Creating a Website – The 3 Things You Need to Get Started
Hazzzzah! Welcome to the 21st Century. To help make sure everyone understands what a Website requires let’s compare a Website to a house. To have a Website you will need three main components:
• A Domain Name / URL
• Web hosting
• A Web design & Content
Domain Name
The domain name performs a similar function as an address does for a house. It allows potential visitors to easily find you. It is paid for on a yearly basis. Domain names should run you about $9.99 / year. Definitely no more than that. Also, when picking a domain name you should base it on the industry that you are in and where you are located. For example, if you are an Optometrist in Scottsdale, AZ a couple of good domain names might be:
ScottsdaleOptometrist.com, OptometristInScottsdale.com, ScottsdaleEyeDoctor.com
All of the above would be good domain names to acquire and it would be best to purchase several domains for two reasons. 1.) Because you can forward all of them to the same Website 2.) You will earn equity in the domain. That is as time goes by and more and more business open up shop, the more competition and the more valuable those other domains will be.
Hosting
The hosting for your Website would be comparable to the physical property that your house resides on and the structure itself. Hosting is paid for on a monthly basis much like rent. It can run any where from $4.99/month for a typical Web site to a couple hundred dollars per month and depends on the bandwidth you need and amount of space you need to store the files for your Website.
Web Design & Content
The Web design and content would act the same way as the furnishings of a home work. They are the unique decorations you have to represent your personality and communicate your style and philosophy. Also like home furnishings the cost can vary greatly. Some people have extravagant interiors of their home and some people have more modest interiors. It all depends on the taste and budget of the individual.
Much like purchasing a home, the key to having a successful Website is making sure that you are involved in the process and that everything is in your name and you are the account holder of your domain name and your hosting account. The Website and content are slightly different. If the Web design company does not transfer ownership rights of the Website to you in writing or by giving you the files you may not own your Website. This is not uncommon, nor is it good or bad. It really depends on what you need. Just make sure this is spelled out and everyone is aware of what they are getting. Anything you develop i.e. the written copy, pictures you take for the Website…etc. you own the rights to.
Do some research, talk with trusted experts in the industry and know what your rights are.
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