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Not sure why you need a Web site? Want to know what it's
all about? This is the place to start.
Chapters
- What is a Web
site?
- What is Web hosting?
- What is the procedure
for building a Web presence?
- What is e-commerce?
- Which hosting
plan fits my needs?
What is a Web site?
Essentially, a Web site is a way to present yourself online.
Your Web site is a place on the Internet where anyone in
the world can visit whenever they want to find out more
about you, ask you questions, give you feedback, or even
buy your products. Think of the Internet as the world's
biggest trade show, and your Web site is your booth.
What is a Domain Name?
Your Domain Name is your address on the Web. Just like
people use your phone number to call you on the phone,
your Domain Name allows people to access your site on
the Web. Clever, simple, or easy to remember Domain
Names
are most desirable as they can play a large part in attracting
visitors to your site. Most Domain Names end with ".com"
(such as onlineacc.com), but other extensions such as ".net"
and ".org" are also available. In addition Domains can
be used with your e-mail accounts allowing you to send
and receive e-mail with addresses such as "support@yourcompany.com"
Why do I need a Web site?
Five years ago having a Web site was a vanity.
Two years ago having a Web site was trendy.
Today having a Web site is a necessity.
People are using the Web for everything from researching
schoolwork to buying dinner. It's quick, it's convenient,
and you never need to leave your desk. Even people who
prefer to shop off-line are researching products on the
Web. These days when people are trying to find you, the
first place they look is on the Web - and if they don't
find you, they will probably find someone else!
What can a Web site do for me?
Your Web site can be used for a large number of tasks
such as:
- Making public announcements
- Providing support to your customers
- Receiving feedback from your visitors
- Sharing/distributing files and images
- And, of course, selling your products
Those might not sound impressive, but don't forget that
you'll be able to do those things for people around the
world at any time of day or night. You have the potential
to become a house-hold name 10,000 miles away.
How does a Web site work?
A Web site is simply a collection of files that reside
on a computer connected to the Internet. When someone
visits your site, they are actually contacting that computer,
and that computer (called a Web server) gives the visitor
the files they want to see. It sounds very simple, but
most normal computers don't have the power or the software
needed to constantly respond to all the requests made
by all the visitors to a site. And even if they did, they'd
need an extremely fast connection to the Internet to keep
up with all the requests. Most people and small companies
don't have the resources to run a Web server, and that
is where Web Hosting
comes in.
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