Free domain name -
Hosting ISP may provide a free domain name with their hosting package.
Beware of that the free domain name provide for use within the hosting contract term and
you may not be the owner of the domain name on contract termination, so read the small print.
Hence it is worth wise to register the domain name to ensure of your domain name ownership.
Shared hosting is all that required initially and then can be move on to Virtual Server and
Dedicated Server when the Website acquiring substantial visitors on a daily basis.
Hosting Platform
There are two main hosting platforms
Windows Hosting:
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or 2008
IIS 6/7/7.5 (Internet Information Service), server-side scripting: ASP/ASP.NET, JSP
(Some Windows package with PHP 5 Scripting Supported)
Microsoft Access or MSSQL database
Linux Hosting:
Linux Server
Apache Web Server or Zend Web Server / PHP
PHP5 or 6 processor, service-side scripting: CGI, PHP, (Perl, Ruby, Python subject to availability)
MySQL database
Choosing a hosting platform should be depended on the server-side script language that will be using for development.
A desktop development environment of the same platform for development work is recommended, so the test can be carried out before deployment.
Hosting ISP
Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is primary depending on the hosting platform decided on, the hosting package and the cost you can afford of course.
Online Development
Most Hosting ISP provides online site-building tools so you can sign-up and start working your Website.
Depending on the package and tools on offer, some may have limits in the number of Webpage and functionality.
If you are not familiar with the site-building tools then you will have to spend awful lot of times to learn and work online.
Pros
No need to have a desktop development environment of the same hosting platform and no need for any development software.
This is convenient for building a small site.
Cons
Lack of freedom in development and expansion that is limited by the package and development tools to use online.
Can’t take your hard work with you should you want to switch hosting ISP.
In contrast to Online Development, a desktop development environment of the same hosting platform and Web development software are needed.
Signing up with a hosting ISP can be a later matter – when the website is developed, tested and ready to deploy.
Pros
Having total freedom and control in -
Choosing what development software, which scripting language to use. Learn and do the work in own pace and time.
Use media plug-in, database management, Content Management, eCommerce Shopping Cart of any choice.
Switch to any hosting ISP with no worries because all the hard worked development is saved on the desktop.
Free open source software available for the development desktop:
For Linux Platform – Apache or Zend Web Server, PHP processor, Eclipse PHP Integrated Development Environment, MySQL database.
For Windows Platform –
IIS (Internet Information Service) Web Server comes with XP Pro, XP Media Center Edition, XP Pro x64 Edition, Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, Ultimate Editions,
Windows 7 Pro and Ultimate Edition, Windows Server 2003 and Server 2008.
Upgrade to Windows that comes with IIS as the above (except XPs editions are fading out) is require if IIS not in the Windows OS of the development desktop.
Freeware -
PHP Manager for IIS 7 is available alongside with ASP and ASP.NET scripting.
The new Microsoft WebMatrix Web Development or Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2010 Express.
Use existing Microsoft Access database or download the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.
Cons
Cost of upgrade to a Windows OS that comes with IIS if required.
Setting up Web Server, PHP processor, development software and database can be frustrating and time consuming.
Study the dos and don’ts, whats and hows, tutorials, tips and examples of
Web Development and
Web Authoring,
so how to design and structure the Website.
For Linux Platform –
Learn and practice PHP
or other server-side scripting supported
For Windows Platform –
Learn and practice VBScript, which ASP scripting based on
Learn and practice ASP/ASP.NET for server-side scripting
Learn and practice ADO for database object manipulation
Home page
The most important first impression to capture visitors and fundamentally must have a site navigation to link to other content page –
Site Navigation should have -
A Menu system –
DHTML menu system, the most popular menu system used by most Website.
Database driven menu system, best use for product selling site with large product database.
Link3w.com uses DHTML menu for main site navigation and database driven menu for categorize navigation for eShoppingMall and Software Library section.
For visitors to find the site content page in details.
Help search engines to index the Website.
A Site Search facility
Offer visitors to find the content page within the site by keyword search. Site Search is a hosted search solution such as
Google Site Search
cost from UD$100 for 20,000 search queries per year or the
Google Custom Search
can be sign-up for free (result page shows AdWord advertising).
Content page templates –
The '3 Be principle' of designing content page template:
Be reader-friendly
No extreme small or large fonts used, no extreme colour contrasting such as white text on black background and background colour flashing … these are bad design that drives visitors away and they will never come back because of the bad experience.
Be search engine-friendly
Don’t try to scam the search engines by repeatedly emphasising keywords, enclosing text / information that is aimed for search engines and not visible by visitors.
Search engines are much more intelligence nowadays and such scamming technique will result in none-indexing or even blacklisted by search engines.
Use style sheet (CSS) for page presentation management.
Advanced options to enhance user experience, embedding audio video media etc.
Scope for online advertising.
Consider Web marketing after deployment of the Website.
Web Marketing is marketing products or services over the Internet. It is a two ways marketing medium –
Promote your website to bring more visitors by –
Search Engine Marketing –
Submit the Website to major search engines for indexing and to be listed on these search engines.
Promote other Websites in return for payment rewards by Affiliate Marketing -
Affiliate Marketing is to drive and direct visitor from one Website to another -
A publisher Website affiliates with a merchant Website that sells products or provides services by driving and directing visitor to the affiliated merchant Website
in return for rewards for payment – compensation.
Popular compensation calculation -
Pay per click (PPC)
Cost per action (CPA)
Cost per click (CPC)
Cost per impression (CPI)
Cost per mille (CPM)
Direct Affiliation –
Affiliation scheme run and manage by the merchant Website itself and publishing Websites sign-up direct with the merchant Website.
Affiliate Networks (agency) -
Affiliate Network recruit Advertisers (merchant Website) and Publishers. Administrate affiliate programmes and manage advertiser and publisher accounts.
Joining a reputable Affiliate Network is the best way to start affiliate marketing –
