What Every Web Site Owner Should KnowBeware of Inferior Webhosts...
These are just a few of the possible calamities that can happen.. After the blood, sweat, tears and money that you have gone through to get your site up, a smoothly running Web host will make all the difference. Hopefully, you will just pay the fees and never have to worry about the host. You will know you have a good Web hosting company if you never have to think |
Showing posts with label how to build a website. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to build a website. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Beware of Inferior Webhosts...
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
An HTML Primer Part 02
What Every Web Site Owner Should KnowAn HTML Primer Part 02 So let’s take a more detailed look shall we? Now that you see just how simple HTML really is let’s take a look at a basic HTML page. So it should look like this:
Obviously, a little bit more than the above code makes up your average web page. The HTML tag at the beginning of the page is important because it helps the browser to understand what language the page is written in (HTML pages can have several other languages included as well). Usually, in a simple HTML page the head tag would follow the HTML tag. Inside of that head tag you will in most cases find a title tag. The title tag is the tag that controls the text that is at the very top of the browser when you open it. There may be some other code nested in the head tag, but we won’t be concerned with that now. Here is an example of the code:
See now, it’s easier than it looks, isn’t it? The above code will produce a blank web page titled my very first web page. I am guessing however, you already figured this out. Before I continue, I would like to reiterate; you do not have to remember all of this. This information is just to give you an understanding of what HTML is and how web pages work. Besides I have included the handy list of common HTML tags at the end of the book... Of course, now that you know how simple it is, you may want to experiment with it. You do not even have to buy anything. HTML can be written in any text editor. It simply has to be saved as either an .htm or an .html file. Let’s take a further look at this. The following code will render a very simple web page. As we continue to add different elements I will explain exactly what’s happening. First we will start with the code that we used above and add to it. To actually add content, we will need to add a body tag. The body tag will contain your content (no surprises here...). It tells the browser that the following content is to be displayed. Open Notepad (or any basic text editor) type the following:
Now, in your text editor (Notepad for example) click “File” and then “save as.” Next, Name your file: “first.HTM”. Make sure to include the quotation marks. Before you click “Save”, click the arrow next to the "Save as Type" field and select “All Files”. This is an important step, if you do not select “All Files” as the file type, your file will be named first.htm.txt. This is a problem because the computer uses the letters after the dot (known as the file extension) to determine which program to use to open the file. So if the computer sees a .txt at the end it knows your file is a text file and will use your default text editor to open it. However, if the file has .htm or .html as the file extension, the computer will use a browser to open it. In fact, the reason you should put the file name in quotations when you save is; just in case you forget to set the file type to “all”. If the filename is in quotes, then it will save it exactly as typed regardless. Congratulations, you have made a working web page. Conclusion: HTML is much simpler than you may have thought. It is something that you can probably learn to do quite well if you put your mind to it. Even though there are many expensive programs designed for professionals, all you need is a simple free text editor to get started. There are many tools on the web as well. You can find links to many at www.EverMoreTech.com. We will take a deeper look into HTML later on in the book and you can always stop my Website if you would like a more in depth hands on tutorial. |
Thursday, September 3, 2009
HTML Primer Part One
What Every Web Site Owner Should KnowOK, SO WHAT THE HECK IS HTML ANYWAY? The basic language of the web is something known as HTML. It is the format in which instructions are sent over the Internet. HTML provides us with a light, flexible language that allows us to transmit large amounts of information effectively and efficiently. It is due to HTML that different types of computers and operating systems can all read the same Web pages and communicate with each other effectively well actually, there is a lot more to it all then just plain HTML, but for the average Web site owner, you will not be expected to know about the nuts and bolts of Web development. For your purposes suffice to say; HTML allows any computer with an appropriate browser to surf the net. It is not imperative that you know HTML, but it can help you communicate with your Webmaster. For this purpose, you should probably read this chapter. However, if techno speak makes your hands sweat, or you already know HTML, then it is safe to skip this chapter... HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. Although similar, HTML is not actually a programming language. It is much, much simpler. Comparing HTML to a programming language is like comparing a soap box racer to a Porsche... A fully fledged programming language is capable of doing much, much more than basic HTML. HTML is a set of tags that modifies text. In simpler terms, HTML is basically a set of instructions that tells browsers how to assemble the Web page. This is accomplished by enclosing HTML tags in angle brackets. This way the browser “knows” that anything enclosed in angle brackets is an HTML tag. For example <b> is the HTML tag that instructs the browser to bold the text that follows it. An angle bracket followed by a slash would signify the end of a tag. Therefore the text that is in between becomes a modified by that particular tag. Clear as mud? OK here’s an example:
There are tags that format text, others that allow you to add images, tables, lists and structural elements and still more that allow you to add more powerful scripting language and other elements to your website. Even so, it all boils down to using tags to markup text. So you see it’s really quite easy. Fortunately, you are a website owner and not a website developer. So you don’t have to know everything there is to know about the HTML, just the basics. In other words; you don’t have to know HTML, you just have to know about HTML. If you take the time to learn a little bitmore than you need to know, then you are really ahead of the game. This chapter will explore basic HTML and I will provide an appendix at the end of this book of basic HTML tags. Most of them are relatively self explanatory and you will know what they mean right when see them, but a good “Short List” of common HTML tags can really come in handy. Continued in Part Two... |
ALL HOSTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
What Every Web Site Owner Should KnowALL HOSTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL Now that you know a little bit more about Web hosting, it is time to think about actually choosing a Web host. Services offered range from simple web hosting with no features, to comprehensive packages including templates, a marketing plan, search engine submission, and more. Sometimes this can be confusing for a prospective Website owner. Too many choices can lead to what may not be the best decision. Therefore, one of the most important things to consider is reliability. Regardless of what else is offered, or how great the deal is, if your Website is down half the time, it’s not worth it. After reliability, email is probably the next critical feature you should consider. Before you sign up with a hosting company, you can check to see if their mail servers appear on any black lists (Just visit my Website to find out how to do this.). Additionally, most Web hosts offer protection against spam. It will also allow you to add email addresses that you want to make certain you receive email from to a white list. |
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Web Hosting Pt 03 Advanced Hosting Features
What Every Web Site Owner Should Know |
HEY LOOK, IT’S A CLUE!Beware of Inferior Webhosts...
These are just a few of the possible calamities that can happen.. After the blood, sweat, tears and money that you have gone through to get your site up, a smoothly running Web host will make all the difference. Hopefully, you will just pay the fees and never have to worry about the host. You will know you have a good Web hosting company if you never have to think about it after you make your decision |
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
$ $ $ $ $ DOMAIN REGISTRAR SCAM ALERT! $ $ $ $ $
What Every Web Site Owner Should Know$ $ $ $ $ SCAM ALERT! $ $ $ $ $ Many unscrupulous domain registrars exist. It is a common practice of these registrars to send official looking letters in the mail informing you that your domain is about to expire. They will include a form to send along with a check to “renew” your domain name. Though it may not say outright in the letter, they will typically have the appearance of being from either your current registrar (they assume you don’t know who that actually is), or even from the Government or some other official office. |
How Browsers Work
What Every Web Site Owner Should KnowHOW BROWSERS WORK So, what exactly is a browser anyway? While that may seem like a stupid question, obviously it is what you use to get on the Internet, but, have you ever really thought about it? Of course, you know what it is basically, but what about a little more in-depth? How do they work and why? When you open your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari etc ...) and visit a Website, this is what happens:
Now, here’s where the fun begins; the web page that you see is not what was sent over the Internet. Actually, a simple text file containing HTML source code was sent. This source code is the equivalent of an architect’s blueprint. Your browser acts similarly to a house-builder and interprets these “blueprints” and assembles the Web page accordingly. Any images, graphics or other files that may be needed are then downloaded. Currently, the most popular browser is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (there are several versions in parentheses). A rival browser, Firefox, is gaining market share quickly. This is significant because; the browser builds the Website based on the blueprints provided by the web server and there may be significant differences in the results. When you are deciding on a Webmaster, be sure to consider this and make sure that cross browser compliance is included!
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Don't Over-Think It
What Every Web Site Owner Should KnowDON’T OVER-THINK IT Keep it simple. You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times before, about a thousand different topics, but it really applies here. A common misconception many people make is to assume that publishing a Website is some kind of mystical process, in which only ultra-geeks with super human intellect can do ... While I would love to consider myself to have any superhuman attributes whatsoever, sadly, I don’t. There is a lot to learn and it can get confusing. However, if you take your time and you are patient, you can do it. It is a simply a matter of taking it one step at a time and making sure you understand what you are learning as you go. There are two separate aspects to technology that will need to be concerned with:
Don’t worry about knowing everything. Just play heads up ball. Technology changes, but the concepts don’t. Fortunately, your job is not to be an expert at technology; you just need to manage it to get the results that you want ... Easy as pie. In fact; your job is a manager, or overseer. You are in charge and your Webmaster is trying to make you happy. Do both of you a favor and make it easier for him. All you need an overall basic understanding and a clear fundamental vision of what you want to accomplish with the site and a general idea of how you think it should look. If you don’t know exactly what you want, then spend a couple of hours surfing the Web. Take notes regarding what you like and what you dislike. The amount of technical expertise that you need to be a successful Website owner is actually quite minimal. As with any aspect of business; it is of course, a trade-off; money vs. knowledge & time. The more you know and the more time you are willing to spend on it, the less it will ultimately cost. Even so, if you want to be truly successful, a number of those things are absolutely essential to know. This is where many Website owners fail. Many assume that once the site is launched the teaming masses will clamor to visit and the money will just start rolling in. Many owners will completely neglect marketing altogether. Sometimes lightning strikes and every now and then a Website is an overnight success right off the bat. Don’t depend on it; most likely, it will take time, money, a bit of “know how” and a little effort. Now, for the good news: just by the simple act of reading this book you are ahead of the game. Many Website owners are completely in the dark regarding the whole process. The lack of knowledge necessary to launch and maintain a successful Website leaves a site owner completely dependent on their Webmaster. While there are some good Webmasters out there, it is perhaps not the strongest position to be in. By educating yourself you have placed yourself at the front of the class and improved your chances of success substantially... Many of my less-technically-inclined people have made the mistake of believing that the whole process of launching a Website was too difficult. They believe that they have to be a computer guru, or that it is harder than it is. Often, this apprehension gets the better of them and never start or they abandon a Website that they paid good money to get online. I have seen some very nice (and expensive) Websites immediately get abandoned as soon as the Webmaster completes his work; in fact, often it never even gets completed. In some cases, all that was required of the owner would be a few paragraphs about their business, or perhaps a photo or two. The frustrated Webmaster contacts them several times requesting the info, but never receives it. Eventually he stops trying, and finishes the site to the best of his ability without the desired information. Of course, the site ends up being less than it could be. If the owner of the failed site simply had kept an open mind, the Webmaster would have been happy to work through the rough spots step by step. Ultimately the owner would have spent a few short hours scribbling a handful of paragraphs. In many cases, the owner simply needs to take twenty minutes to look over a site and give some suggestions. It makes a lot of difference. These people were no less intelligent than others I have worked with and I have taught people with all sorts of different skill sets. You don’t need to be a tech-wizard to do this. Regardless, they convinced themselves that it was harder than it really is and paid the price. The bottom line is this, if you are not willing to invest even the barest minimum of time and effort, your site will suffer for it. Therefore, I recommend that you approach technology with an open mind and don’t assume anything. Consider, regarding technology; kids generally “catch on” the quickest. While there are many reasons for this, I believe this is largely due to the fact that they simply approach computing with an open mind. Furthermore, it is apparent to me, that one secret to children’s success with technology is due to the fact that they accept it for what it is, rather then what they expect it to be. They are able to simply learn by trial and error, as opposed to dealing with preconceived notions. If you want to improve your general computer skills quickly, then I recommend finding a game, or application that you enjoy and have fun with it. Once you can do that, the rest will come intuitively. |
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