Many years ago, I got my first website-building experience when I volunteered to design and launch a politically oriented website for a friend. Even though I had plenty of previous computer experience, there was a steep learning curve involved, as I took self-taught crash courses in computer graphic design, the HTM programming language, artistic publishing layout principles, file transfer protocols, website hosting and domain name registration.
A few years later, my daughter, who I was training to be a fully-fledged computer geek, landed her first paying job at the age of 15 designing a website for a local doctors office. She was paid $300. I did all of my original work for free.
Things have changed dramatically since that time, and numerous companies have made designing and launching a website a simple affair. A vast array of tools exists at little or no cost, which can help the inexperienced designer achieve acceptable results. However, many of the old-school principles remain the same, and should be understood before building your first website.
The first thing you need is a domain name. This is the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) “address” by which your website will be found on the Internet. You see URLs in the address bar at the top of your Web browser when you visit a website. Think up an easy to remember domain name, and then register that name with a “domain name registrar.” This officially marks the name on the Internet as being exclusively yours.
Registrars such as Godaddy.com and Aplus.net can also “host” your website, meaning that the photos, graphics and text that make up your site reside on their computers, which are known as “servers.” It is these web hosting servers that provide your websites’ link to the Internet. Registration and hosting plans are inexpensive, starting at $4-5. If you don’t mind other people putting ads on your website, the truly cheap and thrifty can find web hosting that’s free.
One of the biggest considerations is the look and “feel” of your website. Web hosting services also provide free or low cost website-building tools that can be easy to use if you are reasonably computer savvy. For many people, though, the best choice is to hire a professional website designer. Many people lack the time, ability or inclination to master the expert techniques, language skills and artistic sensibilities that only a professional can provide. For some websites, this doesn’t matter. Other websites, such as those engaged in business or Internet commerce, need the professional touch.
An important principle in website design is simplicity. Many homemade websites are so cluttered, difficult to use and visually busy that they drive away visitors, rather than attract them. Too many pointless, animated graphics, multiple font sizes, conflicting color schemes and grammatical errors can be so distracting that the visitor can’t figure out what the website is trying to communicate. See it big, but keep it simple.