What is a Web Site?
Not sure why you need a Web site? Want to know what it's all about? This is the place to start.
Chapters
- What is a Web site?
- What is Web hosting?
- What is the procedure for building a Web presence?
- What is e-commerce?
- Which hosting plan fits my needs?
What is a Web site?
Essentially, a Web site is a way to present yourself online. Your Web site is a place on the Internet
where anyone in the world can visit whenever they want to find out more about you, ask you questions,
give you feedback, or even buy your products. Think of the Internet as the world's biggest trade show,
and your Web site is your booth.
What is a Domain Name?
Your Domain Name is your address on the Web. Just like people use your phone number to call you on
the phone, your Domain Name allows people to access your site on the Web. Clever, simple, or easy to
remember Domain Names are most desirable as they can play a large part in attracting visitors to your
site. Most Domain Names end with ".com" (such as alpineweb.com), but other extensions such
as ".net", ".org", ".biz", ".info and ".us" are also
available. In addition Domains can be used with your e-mail accounts allowing you to send and receive
e-mail with addresses such as "support@yourcompany.com"
Why do I need a Web site?
- Five years ago having a Web site was a vanity.
- Two years ago having a Web site was trendy.
- Today having a Web site is a necessity.
People are using the Web for everything from researching schoolwork to buying dinner. It's quick, it's
convenient, and you never need to leave your desk. Even people who prefer to shop off-line are
researching products on the Web. These days when people are trying to find you, the first place they
look is on the Web - and if they don't find you, they will probably find someone else!
What can a Web site do for me?
Your Web site can be used for a large number of tasks such as:
- Making public announcements
- Providing support to your customers
- Receiving feedback from your visitors
- Sharing/distributing files and images
- And, of course, selling your products
Those might not sound impressive, but don't forget that you'll be able to do those things for people
around the world at any time of day or night. You have the potential to become a house-hold name
10,000 miles away.
How does a Web site work?
A Web site is simply a collection of files that reside on a computer connected to the Internet. When
someone visits your site, they are actually contacting that computer, and that computer (called a Web
server) gives the visitor the files they want to see. It sounds very simple, but most normal computers
don't have the power or the software needed to constantly respond to all the requests made by all the
visitors to a site. And even if they did, they'd need an extremely fast connection to the Internet to
keep up with all the requests. Most people and small companies don't have the resources to run a Web
server, and that is where Web Hosting comes in.
Next: Web Hosting ->
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