Starting Your Own Site #1

Okay, so you are interested in starting your own website. But how will you do it? This series of articles should hopefully guide you through this process. Where to start, what to expect, and how much work will be involved are all covered.

First you will need to start coming up with names. Sure it sounds easy, but honestly a good name is hard to come by. Your goal is to become the next Google, Ebay, or Digg, a huge site that everyone knows. These sites are so popular that people use their names in everyday conversations. More than likely if you choose a really long name, it will be harder for your name to catch on. Optimally you should try to keep the name around 4 to 6 letters long. Getting a couple people together and brainstorming some ideas, is the best way to come up with a good name.

Your next step is to go a Domain Name Register site, such as the well known GoDaddy. At most of these register sites you will have access to quick searches, support tools, and usually fair prices. But what if you type in your perfect site name and ... it's taken. That's a pretty normal occurrence, so be patient when finding your name. Once you find one that is available just go through the steps listed on the site and purchase your name.

Now the fun really begins. Page design is the next step, which means you get to decide how the site should look. Drawing your ideas out on paper is the best way to start this step. Then your grand idea will be all laid out so you, or your web designer, will know exactly what is needed. It is easier for web designers to see what you want on paper, because two people have different ideas about what an objects look like.

Part 2 will cover some basics about coding a site, such as the main do's and dont's.