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Web Design Basics
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Web Design Basics

All web sites have 3 major components. Some have more but all must have these three.

1. A name. This is referred to as a Domain Name, or a Domain. You can also call it an URL. Generally you register a domain name for 1 year or more, it is similar to renting a house.
2. A home for the web site. We refer to this as web hosting. This is the place on a high powered computer (server) where your site and domain name are stored. Similar to a document on a floppy disk. This server is connected to the internet allowing anybody to access your site.
3. The web site it self. Includes all images, text and any other content or information you wish to present.

These 3 main components are all critical to a web sites success, and should be chosen carefully. Below you will find some tips to help you in your decision making process.

Domain Names. Most commercial web sites have their own domain name or multiple similar domain names. When choosing a domain name you want to find a name that is easy to spell, and as short as possible. It does not have to match the name of your business but should be closely related. Or you can try a word or phrase to get your attention. Not every web site has it's own domain name. Some web sites use free hosting from their ISP(internet service provider, think Road Runner, AOL, Earthlink etc.). For personal web sites with low traffic this is an acceptable solution.

If you are running a business web site or a web site promoting your business you should get your own domain name. If you were a customer which site would you feel more comfortable spending your money on?

1. www.generic-isp.com/~free-server-space/user123456/~1page/index.com. OR
2. www.professional-company.com.

The first option is tiresome to type in, and impossible to remember.

Another benefit to having your own domain name is that you can get email at this domain. Nearly every web hosting company offers email support for domains they host. Some people run their business email from their ISP email accounts. This is less professional and potentially costly. It may force you to stay with a certain provider when you want to leave and get better pricing elsewhere. If you are running a business web site you need a domain name and email at this domain. The nice thing is that it is cheap to do. Prices range from $3.00 to $30.00 per year for each domain. If you are new to this and want to register your own domain name I recommend using www.networksolutions.com This is the company that ultimately controls all the domain names. Stay away from most deep discount services, if you have a problem good luck in getting any help.

Web Hosting: There are many many web hosts out there. It is a highly competitive market. There are many scams and many good companies that makes it hard to decide where to go. Customer support and reliability are the most important things to decide. The good news is that if you control your domain name you can change web hosting companies as often as you wish with a minimal of fuss. The following services should be included in ANY web hosting package. If any of the following features are not included even in their base service, then find another host.

1. FTP access
2. Email support for your domain
3. Telephone number to a real person
4. Email (test them on their response time in answering some pre-sales questions. If it takes them a week to answer, imagine how long it will take to fix a problem)

If your web site needs certain technologies like PHP or ASP or MySQL etc. please make sure your host supports them before signing up. The cost of web hosting is based on many factors. Such as the size of your site, how much traffic it produces, services offered, local conditions etc. You can get web hosting from as little as $10 per year to $1000's per month.

The other option is to use free web hosting. The disadvantage with free hosting is that you cannot have your own domain name, and the traffic and size is quite limited. Your site also frequently has ads on it that you have no control over, possibly even a competitors product. At a minimum it detracts from your sites look. Usually it is so invasive as to make viewing the site a chore. Some people use free web space from their ISP, which basically traps them into using the same ISP. Even worse is if the ISP shuts down, usually with minimal if any warning.

Web SIte: This is the meat and potatoes of the whole thing. The site it self is comprised of images, text and programs to present your business or product. Please see the other tips for more specific information regarding web sites.

Our Services: Fluid Dragon Design offers turnkey solutions for your web site. will take care of all these components for you at a competitive price. We will take care of all the details for you leaving you free to run your business. Our door is always open to your questions and concerns about your web site. "Relax we'll take care of everything"

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