1) Choose your domain name:  usually it= s www. A your business name@ .com (ex: www.wolfdreams.org)  You could end this web address with .com, .net, .org, or .biz depending on availability. More on Domain names - click here.  

2) Sign Up for your webhost.  That's easy ... follow this link for hosting plans from $4.95 to host 1 domain or $7.95 to host unlimited domains

Ready To Get Started On Your Website

        (Do not the information below "overwhelm" you .... if it is too difficult, I will take care of these things for you ... they are only here to guide you in your choices.

1) Choose a design or make a plan.  Look over my portfolio of websites or find any website on the internet that you might want your website to look like, then send me a link to that website. Many of the websites I design use "shared boarders."  I  recommend using shared boarders," which basically is having your logo and a row of 4 to 8 buttons that stays at the top of every page of your website. These buttons are links to each of your website's pages. You may want to advise as to the layout of each of your pages or leave it up to me, based on the materials sent, to use a design I think will work. We can always make changes at anytime.

2) Buttons. You will want to choose several buttons that will link to additional pages or information you want to share with your web visitor. The link below (to Web Alley) will offer you many styles of buttons on this "free website templates" page. We won't be using the template, but only use the buttons. Click on any of the 37 designs listed on that page. After you choose your button design, send me the name of that design and the text that will appear on each of those buttons. I will make them for you, then install them in the websites top boarder. Examples of button text: Home (which takes the visitor back to the main page), Products, Services, Gallery, About Us, Contact Us or whatever else may apply.

http://www.weballey.net/templates This site also features templates that might not easily adapt to Front Page. But their button editor allows you to choose a style of button and then make all your buttons at one time. I will make your buttons for you from your list of button titles. If you are making your own buttons here, you want to right click on each button, then "save picture as" and place in the image folder.

3) Page Titles  You need to choose a page title for your website. These are the words that appear at the very top of your opening page and every other page in your website. Each page of your website should have it's own title, along with your business name. This title reflects your type of business, your name and the most important keywords that a web visitors might search to find pages for  your type of business.

4) Page Content - Text, Pictures & Forms.  the things you would like to say on your web page. The text should include a good description of your business, products and/or services. In your description, try to use as many different keywords that web visitors might use in internet searches. You should  have this typed and ready in a computer file (Word)  or paste into and  send to me by e-mail. I can make corrections and re-type if necessary. Forms can be used on any of your pages so web visitors can send information they provide directly back to you.  If you have any ideas on fonts you would want to use send them along or I'll use a basic common font.

5) Logo & Pictures - Send me your logo if you already have one designed. If not, I can direct you to a websites that offer free logos or headings Choose your pictures, place them on a CDR or email them to me.  If your pictures are not computer ready (jpg. or gif. files) we can scan them for you (or most copy centers can as well).  Your pictures will be optimized for faster loading on the internet. Digital photography available in the local area.

6) Page Background Colors: What color text, on what color background. You can provide a basic idea of the colors that will work for your page. You might always visit other websites and search for ideas on design and colors. Send me a link to that page and I can match up the colors and also get a better idea of what you want your website to look like. Backgrounds could be solid colors, patterns (see Bells 'N Whistles link below) or even a picture, which might be. Bear in mind how your text will appear over any colored background, pattern or picture. If you would like to view somne background patterns  visit the following links:

www.bellsnwhistles.com  - for pattern backgrounds (also features rules, bullets, clip art, JavaScript's, effects, more)

www.aaa-backgrounds.com (this site also links to several companion sites including www.aaa-buttons.com  (and others).


7)  Headings (your Logo) - You might want to use the WordArt feature available in Front Page which allows you the flexibility of all the different fonts available in your computer and the special effects offered in Word-Art (the simple banner at the top of this page was created in WordArt). . Another option for  headings is at:

www.flamingtext.com  (hard to believe this is free)

8) Clip Art - There are many websites that offer free clip art (like bellsnwhistles, above). Here are a few that offer free clip art that you might find useful for your website:

http://www.gifanimations.com/ 

http://www.animfactory.com/

http://www.barrysclipart.com

That should be enough "ideas" to get you started. Remember to make notes for yourself or your web designer.  We can make these choices for you, although your idea of what you want to display on your web page is recommended. You might also surf the internet for ideas, and choose a few websites that you would like your website modeled after (easiest way).

I will help you with the keywords you need for your title and description - things we enter into your meta tags. This will help the search engines recognize your site and allow your site to have a higher search ranking.

That' s about all you need. I can get started on your project right away and get your web page on line within days. Give me a call or email and let' s get started!