What’s involved with having a web site?

The web site service consists of three basic components;  obtaining a domain name, creating the web site, and hosting the web site:

 

Obtaining a Domain Name

A domain name is the "www" web site name that you wish to use. Your domain name must be unique and not belong to anyone else, we can find one that will work for you. Once you have found a domain name that suits your needs, it must be registered in your name so that no one else may use it.  This process is included in the "domain name registration" fee in the PACKAGES hosting plan chart. Your domain name registration must be renewed annually.

Creating the web site:

Web sites are created in a few steps

• gathering requirements that you need to meet with your website

• design of the web site (determine pages needed, photos, artwork, layout, etc)

• development of the web site code (prototype)

• customer review and approval of the prototype

• final development of the web site

• publishing of the web site to the internet

Hosting the web site

    Once the web site has been created, it needs to be placed in a location where it can be accessed via the internet. Hosting is simply purchasing internet “real estate” for your web site to live in. Once your web site is hosted, anyone that types your web site URL (www.yourwebsitename.com) will be directed to your web site location.

There are two components of the hosting service; disk space and bandwidth

Disk Space – this is the amount of space that is allotted for your web site code and files in the hosting area. Most web sites do not require much space, but if your web site will contain lots of pictures, videos or databases, you would require more space.

Bandwidth – The amount of traffic and data transfer to and from your web site is referred to as “bandwidth”. Think of bandwidth as a pipe that connects your web site to the internet. Every time someone accesses your web site, they use some of your bandwidth that you have been allotted. Hosting plans allow for a set amount of this bandwidth use per month (think of this like an electric meter on your home). The meter keeps track of how much bandwidth is used and will allow traffic up until the limit is met. All hosting packages can be upgraded for more bandwidth if a limit is reached.