How do I build a Web presence?
In this part of our Web Hosting Guide we explain the process, from start to finish, on how to establish a successful presence on the Web.
Choose a Domain Name for your site
The first thing you need to do when establishing a Web presence is decide on a Domain Name. Choosing the right Domain Name is very important, as it directly affects how easy it is for potential visitors to find your site. Try for something that's easy to recognize, easy to remember, and to easy to guess. For example, if your business is "Petes Popsicle Parlour" then "petespopsicles.com" would be a good Domain Name since it's logical, easy to remember, and easy to spell. It's also a good idea to think of alternate Domain Names in case the first one you think of is already taken.
If you are not planning on building your Web site right away, you might still want to consider registering your Domain as soon as possible. Thousands of Domain Names are registered every day, and there's no guarantee that yours will still be around when you decide to build your site.
Select a Web hosting plan that's right for you
Most people start by browsing through the hosting plan descriptions on this site. We offer a plan for everyone, but it's not always easy to decide which one is for you. Here are some tips to help narrow down your choices:
- Consider our ‘Bronze & Silver’ Plans if you are just starting out with the Internet presence and want to build a Web site.
- Consider the ‘Gold or Platinum’ plans if the site is for a growing business and you need enhanced tools and features.
- If you plan on selling anything from your Web site, take a look at our e-commerce solutions.
When you have decided which Web hosting plan best meets your need, click on the buy button on that plan's page to start the ordering process. Placing the order is easy and your site will be running in a matter of hours.
Build and publish your Website
Building your own Web site can be very gratifying, and it doesn't have to be difficult. Create your own web site and publish it to the Internet in just a few minutes with our Green Light Site design. This powerful application comes free with our Unix and Windows ‘Bronze’ and ‘Silver’ hosting plans. There are other software packages available - such as Microsoft FrontPage 2000 - that make creating and publishing your Web site relatively quick and painless. Green Light supports the use of most Web site design and publishing tools.
Promote your Website
To really succeed on the Web, you need more than just a Web site. You need "traffic" - a steady stream of visitors coming to check out your products, services, information, and everything else you offer online. In order to draw people to your site, you need to be listed in the Web's most popular search engines and Web directories. Services like NetAnnounce can help you get traffic to your site by listing your site with search engines and giving you tips for making your Web site more easy to find online.
Analyze the results
The success of a Web site is generally measured by how many visitors it gets. Your Web server automatically logs each time someone accesses one of your Web pages. Looking at these logs can tell you how much traffic your site gets, how popular different parts of your site are, and when your site is the busiest. Analyzing your traffic can even give you an idea of which parts of your site may need to be improved or expanded.
All Green Light web hosting plans come with built-in tools that you can use to help you analyze your traffic. Once you become a Green Light customer, it is easy to log into a custom control panel and access current site statistics.
All Green Light web hosting plans come with built-in tools, such as Plesk Web traffic reporting, that you can use to help you analyze your traffic. Once you become a Green Light customer, it is easy to log into a custom control panel and access current and historical site statistics.