Building Your Website: Tips for Beginners
Everyone should have a website! You don't have to own a business, be a geek or otherwise feel having one is time-consuming or too expensive. Having your own website is a pretty simple process.
Think of it this way. Everyone has a story to tell, or something to share, or perhaps sell. Unlike years ago when designing a website was only for those with a solid business or could pay the money to afford the service, today there is no excuse not to have your own website.
The trick to designing a good web site is to keep it simple! That sounds simple enough but with all the technology available, many feel the snazzier their website, the better it will be. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily true. Put yourself in the mind of those who will be visiting your site. That is why the more simple, the better. I learned the hard way, but have come to recommend this tip for anyone wanting to have a web presence.
For newbies you can design your site in less than one hour. All you need is a basic computer with high-speed internet capacity so you can utilize the technologies which are currently available.
Designing Your Site
Templates (someone has already done the work) are available and many are free. All you have to do is fill in the blanks with your particulars and presto, you have a website.
Domain Name
The domain name is simply the name of your website! Free sites allow you to use whichever website name you select as part of their service. On the other hand, you can maintain independence by having your own domain. Companies allow you to register your name as part of their "web-hosting" package.
The key is to make it relevant to what the purpose of the website will be. The name should be simple and not too long.
Think of it this way, by having your own domain or site, the URL (uniform resource locator) will be something like this http:// www.(yourname).com.
Hosting
Whether you select a free company or pay a modest amount, hosting means who will manage or make sure your site shows on the internet. Again, the cost is nominal but depending on your budget there are many providers which make it very easy for you to go live, without needing an I.T. degree.
Summary
Once you've mastered how templates work, you can actually build your website from scratch. My recommendation is to view other websites which have similar components to what you are seeking. You will not have to "reinvent the wheel" as long as you utilize the many free or inexpensive tools available. All you basically need is a theme and concept of what you want visitors to see, and your site can look like one which cost thousands of dollars to build.