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Your Business Website: Getting Started on the Internet

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Whether you're just starting a new business or looking to move your existing business into the 21st Century, a website is a must -- but getting a website that reflects your business image and meets your needs can be a challenge. The resources in this lens should get you up to speed quickly on the basics of websites.

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The Basics

I am a big advocate of empowerment for my own clients, which means that I want my clients to have a basic understanding of the pieces that make up a website, and have control of things like their domain names & hosting accounts.
Learn the Net: Domain Names
Understanding Domain Names
The basic parts of a domain name and how the domain name system works.
Creative Design Group's Tips for Choosing a Domain Name
Choosing a Domain Name
Choosing your domain name is an important first step to getting your business presence on the Internet. Write down several options before going to a registrar with your credit card - your first choice might not be available.
Web Site Types Overview
Understanding Website Types - Categories of Sites
Educational, eCommerce, Simple Web Presence, etc.
E-Commerce White Paper by Invisible Inc
Understanding Website Types - Technical Implementations
Even though this is called an "eCommerce" white paper, it addresses clearly the different types of websites - Static, Dynamic (database-driven), and eCommerce (shopping cart & payment processing).

First Steps

Here is a concise step-by-step approach to getting your new website off the ground.
Go Daddy.com Domain Name Registrar
1. Register Your Domain Name
You shouldn't have to pay more than $10 a year for your domain name (You will often pay less for certain TLDs). Watch out for registrars charging $35/year or more. There is no advantage to paying this premium. One registrar I recommend is Go Daddy, for their value & service.
What sort of website do you need?
2. Beginning to Consider Your Site
If you look around the World Wide Web you will see that though there is an infinite variety of sites, they share many things in common. You should look at other websites, especially those in your industry, and make a list of things you think are well-implemented and useful. This "wish-list" will help your web developer understand the features that should be implemented in your site.
When do you need Content Management?
3. Think Deeply About What You Really Need
Be careful you don't buy more website than you need. If you don't have tons of frequently changing content, the up-front expense involved in developing a dynamic site might not be worth it, and if you only sell a small handful of simple products, a huge eCommerce product catalog might be overkill. A good developer will take the time with you to tease out your real needs - and not just try to over-sell services to you. This link offers a somewhat detailed way to decide whether a dynamic site (also known as a "Content Management System") is what you need.
What are the different types of websites and costs for each?
4. Consider Your Budget
The cost of a website will vary greatly depending on what your needs are and what type of website you are interested in producing. In general, a static site is much less expensive to create than a dynamic site or an eCommerce site, though you will need to pay your developer for updates to the site content, which, if frequent, can add up.
I have seen developers charge anywhere from $50 a page to $90,000 for a site. This link has a good range of prices that are common for high quality sites created by established web development companies. As you shop around for a developer, you will find that rates may be more or less than these listed.
eLance Marketplace
5. Find a Designer/Developer
Personal recommendations from people you know are one of the best ways to locate a designer/developer, otherwise shop around the web. You might want to find a local professional, to facilitate face-to-face meeting, but in this technological world, this isn't completely necessary. Most important: a portfolio that impresses you, a person who you feel comfortable talking to and who you can understand (someone who speaks your language - not just techno-babble).

Hosting Providers

Before you set up your website hosting, be sure to discuss the technical requirements with your web developer. The nature of your website might require Windows or Linux specifically. I do recommend that you control your hosting account, if possible. So, in the future if your current web designer disappears, you will have the login information to share with a new designer, if you plan to update your site.

Unless you are planning on having HUGE traffic, or TONS of content right out of the gate, you probably only require a basic web hosting account. Generally you can upgrade your account when you have a need to.

Below are listed a few hosts (out of the THOUSANDS available) with information about their basic account package. If you need more, they all offer various packages increasing in storage space, etc. Also keep in mind that your site might require additional components, such as databases, special websites statistics software, etc. Some of these plans include these additional features, whereas others offer them as optional add-ons. Once you know your site's requirements, you can explore all the plans and find the one with the features and technology you need for the best price. (Click through to view details about other available packages.)
Lunar Pages Hosting
Basic Hosting Plan (Linux)

Monthly Fee                $6.95

Set Up Fee                  None

Storage                      Up To 5000 MB

Monthly Bandwidth       400 GB/Month

E-mail Accounts           Unlimited


Windows Hosting Plan

Monthly Fee                $8.95

Set Up Fee                  None

Storage                      Up To 5000 MB

Monthly Bandwidth       400 GB/Month

E-mail Accounts           Unlimited

Alentus
Value.Net Plan (Windows)

Monthly Fee                $8.95

Set Up Fee                  None

Storage                      500 MB

Monthly Bandwidth       10 GB/Month

E-mail Accounts           50



CFMX Professional Hosting Plan (ColdFusion MX)

Monthly Fee                $26.95

Set Up Fee                  None

Storage                      1000 MB

Monthly Bandwidth       25 GB/Month

E-mail Accounts           200



SharePoint Professional Hosting Plan (MS SharePoint)

Monthly Fee                $30.95

Set Up Fee                  None

Storage                      500 MB

Monthly Bandwidth       50 GB/Month

E-mail Accounts           40

Extra Credit

More detailed information about the topics discussed above - only necessary if you desire a more comprehensive understanding of this whole Internet thing. (Warning: Some very technical content!) :-)
"Domain Name" on Wikipedia
More about the technical aspects of Domain Names
"Domain Name System" on Wikipedia
More about the technical aspects of the Domain Name System

Floyd Innovations LLC Blog

Not all the posts on my blog are directly related to creating a website, but you might find some of it useful.
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hfloyd

Since 1998 I have been helping people organize their business processes, especially utilizing technology. My company, Floyd Innovations LLC, develops custom... more »

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