In this part of the Web Hosting Guide we explain the process you need to follow, from start to finish, to establish a successful presence on the Web.

Chapters

1. What is a Web site?
2. What is Web hosting?
3. What is the procedure for building a Web presence?
   • Choose a Domain Name for your site
   • Select a Web hosting plan that's right for you
   • Build and publish your Web site
   • Promote your Web site
   • Analyze the results
4. What is e-commerce?
5. Which hosting plan fits my needs?

Choose a Domain Name for Your Site

The first thing you need to do when establishing a Web presence is decide on a Domain Name. Choosing the right Domain Name is very important, as it directly affects how easy it is for potential visitors to find your site. Try for something that's easy to recognize, easy to remember, and to easy to guess. For example, if your business is "Barb's Beach Balls" then "barbsbeachballs.com" would be a good Domain Name since it's logical, easy to remember, and easy to spell. It's also a good idea to think of alternate Domain Names in case the first one you think of is already taken.

If you are not planning on building your Web site right away, you might still want to consider registering your Domain as soon as possible. Thousands of Domain Names are registered every day, and there's no guarantee that yours will still be around when you decide to build your site.

Select a Web Hosting Plan That's Right for You

Most people start by browsing through the hosting plan descriptions on this site. We offer a plan for everyone, but it's not always easy to decide which one is for you. Here are some tips to help narrow down your choices:

• If you plan on selling anything from your Web site, take a look at the e-commerce plans.
• If you plan on using Microsoft Office extensions or databases, or plan on having a dynamic Web site, consider the Windows 2000/NT plans.
• Consider the Bronze plans if you're an individual.
• Consider the Gold plans if the site is for a business.

Another way to find the service plan that's right for you is to use the Web Hosting Wizard. The Web Hosting Wizard asks you questions about your Web site to figure out exactly which plan you need.

Online Access also has many Web site Consultants dedicated to helping you establish your site. You can give them a call at 1-888-438-8374. They can help you decide on a hosting plan, answer any questions you might have, and even walk you though the order process.

When you have decided which Web hosting plan best meets your need, click on the buy button on that plan's page to start the ordering process. Placing the order is easy and your site will be running in a matter of hours.

Build and Publish Your Web site

Building your own Web site can be very gratifying, but doesn't have to be very difficult. There are currently a lot of software packages available - such as Microsoft FrontPage 2000 - that make creating and publishing your Web site relatively quick and painless. Online Access supports the use of most Web site design and publishing tools.

If you find that you need help publishing your site, or are interested in more advanced Web site features, Online Access provides extensive online documentation as well as excellent technical support by both phone and e-mail.

Promote Your Web Site

To really succeed on the Web, you need more than just a Web site. You need "traffic" - a steady stream of visitors coming to check out your products, services, information, and everything else you offer online. In order to draw people to your site, you need to be listed in the Web's most popular search engines and Web directories. Services like www.SiteAware.com can help you get traffic to your site by listing your site with search engines and giving you tips for making your Web site more easy to find online.

Analyze the Results

The success of a Web site is generally measured by how many visitors it gets. Your Web server automatically logs each time someone accesses one of your Web pages. Looking at these logs can tell you how much traffic your site gets, how popular different parts of your site are, and when your site is the busiest. Analyzing your traffic can even give you an idea of which parts of your site may need to be improved or expanded.

All Online Access Web hosting plans come with built-in tools that you can use to help you analyze your traffic. Once you become a Online Access customer, it is easy to log into a custom control panel and access current site statistics.

All Online Access web hosting plans come with built-in tools, such as Webalizer Web traffic reporting, that you can use to help you analyze your traffic. Once you become a Online Access customer, it is easy to log into a custom control panel and access current and historical site statistics.