1. Get a domain name
A domain name plus the approriate prefix and suffix is a URL. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and when entered correctly will take you to the web page you seek. It is really an address, an IP address (IP stands for Internet Protocol - think phone number). Domain names are assigned to make connecting to the different web sites easier. If you have a great name in mind you may want to buy it. This keeps any one else on the planet from getting it, but there is a catch: You have to periodically renew it. Don't forget to renew or someone else can "steal" it and then you may have to pay big bucks to buy it back. Some people buy domain names in the hope that some big corporation will need them and pay them big bucks.
A domain name plus the approriate prefix and suffix is a URL. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and when entered correctly will take you to the web page you seek. It is really an address, an IP address (IP stands for Internet Protocol - think phone number). Domain names are assigned to make connecting to the different web sites easier. If you have a great name in mind you may want to buy it. This keeps any one else on the planet from getting it, but there is a catch: You have to periodically renew it. Don't forget to renew or someone else can "steal" it and then you may have to pay big bucks to buy it back. Some people buy domain names in the hope that some big corporation will need them and pay them big bucks.
2. Get a Web Site Host
A host is a company that has powerful computers, called servers, which are connected to the web. You pay them to host your site. Now the world can request your page, the host will serve it up and deliver it to the browser. Simple. You will build, store and backup your web site on your own computer. You will transfer your pages from your computer to the host's server every time you update a page. This is done with an FTP program. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.
A host is a company that has powerful computers, called servers, which are connected to the web. You pay them to host your site. Now the world can request your page, the host will serve it up and deliver it to the browser. Simple. You will build, store and backup your web site on your own computer. You will transfer your pages from your computer to the host's server every time you update a page. This is done with an FTP program. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.
3. Tell your host your domain name.
When you register with a hosting service they will give you a login name and a password for their computer. You will need to go to their web page, enter your login name and password, and figure out how to use their control panel. Before the world can see your web site you must enter your domain name on the host. Now the host server knows what your web site will be called.
4. Tell your domain service the name of your host server.
Your host may have more than one server that will be able to serve up your pages. Once you have obtained all the server names from the host...some hosts will email the server names to you while others will display the names in their control panel...you need to go back to your domain service and tell them the name of your host's servers.
Provided you get everything spelled right your host and domain should be connected within 48 hours. Always use upper and lower case letters exactly as you see them because some of this information is case sensitive.
When you register with a hosting service they will give you a login name and a password for their computer. You will need to go to their web page, enter your login name and password, and figure out how to use their control panel. Before the world can see your web site you must enter your domain name on the host. Now the host server knows what your web site will be called.
4. Tell your domain service the name of your host server.
Your host may have more than one server that will be able to serve up your pages. Once you have obtained all the server names from the host...some hosts will email the server names to you while others will display the names in their control panel...you need to go back to your domain service and tell them the name of your host's servers.
Provided you get everything spelled right your host and domain should be connected within 48 hours. Always use upper and lower case letters exactly as you see them because some of this information is case sensitive.