Domain Names

Domain names are, strictly speaking, not necessary for the functioning of the Internet. If all the domain names tomorrow disappeared overnight, it would still be possible for computers to talk to computers, by means of their IP address.

Writing a Mission Statement

An ideal mission statement falls somewhere between a formal declaration of goals and an airy statement of ideals.

Choosing a Web Host

It used to be that you’d buy a domain one place, then have to decide on a Web host. Not anymore.

Knowing When You Need to Outsource

Some aspects of developing your website might benefit from an extra set of hands or a professional’s expertise.

News Site in a Box

How to launch a community news site with free and easy tools.

Setting Milestones

Once you’ve crafted a mission statement, it’s time to make a list of milestones or goals for your site.

Choosing a Domain Name

When you create a website, it’s not enough to have a good name. You also need a good domain.  A domain is the name users will type to get to your site — like yahoo.com, redcross.org, or whitehouse.gov. 

What to Shop For

There are many reliable Web hosting companies to choose from. So what separates one from another?

Writing an RFP or Specification

Whether or not you plan to hire outside professionals to design or develop your site, it’s a good idea to write a Request for Proposals (RFP) outlining the specific capabilities (specifications) you want your site to have.

Quick, easy and powerful Web publishing

So you want to be a Web publisher? Thankfully, today’s technology makes it easy for anyone to jump in and produce a content Web site with a professional look and performance.

There are other sections of this site that detail how to build and host a Web site the “old fashioned way.” But if you are planning to build a news or content site that will be updated frequently, building a static site is probably the wrong way to go. You need dynamic Web technology, which means you create content in a database, and then the web site pulls from it to update the pages. While this sounds complicated (and until a few years ago, it was), there are a multitude of Web services and open-source technology that make this even easier than building and publishing a site the old way. (To learn more about the difference between static and dynamic Web sites, visit the Wikipedia entry on Web sites.)

Identify Your Audience

Your site is going to be far more effective if it understands and targets its audience.

Registering a Domain

If you want to find out whether the domain you want is available, don’t just type your preferred name into a web browser.  Even if no website appears, the domain name may already be taken.

Other Considerations

Cost isn’t the only consideration when it comes to choosing a Web host.  Here are some other factors that you should weigh before you make your decision.

Finding Contractors

Now, you’re looking for someone to bid on your well-crafted RFP.  Where should you look?

How to build a simple website using free services

There are dozens, yes dozens, of free website builders available today. Some have been around for years, others are new to the game bringing new, innovative approaches.

Following is a look at some of the leading build-a-site applications that independent publishers should consider. These are tailored to publishers who need a simple solution and don’t plan to publish new content more than a few times each day. The biggest questions to answer before analyzing these services are:

1. Do I want my own domain name? (See section on Domain Names)
2. Do I want a customized design? If so, do I have the skills to play with the code (or know someone who does)? (See section on HTML and CSS)
3. Are the pages optimized for search engines so I can build traffic? (See wikipedia entry on SEO)
4. Am I trying to create a publishing business? Am I hoping to sell ads or products to produce revenue?