Create Your Own Web Site
Cheaply and Easily

Overview For Creating A Web Site

Developing your own web site can be a very rewarding experience. But, of course, there is a great deal of work required. At the very least, there are hours of careful planning, brain storming for subject matter, acquainting yourself with the language (html and meta tags) of the internet, and optimizing your web pages for search engines. Specifically, here are some of the overall considerations:

deciding the content of your web site,
choosing overall appearance and design,
selecting graphics, fonts and colors,
coding your web pages,
checking the navigation,
validating your web site,
choosing a domain name,
choosing an ISP,
deciding on a host for your web site,
registering with various search engines and directories,
getting traffic to your site,
maintaining your web site,

Your Web Site's Content

You can decide what your site will be about based on your interest, your planned target market, or you might possibly base your decision on topics that your research tells you are profitable on the internet. In other words, your site can be designed around any subject you choose.

You can write all or part of your content. You can get free content and articles from other sources who specialize in this kind of service, or maybe you can exchange content with other sites similar to yours. Some sites with free articles are: Willie Crawford's articles, Moreover, and Article City. Adding new content often is an excellent way to get repeat visitors who will bookmark your site as a good source for a particular subject.

Look here for more information about building a web page, i.e., appearance, design, coding, graphics, and colors.

Title, Meta Tags and Keywords

Anyone having a web site should have a working knowledge of HTML, in my opinion. There are many sites that make it simple to get a good grasp on the basic elements of html. Some I have used (and continue to use) are: W3 Schools, Dave's Site or Web site Tips, and Web-Source.

Using keywords and meta tags strategically is something you must do for high placement in search engine ranking.

Meta tags are tools for helping search engines correctly index web sites. They consist of a couple of lines of code: "description" and "keywords", and are found in the "head" section of your web pages. Search engines use the wording you place in these two sections to display to the public what your site is about. The "title" tag's wording is found in the head also and seen at the top of your web pages. You should use a different title for each page.

Keywords, the main words that tell what your site is about, should not only be placed in your in your meta tags, but also in the various web site headlines and scattered throughout your entire narrative. WebPosition Gold 3 is an excellent source for optimizing your web site.

Choose a Domain Name

The choice of a domain name is one of the most important decisions you will make for your site. Your domain name, or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is your web site address. It tells where you can be found on the internet. Choose a name that has some relationship to the content of your site, using one of your important keywords is a good idea. Make sure it is easy to remember. Many sites are set up to check the availability of your choice and then register your domain.

Your ISP

The ISP or internet Service Providers provide connection to the internet for a fee. They generally have no content of their own. Telephone companies, cable and satellite providers are usually the ISP's of today.

Getting The Right Host

Take time to choose the host for your web site very carefully. All host companies are not the same nor equal. Do your research, comparing services offered, space, extras such as e-stores or merchant accounts, 24-7 live customer service and, of course, the cost.

Look here for more information and reviews to help you in selecting a host for your site.

Regarding FTP (File Transfer Protocol) which is the program used to actually get your web site on the internet, most hosts will offer the service of moving your site online without technical knowledge on your part.

Getting Traffic

Your web site gets traffic through its listings with the search engines. Remember the importance of using good descriptions and keywords with this end in mind. Traffic also comes from exchanging links with other sites, having other sites appreciate the information on your site and linking with it, and web rings.