Getting Your Site Online

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Getting Your Site Online
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Today

• 1200 to 1215 - Questions?
• 1215 to 115 - PowerPoint Presentation
• 115 to 130 - Break
• 130 to 200 - Domain Research
• 200 to 215 - Break
• 215 to 300 - Storyboard

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• It is paradoxical that many educators and
  parents still differentiate between a time for
  learning and a time for play without seeing the
  vital connection between them.
• Leo F. Buscaglia

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Domain Names and Hosting

• Domain - your site identity on the Internet
• Domain Name - Business Name or Topic

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Registering a Domain

• Purchase web address through a domain registrar
• You lease - you really dont own the name
• Low barrier to entry
• GoDaddy - good customer service and price
• Create list of names

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What you will need

• Contact Information - person responsible
• Administrative Contact
• Technical Contact - not your host
• User Name and Password - keep it safe
• Primary and Secondary DNS Servers
• Temporary Parked Page
• Registrar and Host - same company?
• Make sure you get all information

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Choosing a Name

• Most businesses should use - .com
• Prevent cyber-squatting - .net
• Match your company name exactly
• Abbreviation
• Best know product
• Creating brand identity
• Keep it short and simple

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How Domain Names Work

• DNS - Domain Name System
• Series of numbers or user friendly name?
• 74.125.19.99 or google.com
• Lookup and Cache

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Understanding Subdomains

• Expand your own domain
• No extra cost to register
• Branding
• Support/promote blogs, forums, etc.
• www.yourdomain.com - blog.yourdomain.com
• Each parent domain can have any number of child
  subdomain nodes - www is a subdomain managed by
  the individual Web hosting company

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Hosting

• Paying rent for a little folder on a computer
• 3.50 and up
• Specially configured computer that runs software
  that will provide Web services and security
  features
• Server Operating Systems (OS)
• Unix - Linux - Windows
• Leave hosting to the professionals

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Selecting a Host

• Shop smart - price and service
• Ask someone you know for a reccomendatioin
• Avoid Free Hosting Services
• Not suited for business
• Advertisements
• Unique Name may not be available

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Select Your Web Developer First

• Web designer - learn or pay?
• Resource for Hosting
• Make sure you have full control over files,
  usernames, and passwords

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Support The Key to Success

• Uptime
• Bells and whistles vs. support - or both!
• Email vs. Phone support

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Support Questions

• How does the Web host respond to hackers, denial
  of service (DoS) attacks, and other security
  issues?
• What is their uptime? Anything under 99 is
  unacceptable.
• What are their live support hours? (i.e., when
  a real human being answers the phone.)

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Support Questions

• What is their emergency procedure in the event of
  a major power outage or other system failure?
• Do they back up all the files on the servers, so
  your databases and Web pages are safe?

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Hosting Plans

• Pay for what you need - no more!

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Hosting - Standard Features

• Storage Space - enough for your business type
• Transfers (or Bandwidth) - 1GB per month
• Web Statistics - browser based interface
• Email Accounts - Web access, alias
• Email List - ezine, discussion list, newsletter
• Domain Registration - you must be contact
• Chat Room - discuss topics, customer support

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Hosting - Standard Features

• Database Support - shopping cart, content
• Shopping Cart - host vs. other, features
• Bulletin Board - forum - chat room and email
• Mail Automation - online forms , script
• Backup - hosting side and your side!
• Contract Term - the times they are a changing

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Email

• Branded email - contact_at_yourdomain.com
• Personal and Business - dont mix!
• Email forwarding - to your personal account
• Respond with company email
• Gmail for your business - great tool!

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Dont Dump Your Online Connection

• Dont cancel your personal account
• Internet Service Provider (ISP)

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Your Internet Connection
Your Computer
ISP
Internet
Business Email
Personal Email
Mail Server
Mail Server
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What is FTP?

• File Transfer Protocol - upload/download files
• FTP Settings
• Site location - ftp.yoursite.com
• User name
• Password
• Local and Remote folder locations

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Server Side Scripting

• A script is essentially just a program
• Client Side - runs on the browser
• Server Side - runs on the server
• Programmed response to customer input
• Database
• Linux - Windows

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Custom Web Software

• Shopping Cart and Credit Card Processing
• Host Provided
• Their choice
• Support from host
• Knows environment
• You Provide
• Your choice
• Support from software company

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Changing Web Host

• Avoid Domain Name Hassles
• Register your own domain name
• Make sure you are all the contacts (admin, bill,
  tech)
• Control over DNS resolving Web site address
• Keep your email and addresses up to date
• Automatic Renewal

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Changing Web Host

• Switch Before Your Cancel
• Move your files to new domain
• Avoid deleted files
• BACKUP!
• Keep information about site

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• In your thirst for knowledge, be sure not to
  drown in all the information.
• Anthony J. DAngelo