Web Site Primer

Getting Started

Here are a few tools and sites to get you started. Get ready to start downloading and installing programs. While, you always have to be aware of malware threats, these tools have been around for a while and are trusted by many webmasters.

Web Host

This is the service that stores your site and sends it out to visitors who request it.
I use echristianwebhosting.
Go Daddy is very popular.
Some ISPs provide web space.

Whois

Whois is a service that tells you who owns any given domain name. If the name is is not yet registered in the whois database, it is available for purchase from any domain registrar service.
Use the Whois labelled Domains in the left-most column to check domain name availability.
Or use the more comprehensive whois.net

Text Editor

While you can use Windows Notepad, there are several freeware options that make HTML markup easier. My preference is NoteTab Light, which I am using now. I have heard good things about Notepad++ also.
Then there is Dreamweaver, when you get hooked on Webmastering.

View Source

To see the HTML markup behind any page in IE, right-click on the page and choose View source. This tool is also avialable from the Page menu.

Image Editor

Image editors are helpful for cropping photos, creating logos and backgrounds, eliminating redeye and lots more.
Windows Photo Gallery provides some basic tools.
Irfanview is a powerful freeware viewer/editor.
Photoshop Express and picnik are free online editors.
Paint Shop Pro is more powerful -- but it is not free. Look for it at Amazon, Staples or Costco for a savings.
Photoshop Elements is powerful and easy to use. Again, check for discounts.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is about he most pwerful free graphics program around.
And, of course, there is the big daddy of them all: Photoshop. Prepare to dig into your wallet for this one.

FTP program

File Transfer Protocol allows you to transfer files from your Windows PC to the Unix, Linux or Windows based server. There are many freeware programs avialable.
I am using FileZilla. I have also used SmartFTP and AceFTP.

Tutorials

Virtual University offers online classes for a fee $20 for up to four classes. HTML 1 is a good place to start.
w3schools offers a nice interactive tutorial with quizzes.

Created on ... May 09, 2009