-up account. Consider your dial-up account to be the place where email is delivered when you connect to the Internet. For example, the famous America Online "you've got mail" indicates that you have received email in your dial-up account. Once you establish a domain name (www.yourbiz.com), e-mail can be forwarded to your dial-up account when it is addressed to anyone@yourbiz.com Technical Support: Indicates the times when you can call someone with questions about your Web site. For instance, 24 * 7 means 24 hours a day for 7 days a week. Control Panel: This allows you to view the activity on your Web site, change email information, set-up auto-responders, and set passwords. This is a "must-have" for any Web master that wants to understand and control the activity on their Web site. E-commerce Capable: This capability allows you to receive credit card payments over the Internet. Although a Web host can give you this capability, there are usually additional costs for providing this service. Some plans only allow you to securely obtain credit information on your Web site, but expect you to process the transaction offline with your credit card company. Other plans, usually more expensive, will take care of the whole transaction. Custom CGI scripts: CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface and gives you the capability to control what happens with online forms on your Web site. FrontPage Support: Indicates whether your Web host can publish Web sites created with Microsoft FrontPage. In order for a Web host to provide this capability, it must have some computers that are using the Microsoft NT operating system. Secure Server (SSL): As the name implies, SSL allows you to connect to your Web host's server in a secure manner. That means that no one else can see what you are doing when you are uploading your Web, making control changes, or looking at reports. It also means that customers purchasing products and services with a credit card on your Web site can feel comfortable that no one is going to "steal" their credit card information. Additional Disk Space: If the size of your Web site falls in between one of the standard plans offered by your Web hosting company, then you can purchase a little more disk space without having to pay the complete cost for the next larger plan. For instance, if you created a 25MB site, you might be better off going with the EnhancedWeb plan shown above for an additional $4.95 per month, than moving all the way up to the CompleteWeb plan for an additional $50 per month. Additional Traffic: If your Web site gets more traffic (or hits) than you were expecting in a given month, then you will be charged an incremental fee by your Web hosting company. Some Web host's give you the capability to shut your site down once your traffic limit has been exceeded. This might not be a bad idea when you first begin to market your Web site. Although unlikely, a million visitors to even a small site can add up quickly with additional traffic charges. Set-up Fee: Most Web hosts will charge you a fee to set up your Web hosting account. This covers the costs of mapping the disk space where your Web site will be stored, creating passwords, and initiating monthly billing. InterNIC Fees: When you register your domain name (www.yourbiz.com) with your Web host , you will be charged the fee that the host has to pay to Network Solutions to list the site in their InterNIC database. Currently, the registration fee is $70 and is good for two years. Using a Webmaster to maintain your Web site Once you have built your Web site, you must be aware that it will require a lot of maintenance going forward -- content will need to be refreshed periodically; broken hyperlinks will need to be updated; e-mails will have to be answered; message boards need to be monitored; and traffic reports have to be created. You will either have to perform these maintenance functions yourself, or hire someone else. If you hire a contractor to build your Web site, then you must be sure to inquire how much they will charge for ongoing maintenance, and how long it will take them to make updates. Keep in mind that many contractors, or outside consultants, will design your site for a nominal fee and then expect to make their money on updating your site. Another possibility for handling the ongoing maintenance of your Web site is to hire a Webmaster.
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