My On-line Journey -- Where Do I Begin?

My On-line Journey -- Where Do I Begin?

Many people want to begin their journey on-line, but do not know how, or what needs to be done to get their web site on-line. I was one of many, that was looking for such a presence on-line.I hope this article answers some questions you may have -- and possibly get you started in the right direction.Your Affiliate Web Site Is Built – Now What? When I first got my web site built, I thought I finally I hada presence on-line. Wrong! I soon found out that I needed someoneto host my site, and I needed a domain name.This, I found, was my moment of utter confusion. And myfirst thought was – “What have I gotten myself into!?”I realized I needed the following questions answered before Icould even begin my on-line journey. What do I need in a web host,what is a web host, what is a domain name and – youmean, I have to pay for a domain name as well?What is a Domain?A domain name is a unique name that identifies an Internet site.Thus, if you want to do any on-line marketing you need a uniquename to identify your business – and definitely a name thatidentifies or relates to that of your on-line presence.Do I really need a domain name? Yes. Why? There areseveral good reasons:1. It projects a professional image2. It’s mobile – you can change web hosts and your domainname goes with you.3. It takes time and hard work to build your affiliate business – if youdon’t have your own name and you want to move to adifferent web host – all is lost because the domain name is not mobile.There are many sites that give you an opportunity to buy a domain with your website. However,if you're confused about domains and subdomain- read Domain and Subdomains on my website.What is A Web Host?A web host is an ISP that offers space in which to store yourown personal Web pages. They utilize a web server, whichis a computer that is permanently connected to the Internet andcan send out your web pages on request.If you want a professional presence, I would suggest that youdo not go with a free site. Why? With your free site, youare required to include advertisements of theirchoosing on your pages.There are many web hosting sites and prices to choose from – and allcan be very confusing and intimidating when you are firstlooking at putting up a site of your own. So, what should youconsider when choosing a web host?What to Consider When You Choose a Web Host?When choosing a Web Host you should consider the following:1. Does it have customer support available 24/7?2. How often are backups done? (You should also doyour own backups as well.)3. How much bandwidth do they give you? Bandwidth isthe amount of activity on your site (traffic). The morevisitors you have, the more bandwidth is used.I recommend at least 2 gigs, with an option to upgrade.4. How many email accounts do they have? At least 3, preferably more.5. Does it have traffic stats – to monitor your hits, page views, and actual visitors?6. Does it have FrontPage extensions? (If you are planning to use FrontPage).7. Does it offer autoresponders?8. Does it offer FTP?9. Does it allow for upgrades? As your business grows, so willyour need for more bandwidth.10. Does it offer SiteBuilder? (If you have no HTML experience/don’thave FrontPage, or no programming knowledge – SiteBuildercan get you up and running.To conclude, remember your web site is your business, yourdomain is your name, and your web host is your home – allare important factors to your success. And to think, youonly getting started!