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Notes & Reference

1. Software.

There exists many web authoring software packages on the market today, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher, that have built-in templates.

Many software packages are available for download from the Internet, and many include trial offers so that you can try before you buy. We provide a list of several software packages that are available for download.

2. Design.

Creating your own web site can be easy and fun. Select from the many templates included with your software package.

NOTE: Because Unix is case-sensitive, it is best to name all files in lowercase and to also refer to these files in lowercase when creating a link.

SiteBuilder
Alternatively, you may wish to consider using our SiteBuilder software package to create your site, the Single-User version is included as a standard feature. SiteBuilder is a web-based HTML construction set, allowing you to build and maintain your web site via a web browser. Little to no HTML knowledge is necessary to build your site from the templates provided. SiteBuilder includes both an "EasyPage WebBuilder," which allows you to easily create a web site in just a few minutes, as well as a "PowerPage WebBuilder," which gives you more flexibility in desiging your site. More information is available here.

3. Find a host, (if you haven't already).

Once you have created your site, you will need a place to house your files (referred to as "web hosting") so that they can be viewed by anyone with Internet access. We have multiple Linux and NT packages to select from depending on your needs.

4. Upload.

After you have chosen a web hosting package, you will need to copy your files from your hard drive to the web server. This is referred to as "uploading your files".

All of our Linux web hosting packages include a Web Control Panel. This is a web-based site management tool. One of the features is the capability to upload pages very easily. In addition, all web hosting packages include FTP access.

5. Promote Your Site.

No matter how great your site is, if you don't promote it, no one will come.

Promotion can take many forms, involve many steps, and never ends. It is probably the most important aspect of operating your web site.

The basic steps one should follow in promoting an online business involve registering the web site with all the major search engines, as well as with the specialty search engines and directories when and where appropriate.

Before registering with the search engines, however, you'll want to make sure to use the appropriate Meta tags in your html code to help increase the chances of your site being listed higher in the search engines.

An excellent (and free) newsletter on promoting via search engines is available from Web Position Gold.

6. Congratulations!

Your site is now ready to be viewed by all.

NOTE: More detailed information on Getting Started is available in Part 1 of our Online Support Manual.