PR Tips | Getting Started on a New Website
So, you need a website. We all do. But where do you start?
What in the world is MySQL? For that matter, what are Name Servers, A Records, Flash, HTML, PHP, SEO, IPS, WordPress, and FTP? There is a difference between hosting and domain registration?!?! And, what the heck is Lorem Ipsum?
The good news is you don’t need to know everything — that’s why you hire a professional. That said, a basic understanding of a few critical terms can be very helpful.
Think about the anatomy of a car. You’re probably not an auto-expert, but you do have a general knowledge of your vehicle’s parts — wheels, breaks, engine, transmission, etc. It helps to know those terms when you’re buying a car, just as it helps to know web-specific terms when you’re talking to a developer or designer.
Here are the three most critical terms you should know if you’re creating a new website:
DOMAIN NAME. For all intents and purposes, this is what you type into a web browser to find your site. For example, keybridgecommunications.com is our company’s domain name. Keybridge.biz and kbc.us are also domain names. When choosing a name, try to keep it short — or at least easy to remember.
DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION. In order to own a domain name, you first need to register it. Start by finding out if the domain you want is available. You can see how this done by clicking here and testing out a few options. Once you’ve found a domain name you like, you can register it. You’re essentially buying the right to use that domain name for a specific period of time. You can buy that right through any registrar (or associated reseller), which is a company that sells domain names and is accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
WEBSITE HOSTING. Yes, this is different from registration. While some companies sell both hosting and registration, some sell only one service or the other. It is very common to have two separate companies providing these two services for a single website. A hosting company rents you server space, which is where the files that comprise your website physically reside. Hosting companies often provide email services, as well.
Once you understand the above terms, you can initiate any website project by following three simple steps. First, choose a domain name. Second, register it. Third, sign up for a hosting service. Then all you need to do is build the actual website!
