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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?
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 ChainReactionWeb.com),
but other extensions such as ".net" and ".org" 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 household 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 > 2. What is Web
hosting?
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