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

Now that you’ve bought a domain, you need to decide on a Web host.

Knowing When You Need to Outsource

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

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 Web site, it’s no longer 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

Web sites are hosted on computers called servers, which run software that allows them to send or “serve” your pages over the Internet to your users’ Web browsers. If your Web site’s server crashes, your entire site can drop offline, leaving your potential visitors staring at a blank page. 

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.

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 Web site 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?

Planning Site Content and Organization

For any large site, organizing content should be a primary concern.  But where do you begin? Try starting in the middle.

Help, My Server is Overloaded

As your site attracts more visitors, your Web server may start to slow down because it’s processing more requests for pages and files. At this point, you have two ways to deal with the problem: Streamline your pages or upgrade your hosting.

Legal Nuts and Bolts

While we focus on many legal issues involving Web sites in the Law and Ethics chapter, there are a few issues specific to hiring contractors that you should keep in mind.