Why is it that some places assume that you already know everything?  The internet can be confusing, with acronyms for everything, security threats, and pundits proclaiming the death of the internet around every blog!

We’re here to change that – a basic website for your business that you can afford – fully explained!  We’ve answered many of your questions on our FAQ page.  But here’s the nuts and bolts of setting up a website:

The first thing you need when you set up a website is what’s called a “domain name.”  This is like your on-line address or phone number – it’s how people find you on the web.  You need at least one, but you can have more than one (if that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry – one is all you need).  You don’t actually own your domain name – you merely rent it from the people who keep the list.  You must pay every year, and if you don’t you lose it and it becomes available for someone else to claim (and you may have to pay a ton of money to some schmuck to get it back).

A web site is more than a name – it needs something to say. At it’s simplest, a website is nothing more than a set of computer codes that instructs another piece of software (a browser) what to display. You need to create something to display. If you are a masochist (or a geek) you could program it yourself in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language – the programming language of the web) – or you could do the smart thing and use a software system that makes it easier. But no matter what the brochures say, every system requires some skill or knowledge, so having someone who knows a bit more than you is a great asset. Oh, and it also pays to have something to say as well!

Having content is a good start, but not if it’s trapped on your computer and the rest of the world can’t see it.  While you can host a web site on your home PC – it’s probably best reserved for the technologically advanced.  Mere mortals will need help getting their content accessible on the web.  A hosting services rents you a section of their expensive server space and connects it to the public internet for the world to see as well as handling the email traffic sent to your domain name.

Every web site needs some TLC every now and then. You may want to make changes to your pages, add or change an email address, add new pages, or post some news. Web software can also be complex, and often need upgrades and maintenance. You should also keep backups in case something terrible happens (like you press the wrong button and send your web site to oblivion).