Do you remember when there was no Internet? Trying to find local services and businesses was not convenient at all, and when you did find them in a printed directory, you only got a phone number, an address and maybe a generic advertisement. Some things are best left in the past. Websites are the new directory. You have the power to give your product or service maximum exposure and a website is just the beginning. Social networking sites provide you with extended "word-of-mouth" marketing, online marketing puts you on a critical pathway to healthy competition, cloud-computing gives you amazing flexibility, and ultimately your website is at the center of it all.
Today, let me focus on the first steps you need to take before launching your very first website.
1) Get a domain
A domain is the name you use to promote your website. It is your pronounceable address on the World Wide Web and usually ends with .com, .net, .org or other accepted extensions. Our domain is www.bemosu.com (the www at the beginning is optional, it works both ways.)
First you'll want to brainstorm some names and then you'll need to do some research to make sure they're available. Usually the company you buy the domain from will let you search for available domains. Normally a domain can cost anywhere from free to $16 dollars, but you might run into some highly coveted domains with much higher price tags.
By the way, your website can have more than one domain. Some companies choose to get the .com, .net., .org, .biz and other versions of their domain. Some choose to have multiple .com domains pointing to the same website. You can do this if you think it will help people find your website.
2) Get web hosting
Your domain needs a place to crash. In other words, it needs to be hosted somewhere. The easiest option is to bundle your domain and web hosting with the same company. This is not required but it is very convenient (one less username and password to remember.)
All four domain companies mentioned above also offer web hosting, which can run anywhere from $3.95-$13/month depending on the company and length of your contract. Although there are various types of web hosting, including shared web hosting, virtual private server (VPS) hosting, and dedicated web hosting, unless you already know what the last two consist of, it is recommended you go with shared web hosting services. VPS and dedicated web hosting services require specialized training to set up and maintain, and are usually more costly.
3) Get your website designed
Your options are endless! You can design your own or you can hire a professional to custom code and design a completely original website. This is a big decision because your website will be your storefront on the web and perhaps even your only storefront (if your business is mainly on the Internet.) Most web hosting companies now come with do-it-yourself software, and this is great if you have a clearly defined design in mind and your website will be small. However, don't attempt to do it yourself if you have the resources to hire a professional. The investment you make will save you from potential issues and endless headaches.
When looking for a professional, you might not find exactly all you need in one person. It is important you ask the right questions when meeting with potential designers and/or design studios. Bring a list of attributes and functions you'd like to see on your new website. Write down any features you've seen and liked on other websites. Some common requests are:
* The ability to make edits
* Facebook integration
* Blog integration
* Multi-language
* Animated headers
Above all, make sure you find professionals who are willing to listen to your ideas before offering their own suggestions. You don't want to end up with a website you are not proud to show off.
